Ticket restrictions? What ticket restrictions?

Check the train timetable this morning, to remind myself when my train gets into Birmingham this evening, only to find that the train I'm booked on no longer exists. Weird! I definitely remember seeing a 17:00 Virgin Trains service, Euston to Birmingham, when I checked a month ago, and that's what my ticket says. But now there's a 16:55 and a 17:10, but no 17:00.

Phone Virgin Trains Customer Services to check with them which train I should travel on since my ticket is one of those "only valid for travel on the train booked" types, but they don't know and suggest I travel on the 16:55 since that's closest to 17:00. OK... not entirely convinced, but though they're nice, I'm not going to get any further here.

Get to Euston station at half past four, and go to Virgin Trains information desk to ask their advice. They don't know either, and come out with an almost identical suggestion.

Mildly concerned to see the 16:55 listed with the info "Ticket restrictions apply to this service - please enquire". The ticket I've got is a tariff only available on some services - wonder if I'll be allowed on, or if I'm going to end up having to buy another ticket and claim back later.

Platform is announced, and I head down to the ticket check at the platform entrance. The guys checking tickets shrug when I explain, and say "There isn't a 17:00", which is something I already know. They wave me through.

Plenty of unreserved seats, so I grab one and settle in. Uneventful journey, and train arrives in Birmingham a minute early.

Kind of like the laid back approach!