Close train change times

Emma's research is very helpful. Try to be waiting at the door of the car before the train stops to give yourself the maximum amount of time. In other words, don't let a line form with you at the end of it.

Thanks Laura and Emma. I checked out the station layout before I posted my question, and I could see it's a small station and getting to the proper platform should be no problem. My concern is that we'll have a car service pre-booked to take my husband and I from the Loughborough station to our hotel in Coalville. If we miss the connection due to the first train arriving late, the next train is an hour later. Guess we'll just have to pay more for tickets to ensure connections. We usually catch a train from London to Loughborough, but it looks like it's from the "other end" this time. Thanks again.

Theres 3 taxi firms listed on Loughborough station info.
I'd take the numbers then just ring ahead once at say Nottingham to book a pick up.
Most have sat nav, so the postcode for your hotel would help too

I'm sure the private-hire car company is used to late arrivals., but I prefer not to be one of them. I usually pre-book and pay for our rides to and from the train station before we leave the US in order to get a better rate, and the company we've used has always been right on time and pleasant to deal with. I do carry their number in my phone in case of any glitches, and thankfully haven't had to make any last minute changes in the past because the British rail system is so reliable.

Thank you all for your advise.

if you have a through ticket & the earlier train is so late that you miss the connection, the train companies are obligated to get you to your destination, even if you are not on the selected pre-booked service.

You say that one of the more favoured options is expensive. We have a possible way around this by splitting the tickets. However, doing this may mean that my point above is deemed null & void. In reality, it is unlikely that they will penalise you for a missed connection. If you put in for a journey from Edinburgh to York & then another for the rest of the trip, you may well find it cheaper. To find out if split tickets will work, put in for your journey on this site. (Check out ALL the options given as some of the dearest can be cheaper once a slit is done). http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/split-cheap-train-tickets/

I did look into splitting the trip. A ticket to York then a separate ticket to Loughborough was the option I mentioned that was £70 more than the route with the close connection time. I'll keep checking prices as our trip gets closer, but we may just take our chances with the short connection time and keep the private-hire car service number handy in case of delays.

Emma, thanks for the warning, but my trip isn't until September. The prices I'm seeing right now are for advance purchase for the end of July, which is as far out as the national rail site allows me to search. We've booked UK trains on multiple past trips, so I know to jump on the cheap fares as soon as they're available.

Who knows, maybe there will be a miracle and the connection time in Durham will suddenly get longer by the time I buy my ticket - but I'm not holding my breath!!

The end of July is the first week of the English summer holidays - so that could explain the high fares. From Edinburgh to York, both the East Coast Trains & Cross Country Trains are on the same route = the East Coast Main Line. The difference is that the East Coast Trains will go to London whilst the CC trains will then head SW to Bristol, Plymouth & even Cornwall. (You can still book all tickets vis the East Coast website - should you wish).

Often, when the new fares appear on the system, they come in at a high fixed price. Usually, if you look about 10 weeks in advance, you should see the cheapest Advance purchase fares. You are more likely to get a cheaper fare on an East Coast Train between Ed & York than on a CC train - hence my suggestion that York might be a good place to split the tickets.