Changing Trains

If you are making a journey that involves more than 1 train service, you will need to transfer between trains. The information below explains all about changing trains, from planning your journey to requesting assistance and more.

Planning

When you are planning your journey, our Journey Planner will include minimum times for you to change trains at each station, and it won’t permit a journey that isn’t possible. So don’t worry, you won’t be expected to make it from platform 1 to platform 22 in 1 minute flat!

You can also amend your search to allow extra time to change trains – you will find this in the Journey options section:

Stations

Different stations will have different interchange times, facilities and levels of staffing. To see individual station information, you can search on our Find a Station page.

You can view the list of the main stations where you will be able to change from one service to another by clicking in the box below.

If you want to avoid these very busy stations, think about changing trains at a quieter interchange. When you plan your journey, you will be able to see all the stops on the route by selecting a service, clicking view details and then show calling points – this will let you choose the option that will suit you.

Information about your journey

You can check the Status and Disruptions page before you travel to see if your trains are affected by any issues.

If you enter your departure station (and optionally the station you are going to on that train) on the Live Trains page, you will be able to see the platform from which each train is leaving, once this is announced.

At the station, all information about trains and platforms should be displayed on live departure boards. You can also listen out for station announcements, or ask a member of staff (where available) if you need help.

Breaking your journey

With some types of tickets, you are allowed to leave the station while travelling from your outward station to your destination, including if you are changing trains. See the Breaking Your Journey page for more information.

If things go wrong

Delays

While we always try to run a punctual service, sometimes delays will occur. Connections between trains cannot be guaranteed, as waiting for a late-running service can cause knock-on effects across the network.

Every endeavour is made to minimise the total disruption and particular attention is given to services operating infrequently and the last train services each day.

Missed trains

If your train is late and you miss your connection you will be able to travel on the next permitted train. (Remember that if you had a seat reservation it will not be available if you have to travel on a different train.)

For Advance tickets, you must travel on a train operated by the same train company.

For Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets and Anytime tickets you can simply board the next train to your destination, as permitted by your ticket.

To check any restrictions on when and how you can use your ticket, use our Ticket Validity Finder tool.

If there is major disruption across the rail network, you are usually allowed to complete your journey via another reasonable route. Train companies may accept tickets from other companies during disruption – if this is the case the information will be available on the Status and Disruptions page.

Travel assistance

If you need extra help on your journey, for example if you are elderly or disabled, please use Passenger Assist. They will be able to

• offer a helping hand to navigate the station

• provide support when boarding the train 

• meet you from your train and take you to your next train or the exit

Any train company can organise assistance for your entire journey, even if you are travelling on multiple services.