Trains- break of journey?

m277

What does a "break of journey" mean? Does it mean I can get off the train at a station in the middle of the journey and then get back on a later train to complete my journey?

Hypothetical situation: train from Manchester to London via Birmingham.
Does the break of journey mean I can get off at Birmingham, wander around the city for a couple of hours, and then get on a later train to get to London all on the same ticket, even if its been checked by the inspector on the Manchester to Birmingham part of the journey?

alanrowell

Precisely - but the cheapest tickets may not allow it at all and the next stage up generally only allows it on the return leg of a return ticket

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

With the break of journey, you can get off at any station between your departure station and destination. You're not tied to the station you would have to change at if your train isn't direct.

With a Cheap Day Return, Standard Day Return and Standard Open Return, you can break the journey on both the outward and return.

With a Saver Return, Network Away Break and Supersaver Return, you can only break the return journey.

m277

Thanks for the replies. I would probably have to buy an open ticket anyway and it actually works out cheaper than buying two tickets for the intended journey.

gwapenut

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle wrote: »

With the break of journey, you can get off at any station between your departure station and destination. You're not tied to the station you would have to change at if your train isn't direct.

With a Cheap Day Return, Standard Day Return and Standard Open Return, you can break the journey on both the outward and return.

With a Saver Return, Network Away Break and Supersaver Return, you can only break the return journey.

Am I right in thinking the break of journey can be overnight for the longer term returns, so long as within the valid return period? Had a major argument with a ticket inspector about this (BEFORE I'd broken the journey, ie I was just checking to make sure, but he was treating me like a fare evador before I'd even got off the train!) but in the end after he phoned his bosses, I *think* I was right.

The rules are so complicated though that lots of ticket inspectors don't knows what's valid and what's not. Big risk of a massive penalty fare which then has to be reclaimed.

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

gwapenut wrote: »

Am I right in thinking the break of journey can be overnight for the longer term returns, so long as within the valid return period? Had a major argument with a ticket inspector about this (BEFORE I'd broken the journey, ie I was just checking to make sure, but he was treating me like a fare evador before I'd even got off the train!) but in the end after he phoned his bosses, I *think* I was right.

The rules are so complicated though that lots of ticket inspectors don't knows what's valid and what's not. Big risk of a massive penalty fare which then has to be reclaimed.

In all honesty, I'm not too sure. I'll check when I get my @r$e back to work on Sunday.