Train Seaon ticket questions

datimms

Hey!

I wonder if anyone can help me, I'm thinking of getting a train season ticket but I wondered a few things about it.
On the Terms and Conditions at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/season_tickets/season_ticket_conditions.html it says:

You can use your Season Ticket up to and including its expiry date for any number of journeys between the stations and/or within the zone(s) shown on it at any time of day. It may be used at intermediate stations, and on any permitted route, unless a route or any other restrictions are specified on the ticket. Details are available where these tickets are issued.

Let's say I have a theoretical journey between Station A and Station E which passes through stations B, C and D.

Obviously my ticket is Valid to start at station A and end at station E and vice-versa. My question is about the term "intermediate stations".

Does this mean I can:
Get off a stop early (A to D or E to .
Travel to any station on the route from A or E (A to B and back, E to C and back) .
Travel from stations between A and E (B to C and back, C to D and back etc)

I have more questions involving journeys with changes but this will do for now!

Many thanks
Dave

wealdroam

datimms wrote: »

Hey!

I wonder if anyone can help me, I'm thinking of getting a train season ticket but I wondered a few things about it.
On the Terms and Conditions at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/season_tickets/season_ticket_conditions.html it says:

You can use your Season Ticket up to and including its expiry date for any number of journeys between the stations and/or within the zone(s) shown on it at any time of day. It may be used at intermediate stations, and on any permitted route, unless a route or any other restrictions are specified on the ticket. Details are available where these tickets are issued.

Let's say I have a theoretical journey between Station A and Station E which passes through stations B, C and D.

Obviously my ticket is Valid to start at station A and end at station E and vice-versa. My question is about the term "intermediate stations".

Does this mean I can:
Get off a stop early (A to D or E to .
Travel to any station on the route from A or E (A to B and back, E to C and back) .
Travel from stations between A and E (B to C and back, C to D and back etc)

I have more questions involving journeys with changes but this will do for now!

Many thanks
Dave

The answer is... yes, you can do all of those things.

Next question.

datimms

WOW that's fast, thanks! So I can do basically any journey between A and E on that route, it doesn't even have to involve A and E? Epic.

Ok, Part 2.

Let's say my route above, A-E thru BCD is a direct train, but I also have the option of taking a train with a change. Lets say this train stops at A,L,M,N,O change at P for a train that that goes P,Q,E.

You can probably guess my question, can I travel on any combinations of those journeys? Eg can I travel A-M/M-Q/B-Q/L-D etc

Thanks
Dave

wealdroam

datimms wrote: »

WOW that's fast, thanks! So I can do basically any journey between A and E on that route, it doesn't even have to involve A and E? Epic.

Ok, Part 2.

Let's say my route above, A-E thru BCD is a direct train, but I also have the option of taking a train with a change. Lets say this train stops at A,L,M,N,O change at P for a train that that goes P,Q,E.

You can probably guess my question, can I travel on any combinations of those journeys? Eg can I travel A-M/M-Q/B-Q/L-D etc

Thanks
Dave

This is getting too complicated.

If all those letters are on the route from A to E, then they are intermediate stations... using the terminology in your quote above.

Go on, be brave... tell us where your ticket is from and to?

datimms

Yeah it's complicated!

OK, so I've jsut moved to London. The ticket I want is Wandsworth Common (zone 3) to East Croydon. The ticket would in fact take me to "Croydon Stations". So, from what you are saying, in a way my ticket acts as a mini travelcard in SW London. There are quite a lot of routes and intermediate stations, with various direct trains (and routes with changes) that take me to "Croydon Stations". I assume I can travel freely between any of the intermediate stations?.

I did go to the counter to ask some questions the other day but there was a long queue behind me so I kept it to this one question and details about cost, etc. I've had it confirmed that I can even travel via Clapham Junction with this ticket (even though it is effectively going backwards in zone 2) as I am allowed to take "any reasonable journey" in the words of the clerk.

With the Gold Card discount on other travel this all seems too good? The ticket is a £300 saving over the equivalent TFL travelcard but covers me for quite a few of the journeys I am likely to make.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Im not so sure about going backwards as a reasonable route - even with a season ticket. For the best fares advice pop over to here and they will confirm if you can 'double back' in essence for this journey as I dont think you can.

wealdroam

datimms wrote: »

... I am allowed to take "any reasonable journey" in the words of the clerk.

Are you sure the guy didn't say "any permitted route"?

Once upon a time any reasonable route was acceptable, but nowadays the rules are tighter.

Probably best asking more detailed questions about routing on that forum linked to above.

datimms

Thank you for your responses, I will check out the other site.

I was as surprised as you that he said I was allowed to go via CLJ. Surprisingly generous. Nonetheless, at this point he knew the ticket I was asking for, had the ticket price up on his screen and I asked him the specific question. I asked him "does this ticket allow me to get the fast train from East Croydon to CLJ and then get the slow train back to Wandsworth Common in the other direction". He paused for a second to think and said that journey was ok because I was allowed any reasonable route between the stations on the ticket. To put it in context, Wandsworth Common is one stop away from CLJ on the slow train.

Anyhow, I will post back my findings from the rail forum for completeness.

Dave

luckwudaveit

I asked a similar question on Rail Forum a while ago regarding taking a train to a station away from my normal route. Because the train was a circular train and travelled between the 2 stations stated on my season ticket, it was valid. Welcome to the oddities of the UK's railway system.

AndyinLondon_2

I don't think this is valid - unfortunately I think the clerk has given bad advice here. Doubling back is not usually allowed unless there is a specific easement in place. Given that there is a £200 price difference in tickets from Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction, I doubt the rail companies would grant such an easement.

I may be wrong though so ask on the other site

datimms

AndyinLondon wrote: »

I don't think this is valid - unfortunately I think the clerk has given bad advice here. Doubling back is not usually allowed unless there is a specific easement in place. Given that there is a £200 price difference in tickets from Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction, I doubt the rail companies would grant such an easement.

I may be wrong though so ask on the other site

Indeed that logic would make sense. However, apparently the route is valid via CLJ because the journey distance is less than 3 miles longer than the shortest regular route from Wandsworth Common. I live equidistant from Wandsworth Common and Balham. Looks like I got lucky there, because the ticket from Balham (which costs the same) would not have been valid to CLJ under this rule. Completely accidental but seems like I got a good deal there!