Worcester to Birmingham New Street (via Five Ways)

[SephenWorceste]

Please could I ask for some advice. I was hoping to buy a Worcester to Birmingham Stations (New Street) Any Time Day Return. I was planning to break my journey at Five Ways. I would change trains at University.

I was told at my station that no ticket would allow this as they are two separate lines. If I had a New Street ticket I had to take a direct train to New Street. It was suggested I needed buy Worcester to Five Ways and Five Ways to New Street.

I thought this was a bit odd as I am allowed to change at University and I think it is the same track from University to New Street if I break my journey at Five Ways.

If I put Worcester to New Street via Five Ways into the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner website it comes up with a ticket to take exactly the trains I want. The 7.16 Worcester to University and the 8.05 University to New Street (via Five Ways). All on one Anytime Day Return

Please could I ask if there is a ticket for my itinerary. I want to buy six of theses returns so I would like to get it right.

Thank you in advance, Stephen.

 

[Gareth Marston]

You've been mis-advised - you don't have to travel "direct" at all. You can break your journey on any anytime day return anywhere you want providing its between the origin and destination station via a valid route. Given that Five Ways is the station between University and New St.............

You could change at Bromsgrove as well.

 

[SephenWorceste]

You've been mis-advised - you don't have to travel "direct" at all. You can break your journey on any anytime day return anywhere you want providing its between the origin and destination station via a valid route. Given that Five Ways is the station between University and New St.............

You could change at Bromsgrove as well.

Thank you very much. I did not think the advice from Worcester Foregate Street seemed right.

Best wishes, Stephen.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I can't see the post you seem to have been replying to, but what the ticket office at Worcester said is entirely wrong. There is only one line between University and Birmingham New Street, and Five Ways is towards the New Street end of that line.

What you propose to do is entirely legitimate and there can be no excuse for the ticket office's frankly awful "advice".

 

[SephenWorceste]

I can't see the post you seem to have been replying to, but what the ticket office at Worcester said is entirely wrong. There is only one line between University and Birmingham New Street, and Five Ways is towards the New Street end of that line.

What you propose to do is entirely legitimate and there can be no excuse for the ticket office's frankly awful "advice".

Thank you for your advice. I was hopefully starting a new post for this question. I did think the advice from the station did not sound right. The person I spoke to said I am the first person he has given this advice to. It seemed like it was something he did reasonably regularly.

Best wishes, Stephen.

 

[SephenWorceste]

Just to update you. I tweeted West Midlands Railway and the pricing manager has confirmed that I am allowed to change at University and break my journey at Five Ways. As this forum knew.

Thank you again, Stephen.

 

[SephenWorceste]

Just to update you. I tweeted West Midlands Railway and the pricing manager has confirmed that I am allowed to change at University and break my journey at Five Ways. As this forum knew.

Thank you again, Stephen.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Just to update you. I tweeted West Midlands Railway and the pricing manager has confirmed that I am allowed to change at University and break my journey at Five Ways. As this forum knew.

Thank you again, Stephen.

I'd be rather worried if it required the Pricing Manager to confirm that very basic question!

 

[SephenWorceste]

I'd be rather worried if it required the Pricing Manager to confirm that very basic question!

I was rather surprised. I always find the staff helpful at Worcester.

 

[crosscity]

I was told at my station that no ticket would allow this as they are two separate lines. If I had a New Street ticket I had to take a direct train to New Street. It was suggested I needed buy Worcester to Five Ways and Five Ways to New Street.

Perhaps the booking clerk thought Five Ways was on the Stourbridge line or some other line, but not where it actually is. Even then, the correct advice would have been to buy a ticket from Birmingham to Five Ways. All in all the clerk sounds as though he/she needs some training.

 

[SephenWorceste]

Perhaps the booking clerk thought Five Ways was on the Stourbridge line or some other line, but not where it actually is. Even then, the correct advice would have been to buy a ticket from Birmingham to Five Ways. All in all the clerk sounds as though he/she needs some training.

I went back today to get the ticket I wanted and it was sorted out. Apparently it must have changed because my anytime day return was previously only for direct trains.

Best wishes, Stephen.