Breaking Journey at Chesterfield (Sheffield - Rayleigh)

[portervalley]

I intend to buy a Sheffield - Rayleigh off peak return (£89.20). I would like to break my journey at Chesterfield on outward and return.

Natonal rail website says : 'Break of journey is allowed on the outward portion of Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code and in all cases on the return portion of Off-Peak return tickets.'

I have contacted National Rail Enquries by telephone to see if they could inform if there was such a restriction in this instance however the man in Mumbai told me that I could break on outward but not on return which completely contradicts the statement from the National Rail website which I have quoted above! I have also approach East Midlands trains via their contact form but have yet to have a response (between 5 and 20 days for a response apparently).

 

[Chapeltom]

http://www.brfares.com/#!faredetail?orig=SHF&dest=RLG&rte=129&ldn=1&tkt=SSR

As a rule of thumb, return legs almost always (if not always) permit BoJ on a return leg.

The Super Off Peak Return at £89.20 allows break of journey on both legs.

 

[maniacmartin]

Forget their callcentres because they haven't bothered checking and made up an answer on the spot.

You can look up the restriction code on the unoffical site BRfares. The SUPER Off-peak return at £89.20 is http://www.brfares.com/#!faredetail?orig=SHF&dest=RLG&rte=129&ldn=1&tkt=SSR. The validity code's restrictions are the left-most column.

In this case, code CI does not mention Break of Journey, so it is permitted.

This information is also buried in National Rail Enquiries website, but it is very hard to locate.

 

[portervalley]

Thanks both for the prompt responses. Just what I was looking for.

 

[yorkie]

I...however the man in Mumbai told me that I could break on outward but not on return which completely contradicts the statement from the National Rail website which I have quoted above!....

It's rare that National Rail Enquiries know the answer to even simple queries, therefore you're better off asking us on this website.

The inconsistent response you received is consistent with the experiences of many others, ie they're consistently inconsistent and consistently providing contradictory and/or complex information.

What's highly concerning is that passengers can, in some circumstances, be penalised by being charged unexpected excess fares, new tickets, or even penalty fares or possibly prosecuted, for making mistakes. Yet there is rarely any consequence if the rail industry, or any of its partners, makes a mistake. :cry: