Taking a shorter train journey than I've booked

Neruda

Chomeur said:

Well these are the terms and conditions that they provide. Nothing to say that you can't shorten your journey. I can print them out to take them along with me. Even so, I could imagine getting into an argument with them at the ticket barrier, and I'm not sure where that would end up.

"

LNER FLAT FARE

Your journey must start and end on a National Rail service

Route

Valid only on London North Eastern Railway services.

Terms & conditions

Valid on selected train only

• Type of ticket

  London North Eastern Railway Flat Fare Standard

• Terms & conditions

  Valid on selected train only

• Ticket type description

  London North Eastern Railway Flat Fare Standard

• Restriction code

  GA

• Route

  Valid only on London North Eastern Railway services.

• Fare category

  restricted

• Terms & conditions

  Travel on the date and time shown on the ticket

• Ticket availability terms

  Subject to availability

• Ticket retail availability

  WebTIS

• Booking deadlines

  Prior to reservations closing

• Changes to travel plans restrictions

  No changes

• Refund details

  No refunds"

You need to find out what is meant by restriction code GA. Like the other posters, I think that this is an Advance ticket and the restriction code will tell you that the same rules apply.

Chomeur

Neruda said:

Chomeur said:

Well these are the terms and conditions that they provide. Nothing to say that you can't shorten your journey. I can print them out to take them along with me. Even so, I could imagine getting into an argument with them at the ticket barrier, and I'm not sure where that would end up.

"

LNER FLAT FARE

Your journey must start and end on a National Rail service

Route

Valid only on London North Eastern Railway services.

Terms & conditions

Valid on selected train only

• Type of ticket

  London North Eastern Railway Flat Fare Standard

• Terms & conditions

  Valid on selected train only

• Ticket type description

  London North Eastern Railway Flat Fare Standard

• Restriction code

  GA

• Route

  Valid only on London North Eastern Railway services.

• Fare category

  restricted

• Terms & conditions

  Travel on the date and time shown on the ticket

• Ticket availability terms

  Subject to availability

• Ticket retail availability

  WebTIS

• Booking deadlines

  Prior to reservations closing

• Changes to travel plans restrictions

  No changes

• Refund details

  No refunds"

You need to find out what is meant by restriction code GA. Like the other posters, I think that this is an Advance ticket and the restriction code will tell you that the same rules apply.

It doesn't seem to add anything https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket_types/restrictions/GA

sheramber

 the guard comes round to check the tickets of those who have boarded after each station.

When there are few people boarding it is easy for the guard to know who has got on at a station

Normally, if the journey  London to Aviemore is dearer than London to Inverness- it does happen- then they would charge yo the higher fare.


 When my family travelled to visit, the cost fo a ticket from Inverness to Forsinard was £40 dearer than the cost of a ticket from Inverness to Thurso, which is  the next station .along entailing another 40 minutes on the journey.

The family bought the cheaper ticket to Thurso but got off at Forsinard. Nobody checks you getting off.

But to travel home they went to Thurso to board the train as the guard may have charged them more for boarding at Forsinard. 
. 

If you get a cooperative guard they may not bother.

On one journey my husband had an advance ticket for a specific train but he arrived early, before an earlier train had left. He asked if he could use it on the earlier and was told it was up to the guard. Fortunately, the guard okayed it so he did not have to wait 2 hours for the  next train.

sheramber

The flat fare single means the cost is  half the cost of a return.

Previously a return ticket would be only one or two pounds dearer than a single.  e.g single £123, return £125

Flat fare means a single would be £62.50 as opposed to £123

yorkie2

Absolutely nothing will happen if you alight early at Aviemore; it will be fine to do this in practice.

If they are to prevent people alighting early, the T&Cs would need to make that clear; furthermore rail industry guidance is to let people off who do this  (unless there is clear evidence of intent to avoid a higher fare)

jbuchanangb

There are more details about the ticket here. Break of journey is not permitted, but that is not what you are asking. Break of journey is when you get off somewhere, and then board again to continue your journey. Yorkie is an expert on the subject so his advice is trustworthy.

Chomeur

yorkie2 said:

Absolutely nothing will happen if you alight early at Aviemore; it will be fine to do this in practice.

If they are to prevent people alighting early, the T&Cs would need to make that clear; furthermore rail industry guidance is to let people off who do this  (unless there is clear evidence of intent to avoid a higher fare)

Yes, nothing happened. I was more anxious about getting on at Aviemore. The inspector came round shortly after we left Aviemore and I offered him my ticket. He said "Oh, did I not get you after Inverness?", scanned my ticket and moved on. So no problems.

TheAble

The whole thing is such a nonsense. How can a shorter journey be costlier than a longer one? It's just so stupid - all these ridiculous restrictions and hoops you have to jump through.