Split advice please?

[postye]

Hi,

I'm still trying to get my head around split ticketing, so would be really grateful if somebody could advise whether this idea is valid

I plan to take advantage of the London Midland 'Sale' this weekend to visit the Wets Midlands and plan to use the following off peak day return tickets

Boundary Zone4 - Watford Junction, CDR w/Gold Card - £3.05
Watford Junction - Northampton, CDR w/Gold Card - £6.95 (sale)
Northampton - Stourbridge Town, CDR - 8.40 (sale)

Going up is no problem as the train I intend catching stops at both Watford & Northampton.
However on the way back, after breaking journey at Birmingham, could I use the 16:54 L.Midland Service as far as Rugby then change to the faster 17:53 calling at Milton Keynes & Euston only to save 30 minutes?

Also, am I right in assuming that you can break journey on either portion of an Off Peak Day Rtn?

Many Thanks
Dennis

 

[John @ home]

I plan to ... use the following off peak day return tickets

Boundary Zone4 - Watford Junction, OPDR w/Gold Card - £3.05
Watford Junction - Northampton, OPDR w/Gold Card - £6.95 (sale)
Northampton - Stourbridge Town, OPDR - 8.40 (sale)

... could I use the 16:54 L.Midland Service as far as Rugby then change to the faster 17:53 calling at Milton Keynes & Euston only to save 30 minutes?

Sorry, no. When combining only off peak day return tickets, the train must stop at each station where you change from one ticket to the next. The rules in full are in Condition 19 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

am I right in assuming that you can break journey on either portion of an Off Peak Day Rtn?

Yes, that's allowed.

 

[furlong]

Boundary Zone4 - Watford Junction, OPDR w/Gold Card - £3.05

Does that imply you have some sort of season ticket covering Zone 4? If so, what exactly and where do you intend to start your journey?

 

[postye]

Yes, I have an annual Z1-4 oystercard, will be starting/Ending journey at Euston

 

[John @ home]

Ah! Then you will see from Condition 19 that you may combine one (and only one) season ticket with any number of other tickets without the need for the train to stop at the changeover point(s).

 

[postye]

Ah, that's great, many Thanks. Will save me a good half hour that way.
So passing through but not stopping at Northampton/Watford is covered in 19c because of my travelcard?
I might print out the relevant page to take with me just to be sure.

 

[sonic2009]

You could save yourself 35p by purchasing a London to Stourbridge Town Off-Peak @ £18.15 London Midland only.

 

[postye]

Plan is 07:49 from Euston

 

[sonic2009]

Plan is 07:49 from Euston

And return?

 

[postye]

Not totally certain, but probably 16:54 New St-Rugby, then 17:53 Rugby-Euston

 

[sonic2009]

Are you breaking your journey in Birmingham?

 

[postye]

yes, the journey requires a walk between Moor St-New St so will take a look around before getting back on train

 

[sonic2009]

Would you consider Advance Fares?

 

[postye]

I usually look at advance fares, but not really worth it on this occasion as I think the saving would be only around £2, and for the benifit of flexibilty £2 is worth paying

 

[sonic2009]

You would save yourself around £6 if you looked at Advance tickets.

£5.50 e/w currently available

 

[IanD]

Ah, that's great, many Thanks. Will save me a good half hour that way.
So passing through but not stopping at Northampton/Watford is covered in 19c because of my travelcard?
I might print out the relevant page to take with me just to be sure.

Does the 1753 form Rugby pass through Northampton? I thought it went via Weedon. In which case your splits wouldn't be valid.

 

[sonic2009]

Does the 1753 form Rugby pass through Northampton? I thought it went via Weedon. In which case your splits wouldn't be valid.

Correct this service travels via Weedon

 

[postye]

Ah - OK, hadn't thought of that, looks like the slow train it is then.

 

[OwlMan]

Ah - OK, hadn't thought of that, looks like the slow train it is then.

Why do you want to split tickets when a through ticket from London Terminals to Stourbridge Town (LM Only) - [as mentioned in post 7] is 25p cheaper?

 

[postye]

Basically because I cannot see that fare available on any of the places I have looked. East Coast, RSH, national Rail and LM's own search brings the only return fare up at £50.70.
Looking at BR Fares there is a £21 Return, however even if i could find this ticket, it does not allow BOJ on the outward journey which I had planned to do

 

[IanD]

Even if you do the search on the London Midland Rail Sale page, you have to then select the show cheaper routes option and tick London Midland Trains Only for this fare to show.

 

[OwlMan]

Basically because I cannot see that fare available on any of the places I have looked. East Coast, RSH, national Rail and LM's own search brings the only return fare up at £50.70.
Looking at BR Fares there is a £21 Return, however even if i could find this ticket, it does not allow BOJ on the outward journey which I had planned to do

Where do you plsn to break the outward journey?

 

[postye]

Where do you plsn to break the outward journey?

Milton Keynes

 

[IanD]

Milton Keynes

Good choice