Railcard / break of journey time restrictions?

[quietcoach]

Haven't seen the answer to this anywhere, perhaps I'm overthinking it...
Network railcards are not valid before 10am (unless there is an easement). But if my ticket allows break of journey is there anything stopping me joining the train at a later station than booked? I need to get somewhere quite early in the morning but would have to start my journey before 10am so can't use the railcard from home station. To get where I need early enough I would prefer to I cycle to a station further down the line and catch the train there at 10am, when the railcard becomes valid. On the return journey I can then get all the way home by train.

I.e. Off Peak Return with Network Railcard Mortlake --> Aldershot

Mortlake dep 09:38
CJ arr 09:50 / dep 10:00
Aldershot arr 10:49

Return back to Mortlake later in the day with no restrictions.

Because the outward journey would have had to begin before 10am at Mortlake does that make the 10am from CJ to Aldershot invalid or can I cycle to and get on the 10am train at CJ using the railcard as planned? Hope this makes sense and thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As far as I know that is allowed provided the ticket permits break of journey, but if the ticket is from an earlier station you would do well to obtain some evidence of having boarded at that later station because it's fairly likely staff won't believe you later. One option for this would be to purchase the ticket immediately before travel from the booking office or TVM there, or to order it online and collect it there. A selfie with the station sign may also not be a bad plan.

There is also a bit of a known issue with staff at CLJ being a bit funny about stuff so there is the risk of being refused entry. They are for instance the only staff I've ever heard of who sometimes refuse people going through the gateline to M&S on Advances, technically a break of journey as it's not railway property, but this is beyond jobsworth to actually do as in any meaningful sense those shops are station facilities, the technicality of who owns them is only of relevance to the landlord, to any layperson they are inside the station.

 

[quietcoach]

As far as I know that is allowed provided the ticket permits break of journey, but if the ticket is from an earlier station you would do well to obtain some evidence of having boarded at that later station because it's fairly likely staff won't believe you later. One option for this would be to purchase the ticket immediately before travel from the booking office or TVM there, or to order it online and collect it there. A selfie with the station sign may also not be a bad plan.

There is also a bit of a known issue with staff at CLJ being a bit funny about stuff so there is the risk of being refused entry. They are for instance the only staff I've ever heard of who sometimes refuse people going through the gateline to M&S on Advances, technically a break of journey as it's not railway property, but this is beyond jobsworth to actually do as in any meaningful sense those shops are station facilities, the technicality of who owns them is only of relevance to the landlord, to any layperson they are inside the station.

Thanks. I'll have proof of cycle journey and will take a photo on the way for luck. As long as there isnt anything that would prohibit it I'm fine with it...as long as scanning the ticket will get me past the gateline - I assume the gates will open using the ticket before 10am even if bought using a Network Railcard? The train departs at 10 on the dot, so I need to get through around 09:55. Or is there a risk the gates won't let me through and then I'm at the whim of a jobsworth?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Scanning the ticket will almost certainly not get you through the gateline. It depends however on how it is set up.

 

[6PAN]

Scanning the ticket will almost certainly not get you through the gateline. It depends however on how it is set up.

I agree with this. I also think that the gate line staff are unlikely to let you through before 10:00, and may even suspect you of fraud as the fare from Mortlake to Aldershot is slightly cheaper than that from CLJ.

 

[Kite159]

Scanning the ticket will almost certainly not get you through the gateline. It depends however on how it is set up.

However even an unsuccessful scan will show on the scan history of the ticket, so is good evidence where the OP was.

Some of the agency staff at Clapham Junction can be a bit funny when it comes to breaking journeys or anything unusual. Some are also useless when it comes to allowing people pass without checking the ticket (ie checking the date!)

 

[quietcoach]

I agree with this. I also think that the gate line staff are unlikely to let you through before 10:00, and may even suspect you of fraud as the fare from Mortlake to Aldershot is slightly cheaper than that from CLJ.

Notwithstanding the point about 10am, how can it be possibly be fraudulent to utilise a break of journey which is allowed as part of the terms and conditions of the ticket?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2026 ==

However even an unsuccessful scan will show on the scan history of the ticket, so is good evidence where the OP was.

Some of the agency staff at Clapham Junction can be a bit funny when it comes to breaking journeys or anything unusual. Some are also useless when it comes to allowing people pass without checking the ticket (ie checking the date!)

Thanks this is helpful. Sounds like the staff at CJ could be an issue and if the gate stops me from going in then I could be scuppered regardless of whether it is technically allowed.

Putting aside the foibles of the gate staff it does seem like no one has a definitive answer about whether or not it is technically permitted or not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2026 ==

Thanks very useful. I have been able to access intermediate stations in the past in this way but didn't know that different station scanners can be set up differently.

Still no definitive answer as to whether you can technically do it, but gate staff seem a potential issue even if the law says there is nothing wrong.

Scanning the ticket will almost certainly not get you through the gateline. It depends however on how it is set up.

 

[6PAN]

Notwithstanding the point about 10am, how can it be possibly be fraudulent to utilise a break of journey which is allowed as part of the terms and conditions of the ticket?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2026 ==


Thanks this is helpful. Sounds like the staff at CJ could be an issue and if the gate stops me from going in then I could be scuppered regardless of whether it is technically allowed.

Putting aside the foibles of the gate staff it does seem like no one has a definitive answer about whether or not it is technically permitted or not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2026 ==

Thanks very useful. I have been able to access intermediate stations in the past in this way but didn't know that different station scanners can be set up differently.

Still no definitive answer as to whether you can technically do it, but gate staff seem a potential issue even if the law says there is nothing wrong.

My comment was more about the attitude of the staff at CLJ than a suggestion that this would be fraudulent!

 

[quietcoach]

Fair enough. I have read the relevant national conditions of travel and railcard terms. It is pretty unambiguous actually (most of my job is legal work)...

16.2 Unless excluded as part of a specific Ticket’s terms and conditions you may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return Ticket) at any intermediate station, except as shown in Condition 16.3 below (re circular routes which does not apply here), provided that the Ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return Ticket) before the destination shown on the Ticket.

Network Railcard Condition 4.2. Network Railcard discounts apply for travel at or after 10.00 Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays) and any time on weekends.  Discounts apply to services in the Network Railcard area only (see network-railcard.co.uk/map).

The key bit in 16.2 is "you may start a journey at any intermediate station". So even if I hold a ticket Mortlake --> Aldershot, the definition of journey applies to whichever intermediate station I choose to start from. I was worried the definition of 'journey' would imply from Mortlake as that is stated on the ticket. Then 4.2 says the discount applies for travel at or after 10am, so it is unambiguous that it applies to trains scheduled at 10am. Taken together it means it is legimate to board the train at CLJ at 10am with a ticket from Mortlake as I can choose to start my journey from any intermediate station.

However, it has been very useful to discover that although it is legitimate, it is likely that my ticket won't open the barriers and I will possibly get push back from gate staff at CLJ attempting this. Thank you all for your experience regarding this!

 

[mickey]

I have done this a few times, albeit at other locations not Clapham, and have encountered no problems. In my experience RPIs tend only to check the current time, rather than back-calculating.

For gatelines, my local station’s are set to allow tickets using Network cards to pass from 0957. I assumed this was standard tbh, they know you might want to catch a valid service departing on the dot of 10.

 

[walkingsophie]

However, it has been very useful to discover that although it is legitimate, it is likely that my ticket won't open the barriers and I will possibly get push back from gate staff at CLJ attempting this. Thank you all for your experience regarding this!

Based on personal experience with similar tickets, the staff at Clapham Junction are less likely to care compared to the staff at Waterloo, so you'll likely be fine.

 

[redreni]

I am neither condoning nor suggesting this, but I expect you'd encounter less friction if you began your journey at an ungated station at a time when your off-peak ticket is not valid. There would be no need to pass through Clapham Junction's gateline then.

The very fact you would be passing through the gateline (presumably with your bicycle) should suggest to any reasonably switched on member of staff that you have not started your journey at an impermissible time, because if you had, you would already be on the paid side of the gates.

 

[quietcoach]

For those of you who want to know the outcome...I arrived at CLJ Brighton Yard entrance at 09:57 (cutting it fine I know...) and my Network Railcard Mort->Aldershot ticket opened the barrier first time without fuss (as it should do according to the rules). Thanks to all who replied with useful suggestions / experience.