Route validity query - London to Midlands

[toxicjames]

Hello all,
I hold a super offpeak single (17.95) for Saturday August 8th from London Terminals to Wolverhampton. Originally I was intending to travel from Euston directly, but now I'd like to travel from Marylebone via High Wycombe and Birmingham, with a break of journey in Beaconsfield.
Could anyone tell me if this new route would be valid, to save buying a new ticket?

Thank you for your time,
James

 

[najaB]

Hello all,
I hold a super offpeak single (17.95) for Saturday August 8th from London Terminals to Wolverhampton. Originally I was intending to travel from Euston directly, but now I'd like to travel from Marylebone via High Wycombe and Birmingham, with a break of journey in Beaconsfield.
Could anyone tell me if this new route would be valid, to save buying a new ticket?

Thank you for your time,
James

What does your ticket say in the 'Route' and 'Validity' fields?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ah, found it now. Looks to be this ticket. I don't believe it will be valid as 'Journey must include travel on the following main TOC: VIRGIN TRAINS' - while you could use VTWC from Birmingham to Wolves, I think the guard on the Chiltern train might object as Chiltern is the main TOC for your journey.

 

[SickyNicky]

Ah, found it now. Looks to be this ticket. I don't believe it will be valid as 'Journey must include travel on the following main TOC: VIRGIN TRAINS' - while you could use VTWC from Birmingham to Wolves, I think the guard on the Chiltern train might object as Chiltern is the main TOC for your journey.

Have I missed something obvious? The link you gave is an ANY PERMITTED ticket and thus is perfectly valid via Chiltern. There are no break of journey restrictions, so it's fine to break at Beaconsfield.

 

[LexyBoy]

I agree that it's valid.

The line "Journey must include travel on the following main TOC: VIRGIN TRAINS" appears under it on the list of fares. It's not on the ticket or part of your contract, so has no bearing on the ticket's validity.

 

[Merseysider]

In my opinion, completely valid on Chitern.

Any restriction of TOC (eg Virgin only) would have to be on the ticket itself to be enforceable.

10. Tickets valid only in trains of particular Train Companies
The validity of a ticket may:
a) be restricted to; or
b) prohibit
travel in the trains of a particular Train Company or Train Companies. Any such restriction or prohibition will be shown on the ticket.

In the absence of any such notation on the ticket itself, no restriction on TOC applies.

 

[LexyBoy]

The NRE page for the ticket type is here and says

Availability: This ticket can only be purchased online and as part of a return journey on Virgin Trains.

Now, this does not form part of a contract, but in any case only describes "availability" rather than "validity". Restrictions to Virgin are not mentioned elsewhere.

 

[najaB]

In the absence of any such notation on the ticket itself, no restriction on TOC applies.

That is why my question as to what is actually printed on the ticket.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Isn't this the Super Saver Half (SSH)?
You can only buy this from the Virgin Trains web site in conjunction with a return leg, but as I see it the TOC validity is not restricted to Virgin Trains.

 

[IanXC]

Ah, found it now. Looks to be this ticket. I don't believe it will be valid as 'Journey must include travel on the following main TOC: VIRGIN TRAINS' - while you could use VTWC from Birmingham to Wolves, I think the guard on the Chiltern train might object as Chiltern is the main TOC for your journey.

I agree that it's valid.

The line "Journey must include travel on the following main TOC: VIRGIN TRAINS" appears under it on the list of fares. It's not on the ticket or part of your contract, so has no bearing on the ticket's validity.

I'd agree with LexyBoy, I think that reference is really there for Journey Planners to guide the return leg on these tickets onto VT and not LM. I'd agree that once in possession of an Any Permitted ticket the suggested itinerary would be valid.

 

[najaB]

I'd agree with LexyBoy, I think that reference is really there for Journey Planners to guide the return leg on these tickets onto VT and not LM. I'd agree that once in possession of an Any Permitted ticket the suggested itinerary would be valid.

Not having purchased this ticket before I wasn't sure if it would have 'VTWC&CONN' or similar printed on it.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Perfectly valid on Chiltern, but be aware that it is heavily restricted, even at weekends.

It's also worth noting that, as they've used the SSS and SSR ticket types, the "full price" Virgin Super Off-Peaks qualify for GroupSave...though that restricts their use to Chiltern and London Midland only.