Tweedbank to Maryhill Return Validity Question

[David M]

Tweedbank to Maryhill Return wiith Railcard:
Normal Off Peak Return £16.35
BUT Tweedbank to Blairhill, Blairhill to Maryhill £12.80
or more realistically since my best train back doesn't stop at Blairhill:
Tweedbank to Coatbridge Sunnyside, Coatbridge Sunnyside to Maryhill £12.95
Question would be, if there was disruption on the EtoG Bathgate line causing cancellations when I'm coming back, would I be permitted to travel Queen St to Waverley via Falkirk High?

 

[yorkie]

Question would be, if there was disruption on the EtoG Bathgate line causing cancellations when I'm coming back, would I be permitted to travel Queen St to Waverley via Falkirk High?

I'd buy all tickets for your journey in one transaction as a search for the through journey, from an accredited split ticketing website (specify calling at: Coatbridge Sunnyside).

This would provide a booking confirmation email which could be easily shown to staff in the event of disruption. It could increase your chances of being allowed to do that.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Unless there is an easement I am missing, no. You do not have a legal entitlement to travel via Falkirk High as the only mapped route between Tweedbank and Coatbridge Sunnyside is via the shortest route from Tweedbank to an Edinburgh Group station, and then the shortest route from an Edinburgh Group station to Coatbridge Sunnyside. That precludes travelling via somewhere like Falkirk High (as it is also not on the shortest route plus <=3 miles, nor do direct trains go that way).

The occasional reduction in possible diversionary routes is one of the few disadvantages of splitting tickets; however, in the event of serious disruption it is possible you would be permitted to take an alternative, "non-permitted" route to get you to your destination sooner.

 

[David M]

Thanks for the replies - I normally simply buy via the Scotrail site so I get the ticket onto smartcard. I made the journey last week with a normal off peak return as I wasn't sure of this. Doing it again a week on Saturday so may give it a go...but may chicken out!

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Thanks for the replies - I normally simply buy via the Scotrail site so I get the ticket onto smartcard. I made the journey last week with a normal off peak return as I wasn't sure of this. Doing it again a week on Saturday so may give it a go...but may chicken out!

If there is disruption and you choose not to travel (or to return to your origin before reaching your destination) as a result, you are entitled to a fee-free refund from the retailer who sold you your ticket.

If you see in the morning that there is disruption on the via Coatbridge route, you can simply get a refund on your pre-bought split tickets, and then buy a new Off-Peak Return. That would be a way around the limitations of split ticketing for your scenario.

I'm not sure there is a consensus on what refund you would be entitled to if you have made your outbound journey fine but then abandon your return journey owing to disruption. Are you only entitled to the difference between the Return(s) bought and the appropriate equivalent Single(s)? In many cases, that would see you getting only 10% or so back, which hardly seems fair. But a full refund seems overgenerous considering you have had half of what you paid for. I think a 50% refund would be fair - but then again, I do not set the policy and I don't know how each retailer would approach the situation.