Train Travel: starting short (NOT breaking journey)

redux

timbo58 wrote: »

Why not jump in the car and then get on the train at Bournemouth it's only 40 miles.

If someone has slightly less time to spare but still likes the eccentricity of heading in the other direction to start with, there is Megatrain from Southampton to London.

Rail_Staff

I work as a train guard on this very route, I'm afraid if you board at Winchester using a ticket to Basingstoke and then use the 'Advance' ticket to travel beyond Basingstoke you would be in breach of the T&Cs of the Advance ticket and would be expected to pay the full single fare from Basingstoke to London of £23.80 plus the cost of a ticket back to Winchester. At best you might not be noticed by the guard in which case you've saved a few quid, at worst revenue inspectors might board the train and you would end up with a penalty fare of £47.20-and still have to buy another ticket back to Winchester.

Ultimately it's your call, but taking the risk could be a very expensive mistake.

abright8190

Thanks for all your input - most helpful. I don't want to break the T&Cs - short trip to Soton and then Megatrain up sounds good.

yorkie2

Rail_Staff wrote: »

... at worst revenue inspectors might board the train and you would end up with a penalty fare of £47.20-and still have to buy another ticket back to Winchester.....

A Penalty Fare or new full fare ticket is not appropriate, see http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf:

16. Starting, breaking or ending a journey at intermediate stations
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.

If you start, break and resume, or end your journey at an intermediate station when you are not entitled to do so, you will be liable to pay an excess fare. This excess fare will be the difference between the price paid for the ticket you hold and the price of the lowest priced ticket(s) available at a ticket office for immediate travel that would have entitled you to start, break and resume, or end your journey at that station on the service(s) you
have used.

And yes I am aware of the Eastleigh incident in which case a PF was incorrectly charged. A member of SWT staff informed me this was successfully appealed and I understand SWT have instructed their staff to adhere to the NRCoC. Perhaps you didn't get a reminder about this, in which case please pass on the above to your colleagues, so that they're not in breach of the NRCoC.