advance train tickets online - need to travel at exact times booked?

robotman_3

I have bought advance train tickets online for some time now but i've never been sure if you need to travel at the exact times you book - obviously the t&c's state you need to but do you really have to?

As long as you travel according to whether the ticket is on or off peak, surely you can get through the barriers and travel on any relevant train within this time. i.e. just because i've booked tickets on the 11.34 from x to y doesnt mean i can't travel on the 14.34 instead if I want to.

Train tickets don't have exact times printed on, and seat reservations are seperate tickets arent they? So the guard has no way of knowing you are on the train you actually booked or not. Probably a stupid question, but am I right?! thanks!

chuckley

stupid question yes.

virgin trains especially check the times and will charge if ur on the wrong one. they are not stupid and know how each ticket is printed. reservations are usually on 2 tickets.. one with destination and date and all that and one with the reservation seat and time... the time may be on the 1st ticket.

the only lax train company is Chiltern who let you use the super off peak fare (via high wycombe) on non HW trains.

robotman_3

reservations are usually on 2 tickets.. one with destination and date and all that and one with the reservation seat and time

not really true, at least with the routes i travel with First Great Western, the tickets have a date, obviously, but nothing else. no second ticket either. so how can they tell?

Leigh-Anne_60

AFAIK you can if you clear it with the train manager first

In my personal experience - Had some who were right grumps and were not having any of it. And some where its not been a problem... id say 50/50

But beware if you dont clear it they are well within there right to charge you the full fare again

x

Voyager2002

You get two pieces of cardboard: one is the ticket; the other is the reservation, with the exact date and time of your train. Both are checked on the train.

I once missed a train and travelled on the next one. The train manager certainly noticed that I was on the wrong train and gave me quite a hard time, eventually deciding to give me a break and not force me to buy a completely new, flexible ticket (which is what the rules said that he should do). I would not chance it again.

The_One_Who

I wouldn't chance it either. You might be able to get away with it if you sat in the unreserved seats, but your ticket should get checked, and if done properly they'd know you were on the wrong train. If it was a busy train they might be more likely to charge you again.

bandraoi

The ticket inspector checks them.
As with all people checking lots of documents, they suffer from a certain amount of blindness and will see what they expect to see.
If your dress and demeanour is that of a law abiding person, and you're not showing any tension or nervousness when they're checking your ticket, there is a very high probability they won't spot it.

If they do, just plead innocence, and be co-operative.

Livingthedream

The only time you can travel with an advance ticket on a non booked train is if you missed a connection due to the train been late, as it become a train company problem. This happened to me, all I did was see the station staff and they gave me a complete new itinerary, showed this and the tickets to the ticket inspector who was happy.

[STRIKE]Be careful if you split advance tickets, as If you miss your connecting train, the train company has every right to laugh at you and then charge you a new fare, so always give yourself extra time at the split ticket station[/STRIKE]

Not Correct see this post.

Voyager2002

bandraoi wrote: »

The ticket inspector checks them.
As with all people checking lots of documents, they suffer from a certain amount of blindness and will see what they expect to see.
If your dress and demeanour is that of a law abiding person, and you're not showing any tension or nervousness when they're checking your ticket, there is a very high probability they won't spot it.

If they do, just plead innocence, and be co-operative.

In my experience they see what is there.

I posted above about the one time when I was on the wrong train; was not nervous and in fact was well-dressed (I was on the way back from a UN-sponsored conference at Oxford University); and was caught and eventually let off. On other occasions I have been on the wrong train because of a delay earlier in my journey. This has always been noticed, but of course I have had an acceptable explanation.

Basically, don't chance it. If you can't commit to a particular train, buy a flexible ticket.

smartpicture

I agree, don't chance it. I travelled by First Great Western on Saturday on an earlier train than the one I booked. I didn't sit in a reserved seat and there were loads to spare, but when I showed my ticket to the inspector he asked for the reservation ticket as well and said if I wasn't on the right train or sitting in the right seat then I had to pay the full fare, so they can definitely tell from your ticket. He eventually let me off but I wouldn't risk it again.

dzug1

There is a difference between advance train tickets and train tickets bought in advance.

If the ticket says on it 'advance' then it must be used on the train booked.

If it says 'anytime' or 'off-peak' or 'super off peak' it can be used on any train that meets those definitions within its validity. This is so whether you buy it on the day or ahead of time. You don't have to use the train you have reserved seats on.