Breaking train journey

Siam17

I have an Open return between Inverness and Carlisle. On my return journey from Carlisle I have to change at Edinburgh Haymarket. I'd like to meet up for tea with my son who's a student in Edinburgh so I wouldn't be getting the first available connection from Edinburgh to Inverness and would also have to leave the station for a couple of hours. I just have the one ticket for the return leg but am not sure if I put my ticket in the barrier to exit if I'd be able to retrieve it to use for the last part of the journey when I return to the station? I don't know whether the machine at the barrier can read that I have still a further part of the journey to go or if it just keeps all valid tickets as you exit.

[Deleted User]

I've done what you're proposing several times, the barriers don't swallow your ticket. Two weeks ago I stopped off at Chelmsford on the way home from Basildon like that.

Buzby

You'll be fine. The barriers know you've not got to your destination yet - it'll be swallowed at the Inverness barriers.

yorkie2

Siam17 wrote: »

I have an Open return between Inverness and Carlisle.

Is that the Open Return now known as Anytime Return? http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=INV&dest=CAR&tkt=SOR

Or is that the Off Peak Return formerly known as Saver Return? http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=INV&dest=CAR&tkt=SVR

The Anytime Return, formerly Open Return, always permits break of journey on both outward & return portions.

The Off Peak Return always permits break of journey on the return portion. In some cases, the outward portion prohibits break of journey. That is the case here, but as you are breaking your return journey, that's not a problem for you.

The ticket barrier should accept, and return, your ticket. It will not keep your ticket (unless a fault occurs - unlikely - seek assistance if so). It might not accept your ticket, so you might have to show your ticket to the gateline assistant. This should not be a problem.

Break of journey is expressly permitted in the NRCoC, except where it is "made clear" that it's not permitted.

You may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) at any intermediate station, as long as the ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) before the destination shown on the ticket.

However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the Ticket Seller must make this clear when you buy your ticket.

Siam17

Thanks for the replies and thanks especially to Yorkie2 for your detailed and useful reply. it has reassured me that it will be OK to go ahead as planned. It is an Off peak return I have.

Voyager2002

I have often done what you propose.

I do not trust those machines, and always find a member of staff to let me through the gates.

Incidentally, you might meet for tea somewhere closer to Edinburgh Waverley. That is likely to be more convenient, and is also allowed by your ticket.

Siam17

Someone else suggested finding a barrier that was manned which I think is a good idea.

I will be chatting to my son to see whether we eat nearer to the Waverley or Haymarket. I was going by the fact that the train timetables show Haymarket for changing trains.

Ainsley1

Beware if it's a Club 55 ticket. Breaks are only allowed for connectional purposes...but then as it is a connection. Should only be a problem if the seat is booked for a specific train from EH to CAR which it probably would be for that type of ticket!

Siam17

Well I've completed the journey and had no problem breaking the journey as there were no barriers or ticket checks either when I left or returned to Waverley. I did however make a big gaffe as I decided to get an East Coast train, completely forgetting that Club 55 tickets were exclusively Scotrail, so just as the train was due to leave I had to make a hasty exit from the train when they announced that no Club 55 tickets could be used. Fortunately there was a Scotrail train one hour later so it wasn't too bad, but I'll certainly not make the same mistake again.

yorkie2

Siam17 wrote: »

Well I've completed the journey and had no problem breaking the journey as there were no barriers or ticket checks either when I left or returned to Waverley. I did however make a big gaffe as I decided to get an East Coast train, completely forgetting that Club 55 tickets were exclusively Scotrail, so just as the train was due to leave I had to make a hasty exit from the train when they announced that no Club 55 tickets could be used. Fortunately there was a Scotrail train one hour later so it wasn't too bad, but I'll certainly not make the same mistake again.

Good to know your journey went well.

Is there any chance you can either take a photo (or scan) of your ticket, or can you say what was printed under "Ticket type" and "Route"?

For the ticket to be barred from East Coast services, and only valid on Scotrail, it would need to say something like "Route: Scotrail Only", as detailed in NRCoC Condition 10.

However it would be rather time consuming to get from Inverness to Carlisle via Haymarket exclusively on Scotrail services, as the only Scotrail trains from Scotland to Carlisle are those on the Glasgow Central - Carlisle via Dumfries route!

Ainsley1

I understand they are also usable on Virgin trains - however I think that requires a booked seat, so not a slow journey to Carlisle.

As far as I know, it is only EC trains that do not participate (a feature of public ownership?) and the terms and conditions are clearly written on the website and in literature.
Does that then comply with the NRCoC? Note: Link above does not seem to exist but it is at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf ]
From that link

Your rights – a summary
Train Companies and other Ticket Sellers must:
• Give you clear information before, during and where necessary after your journey, to help plan and carry out your journey. This includes making these Conditions and the Byelaws available wherever you can buy a ticket and making it clear who to contact if things go wrong.
• Make clear to you when you buy your ticket any important restrictions on how you can use that ticket (such as when Off-Peak tickets can be used).

10. Tickets valid only in trains of particular Train Companies
The validity of a ticket may:
a)
be restricted to; or
b)
prohibit travel in the trains of a particular Train Company or Train Companies. Any such restriction or prohibition will be shown on the ticket.

Now the general condition (rights summary) will surely be met by the info supplied about ticket conditions and the announcement on the EC train.

For the latter quote from section 10 mentioned, I always understood "will" to be intent and not therefore binding. Would that be the case here?
Must admit to not noticing anything printed on tickets I have bought; but then I have not been looking for the words!