Can you start your journey short?

[Flyingsprinter]

It’s probably been discussed here before but I can’t find anything so I apologise.
If I was to buy an advance fare from X-Z, but get on at an indermidate stop (y) and travel to Z is this allowed?
E.g get a Leeds to London advance ticket and board at Wakefield. (This is not the journey I’m taking, I don’t want to mention what journey I’m taking)
It would save me about a third of the fare if I did this due to the madness that is advance fares, but is it legal? I’m not traveling short, but I am starting short kind of.

 

[Merseysider]

Not strictly allowed, but tolerated in certain circumstances.

Attempting to undercut another fare isn’t one of them, unfortunately.

 

[Flyingsprinter]

That’s what I feared would be the answer.
What would be a tolerable circumstance?

 

[AlterEgo]

That’s what I feared would be the answer.
What would be a tolerable circumstance?

If you weren’t doing so to clearly avoid a higher fare.

 

[Mathew S]

Starting short, though, is generally permitted on 'walk up' tickets, isn't it?

 

[FenMan]

Starting short, though, is generally permitted on 'walk up' tickets, isn't it?

It depends. In some parts of the country it is fairly common to have a break of journey restriction on the outward leg of off peak journeys i.e. starting short isn't permitted.

Best to check the restriction code for the ticket you wish to buy by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk/[RESTRICTION CODE]

 

[AlterEgo]

It depends. In some parts of the country it is fairly common to have a break of journey restriction on the outward leg of off peak journeys i.e. starting short isn't permitted.

Best to check the restriction code for the ticket you wish to buy by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk/[RESTRICTION CODE]

Strictly speaking, stopping or starting short aren’t a break of journey. The NRCoT says:

16.4 Generally, you may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return Ticket) at any intermediate station, as long as the Ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. However, this may not be the case with some through services that take an indirect route. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return Ticket) before the destination shown on the Ticket.

It is quite clear that stopping or starting short is considered different to breaking your journey.

I’m not aware of any ticket which has a restriction on stopping or starting short, though there are many with break of journey restrictions.

 

[mmh]

Strictly speaking, stopping or starting short aren’t a break of journey. The NRCoT says:




It is quite clear that stopping or starting short is considered different to breaking your journey.

I’m not aware of any ticket which has a restriction on stopping or starting short, though there are many with break of journey restrictions.

The Advance ticket T&Cs override that unfortunately. "You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary."
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46546.aspx

 

[AlterEgo]

The Advance ticket T&Cs override that unfortunately. "You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary."
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46546.aspx

Yes, my apologies, I knew that but was rather thinking of Off Peak tickets - I’d forgotten the original subject was Advances.

 

[The Ham]

It’s probably been discussed here before but I can’t find anything so I apologise.
If I was to buy an advance fare from X-Z, but get on at an indermidate stop (y) and travel to Z is this allowed?
E.g get a Leeds to London advance ticket and board at Wakefield. (This is not the journey I’m taking, I don’t want to mention what journey I’m taking)
It would save me about a third of the fare if I did this due to the madness that is advance fares, but is it legal? I’m not traveling short, but I am starting short kind of.

If it's saving you enough money and the time penalty isn't too bad I'd just buy a single from y to X so that I would start my advanced ticket journey at X.