Will this work?

JDC14

Received a quick tip from a brilliant member of staff of a certain train service when I missed the first train this morning that could halve my fares!

We shall say my "home" station is Station A.
My destination is Station B.

So to buy a return ticket from Station A to B is £14 daily. But he suggested buying a return ticket to Station C (If I was actually going there I would get off at Station B and change train) and that would half my fare!

But would a ticket with a final destination of Station C (beyond my final destination) allow me through the automated ticket barriers? Otherwise there isn't always someone at the gate to let me through or if they're vigilant they'll want to know why I am leaving Station B every day!

Advice hugely appreciated!

dzug1

When the barriers are in use they will (well should) always be manned

Your ticket probably won't let you through

As long as the ticket is valid the staff will let you through. Anytime returns and most off peak tickets are valid. Some off peak tickets don't allow this on the outward journey - you would need to check the specific journey

But if you are doing this every day wouldn't a season ticket be cheaper?

thelawnet

um, you will have to name the stations I'm afraid, otherwise it's impossible for anyone to answer.

thegirlintheattic

Would that not still be classed as travelling short even though you have to get off to change?

dzug1

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Would that not still be classed as travelling short even though you have to get off to change?

Yes it's travelling short

Travelling short is legitimate with most types of non-advance ticket

JDC14

Station A = Ascot
Station B = Guildford

Which is start and end of the line anyway.

Then told to get ticket for Godalming (which would be change at Guildford anyway). But it is half the price.

JDC14

Just for the record, the guy said I can break up my journey, so after reading up on "traveling short" I should be okay, as its not going to be an advance ticket.

It's just getting out of the station, as there's a few barriers I'm not
Convinced will open for a ticket with another station as destination, and I don't always see the guard at the gate.


Season ticket is out of the question as I'm only a temp so won't buy beyond my contract date

thelawnet

Yes that's absolutely fine.

I can't believe you want to take that awful slow train though.

It's not half price though, £11.10 vs. £16.

This is permitted because a single Ascot - Guildford is £8.20, and a single Ascot - Godalming is £10.50, so routes between Ascot and Guildford are also permitted for travel on a ticket to Godalming.

And you can break your journey/stop short on most tickets, no problem at all.

However it's cheaper still to buy a Wokingham - Guildford ticket, which is valid both via Ascot and via Farnborough North - and start short at Ascot. The price is £10.40.

Also, depending on which train you want to catch, you may also be able to buy an off-peak ticket. The Ascot - Guildford off-peak day return is only valid on the 8:53 train and later, but Wokingham - Guildford is also valid on the 8:26 from Ascot. This is priced at £8.10

JDC14

Excellent thanks for the help. I actually catch the first train 0629 and that's non-negotiable if I want to make it to work on time.

Not actually getting on at Ascot but at a station a little further up the line, just thought it would be easier for you to work out knowin each end of the line.

Just paid 7.60 at the station so near enough half price which I cannot complain about. Just a case of getting out the other side to try out now.

dzug1

JDC14 wrote: »

Season ticket is out of the question as I'm only a temp so won't buy beyond my contract date

There are such things as weekly seasons

ValHaller

JDC14 wrote: »

..... Season ticket is out of the question as I'm only a temp so won't buy beyond my contract date

A season ticket can be refunded. What you get back will cause disappointment until you see that the net price for the period of the season is the same as the price built up from the best seasons to fit the period up to the date of handing it in.