Stopping short on an Advance ticket due to cancellations

[stu]

Hi all

Travelling today to Paddington today from Moreton-in-Marsh on advance singles.

There were massive delays this morning at Moreton due to signalling issues, so I drove to Oxford to pick a GWR up there. The gateline staff were happy for me to use my advance single from Oxford.

When I return tonight, technically by getting off at Oxford I'd be stopping short and obviously not allowed on an advance. But could I do so in this circumstance?

I know it was my choice to drive to Oxford rather than wait it out at Moreton, but hey I'm self employed and need to get on with my day so I can get paid!

Ta!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Looking at advance fares available today for travel today from Paddington to Oxford and Moreton-in-Marsh, tickets to Oxford are cheaper than those to Moreton (unsurprising as it's a shorter distance, but oddities do happen). Assuming that to be typical of fare prices, no-one at Oxford is likely to think that you bought the Moreton ticket to save money, and they probably won't have a problem about letting you out of the station - it's not as if you're doing the railway out of any money.

So unless there's something special about the staff mindset at Oxford, I would expect you to be fine. Hopefully someone with local knowledge will be along shortly to advise whether there's anything in particular about the gateline staff at Oxford.

 

[island]

I cannot imagine you will have any difficulties.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So unless there's something special about the staff mindset at Oxford, I would expect you to be fine. Hopefully someone with local knowledge will be along shortly to advise whether there's anything in particular about the gateline staff at Oxford.

If yesterday is anything to go by one in particular is an unhelpful misery-guts who can do little more than grunt (though one can understand, given the extremely poor condition of the station building, that they feel a bit uncared-about), but they didn't appear to be being particularly awkward with anyone.

 

[stu]

Thanks all.

I'll see what happens - I've got screenshots of all the cancelled trains etc so I'm sure it'll be fine.

It was better than waiting over 2hrs at Moreton for a train!

 

[mangyiscute]

GWR are usually nice imo - i was on an advance from canterbury to oxford the other day, and got to paddington in time for the service before the one i was booked on - train manager let me take the earlier one with no issues.

 

[4COR]

If you happen to have an itinerary that changes at Oxford already, then asking to use the toilets/shops should get you out of the gateline, as they are in the main station concourse. But yes, generally they are pretty OK at Oxford, and I'm sure explaining the starting/finishing short to retrieve your car because of disruption would be more than reason enough.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you happen to have an itinerary that changes at Oxford already, then asking to use the toilets/shops should get you out of the gateline, as they are in the main station concourse.

Doing that then walking out on an Advance is rather ill-advised. People, particularly RPIs, don't like being lied to. You can see where people go from the gateline.

See Merseyrail and people being asked to go and pay in the Mtogo and not doing. They end up being prosecuted.

Simply honestly explain your situation and they will 99.9999999% certain just let you through. If they're insistent you should pay up to an Anytime Single or issue a PF, do so and reclaim it from the TOC customer services/appeal it. However in the circumstances I'd be very surprised if you ended up on the 0.00000001% side. The gates might even open when you scan.

 

[stu]

It was fine, there was the merest hint of a grunt, but I was let through with no issues!

Thanks all for their responses.