Travelling short - with a twist

zaf1986

Hi everyone

So we all know that travelling 'short' on advance tickets is against the rules (and useless at stations with barriers because the ticket wouldn't work anyway)

HOWEVER

If, for example, I was travelling Reading to London (commuter route thus no advance fares) and instead bought Oxford to London (cheap advance fares) but then also bought Reading to Twyford to get through the barriers and back, would this be problematic?

Has anyone tried something like this before?

Any advice welcomed

the-mango

I didn't know travelling short was against the rules, I've always been let out the barriers when I've chosen the station on the other side of town by mistake and just got off at the station before because it's closer

dzug1

I am sure fare cheats try it all the time and get away with it some of the time.

You will - eventually - get caught

dzug1

the-mango wrote: »

I didn't know travelling short was against the rules, I've always been let out the barriers when I've chosen the station on the other side of town by mistake and just got off at the station before because it's closer

It's only against the rules on advance tickets.

thelawnet

the-mango wrote: »

I didn't know travelling short was against the rules, I've always been let out the barriers when I've chosen the station on the other side of town by mistake and just got off at the station before because it's closer

You can travel short on most tickets, but never on Advance tickets, i.e. those booked for a specific train.

thelawnet

zaf1986 wrote: »

Hi everyone

So we all know that travelling 'short' on advance tickets is against the rules (and useless at stations with barriers because the ticket wouldn't work anyway)

HOWEVER

If, for example, I was travelling Reading to London (commuter route thus no advance fares) and instead bought Oxford to London (cheap advance fares) but then also bought Reading to Twyford to get through the barriers and back, would this be problematic?

Has anyone tried something like this before?

Any advice welcomed

This would be just fare evasion, and potentially intent to avoid the fare, i.e. a criminal offence.

So I wouldn't personally, although something like this might work, the risk is if you are spotted by a guard boarding at Reading on an Oxford - London Advance ticket.

A cheaper ticket valid between Reading and London is Reading - Whitton. This ticket is valid via Paddington, and Waterloo, and is £12 Anytime Single, £22.60 Anytime Day Return, £17.10 Off-Peak Day Return, and £14.50 Super Off-Peak Day Return.

geordie_taxi

thelawnet wrote: »

the risk is if you are spotted by a guard boarding at Reading on an Oxford - London Advance ticket.

wud love to disagree with the above statement but it is correct. if a guard spots u getting on the train after ur start station and u have advance tickets he can make u buy a new ticket

the other way travelling short and using a valid ticket to leave the station via the barriers does work

as to fare dodging/intent i have yet to know anyone to be prosecuted for breaking these t and c's. infact normally the train companies drop the case as they dont want their unfair conditions contested in a court. the case of the professor comes to mind

Sharon87

You can split ticket, as long as it covers your entire journey - legally anyway. So if it's cheaper going between London and Oxford on an advanced ticket a standard ticket the rest of the way, as oppose to a standard ticket all the way, then go for it. Just make sure you pay for every part of your journey.

thelawnet

Sharon87 wrote: »

You can split ticket, as long as it covers your entire journey - legally anyway. So if it's cheaper going between London and Oxford on an advanced ticket a standard ticket the rest of the way, as oppose to a standard ticket all the way, then go for it. Just make sure you pay for every part of your journey.

You would have to travel from Oxford.

"BREAK OF JOURNEY:
Customers may not start,
break and resume, or end their
journey at any intermediate
station except to change to/
from connecting trains as
shown on the ticket(s) or
other valid travel itinerary."

redux

thelawnet wrote: »

You would have to travel from Oxford.

"BREAK OF JOURNEY:
Customers may not start,
break and resume, or end their
journey at any intermediate
station except to change to/
from connecting trains as
shown on the ticket(s) or
other valid travel itinerary."

Slightly in parallel with this question, can I ask what about if the trip crosses London?

There would be Tube travel included between main line stations, presumably involving exiting on the concourse or platform stairs and re-entering at the underground barriers.

How are advance fares affected, and what if someone travels short then, or wants to break and re-enter on the way across London? I'm assuming the latter might not be allowed at intermediate places for an advance fare, but if they break at a main line station is there a time limit for re-entry?

Yes, I know that they say on the specified train, but some websites vary between them in which they specify for compound trips, for example if a northbound train from Kings Cross is the same for both quotes, the first leg into London may be half an hour earlier on National Rail than East Coast Trains.

dzug1

Firstly on some of the websites there is an option to allow longer for connections - which would allow you longer in London


If you travel short - ie abandon your journey in London - then it is, even if against the T&C, totally undetectible.

You can break your journey - at either of the mainline stations involved - for as long as the validity of the train ticket permits. If the second train is unreservable, (ie no reervation coupon for it, even with no seat numbers) then probably a bit longer