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Southend Victoria to Stratford (via Rayleigh)

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dret

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Rsyleigh
I've recently found that you can buy discounted tickets, if bought in advance from Southend Victoria to Stratford.

But if I buy a ticket from Rayleigh to Stratford, no matter how far in advance, it's not discounted. Why is it cheaper to travel from Southend to Stratford?

And if I buy an advance ticket from Southend to Stratford, but get on at Rayleigh, would I be doing anything wrong?
 
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jfollows

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I've recently found that you can buy discounted tickets, if bought in advance from Southend Victoria to Stratford.

But if I buy a ticket from Rayleigh to Stratford, no matter how far in advance, it's not discounted. Why is it cheaper to travel from Southend to Stratford?

And if I buy an advance ticket from Southend to Stratford, but get on at Rayleigh, would I be doing anything wrong?
Yes, the conditions of advance tickets is that you can not start or finish short. If you do so with no intent to avoid a higher fare, it’s usually allowed, but in this case this is precisely what you’re trying to do, so you could end up being treated as not having a valid ticket if caught.
 

dret

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Yes, the conditions of advance tickets is that you can not start or finish short. If you do so with no intent to avoid a higher fare, it’s usually allowed, but in this case this is precisely what you’re trying to do, so you could end up being treated as not having a valid ticket if caught.
Thanks for that. I have a bus pass I can use to get to Southend, so I'll need to use that.
 

MarlowDonkey

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I've recently found that you can buy discounted tickets, if bought in advance from Southend Victoria to Stratford.

But if I buy a ticket from Rayleigh to Stratford, no matter how far in advance, it's not discounted. Why is it cheaper to travel from Southend to Stratford?
Did you take note that the discounted ticket was termed "Advance"? This has the restriction that it's only valid on one specific train. The Rayleigh ticket on the other hand is valid on all trains that day subject to any peak restrictions.
 

jfollows

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Did you take note that the discounted ticket was termed "Advance"? This has the restriction that it's only valid on one specific train. The Rayleigh ticket on the other hand is valid on all trains that day subject to any peak restrictions.
Only valid on one specific train between the defined start and end points, I think the original poster was asking about joining the train but at a later station than shown on the ticket.
 

Harpo

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With two separate rail routes to Southend, might the GA ticket be to avoid a revenue split?
 

dret

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13 Mar 2025
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Rsyleigh
Hello, I live in Rayleigh. But when you book in advance from Rayleigh to Stratford, it's the same price as buying it at the station on the day. And that's expensive, can't afford that.

But, you can buy tickets from Southend Victoria to Stratford for in advance for much cheaper. So, I was thinking of buying advances tickets from Southend Victoria to Stratford, and joining the train at Rayleigh, as it'd work out a lot cheaper. But as pointed out to me, that's not allowed.

I've got a bus pass that I can use between Rayleigh and Southend. So I might still buy the advance tickets from Southend and get on the train, at Southend Victoria.

Getting the bus and using the Southend Central C2C line to Stratford or Fenchurch Steet would also be a much cheaper option.
 

Haywain

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I've got a bus pass that I can use between Rayleigh and Southend. So I might still buy the advance tickets from Southend and get on the train, at Southend Victoria.
Noting your other thread, I wonder if you have a railcard of any description and, if not, whether you have looked into getting one? As you refer to having a bus pass you may also qualify for a railcard in some circumstances.
 

dret

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Rsyleigh
Hello Hawayain

The bus pass was free for a year when I moved into the house where I live, like an added incentive to buy the house. I have a friends and family railcard, which is I use maybe once every two months, taking my children to Liverpool. I might look into a Network Railcard, see if that would work.
 
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