Early morning railcard fares

[krus_aragon]

I'm going on a day trip to London on Tuesday the 16th, direct to Euston with Virgin, but with Wrexham and Shropshire on the way back. The return itinerary consists of

20:03 Marylebone - Wrexham General (WSMR) arriving 23:57
00:14 Wrexham General - Chester (AW) arriving 00:34
00:40 Chester - Colwyn Bay (AW) arriving 01:23

I haven't purchased tickets for WRX-CWB yet: there are no advance tickets sold for that journey. I have been pricing the 'on-the'day' fares online, however.

Using National Rail's website to price a single fare (with YP Railcard) gives a price of £9.55 for an anytime day single on the 22:15 ex-Wrexham, but the 00:14 departure is £12. I assume that NRE is thinking "ah, it's now before 10:30am, so the minimum fare applies!".

A brief conversation with a revenue protection officer at Colwyn Bay suggested that it shouldn't be applicable on the last train of the night, and that I'd be fine buying a single on board. However, I know that there are some wily ol' fares gurus here and I'd like your advice.

So, from a 'stick to the rules' and also a 'you'll be fine' point of view:
a) Will I be allowed to travel on the 00:14 with a £9.55 single ticket for the 16th bought beforehand?
b) Buying an anytime return CWB-WRX for the 16th would be £10.15. NRE says it won't be valid on the 00:14 departure for the return leg, though. Is this right?
c) The train's last stop before midnight is at Gobowen, at 23:58. NRE gives a fare of £10.55 Is there any advantage in buying a single ticket from GOB-CWB, and boarding at Wrexham?
d) What would the guard's ticket machine issue if I bought on the train? (AW staff aren't picky about 'buy before you board')

Thanks in advance

 

[dan_atki]

I'm assuming the time you are questioning is 00:14 technically on the 17th?

If so, a ticket with an expiry of the 16th is valid upto 0230 on the 17th so can be used on the service you want to use. If you were to buy the ticket after midnight, it would be deemed as the new day and the minimum fare would apply (I recall a similar debate a few weeks ago on here).

The guard's Avantix machine will likely (can someone confirm this is the case?) have a button for them to apply the minimum fare onto the ticket - it is upto them whether they use it.

 

[Max]

The guard's Avantix machine will likely (can someone confirm this is the case?) have a button for them to apply the minimum fare onto the ticket - it is upto them whether they use it.

I'm not so sure this is the case: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23552

It would probably be much safer for the OP to buy their ticket at Marylebone before travelling, dated for the 16th. Travel with this is perfectly valid.

 

[dan_atki]

I'm not so sure this is the case: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23552

Strictly speaking, if they didn't apply the minimum fare to the ticket bought after midnight then they would be in the wrong, but such a facility exists should I turn up at a station/ask for a ticket on the train at 0800 wanting a discounted ticket for travel at 1200, say.

It would probably be much safer for the OP to buy their ticket at Marylebone before travelling, dated for the 16th. Travel with this is perfectly valid.

Indeed, the ticket dated the 16th would be valid until 0230 on the 17th as I said above.

 

[attics26]

always a good idea to have a ticket to your final destination late at night otherwise you may be stranded by any delays - would be a long walk.

 

[krus_aragon]

Thanks all. I'd read that returns were valid until 0230 the next day (and used them that late too!) but I'm glad of the confirmation with singles. Minimum fare on a ticket bought after midnight makes sense (if they won't issue yesterday's) but I'm a bit miffed that NRE misled me, given that I'd be buying the ticket well in advance. I'll get hold of a ticket for the 16th from my local station beforehand then, as well as a travelcard for the London end.