Break of Journey

[penaltyfines]

Hi,

I have a Off-Peak Return (SVR) ticket (ticket 'A') from Birmingham New Street [BHM] to London Euston [EUS], and have used the return portion to travel only as far as Milton Keynes Central (MKC).

I then needed to return to London so I bought another SVR ticket (ticket 'B') from MKC to Boundary Zone 2 [0041] and used it in conjunction with my Zones 1-2 Season Ticket on Oyster to travel MKC to EUS.

Can I then use the combined tickets to travel back from EUS to BHM?

i.e.

EUS>0041 -- Zones 1-2 Season Ticket
0041>MKC -- Ticket 'B' return portion
MKC>BHM -- Ticket 'A' remainder of return portion

I don't see why the above wouldn't be valid as break of journey is allowed, therefore given that the first ticket is a season ticket is this valid for a train that does not stop at MKC?

 

[LexyBoy]

Yes, that's fine.

Assuming your London-Birmingham SVR Rtn has been marked in some way, you'll need to explain what you're doing and that it's OK under NRCoC condition 19.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, you can do that, and it'll be valid on any train.

Trains from Euston to Brum leave at xx03, xx23, and xx43.

The xx03 services are least heavily loaded, although a few are operated by Voyagers (0803 for example!). xx23 services tend to be slightly busier as these go right through to Wolves.

 

[penaltyfines]

Yes, that's fine.

Assuming your London-Birmingham SVR Rtn has been marked in some way, you'll need to explain what you're doing and that it's OK under NRCoC condition 19.

That's what I thought, but I can just see the conversation with the human 'barriers' at Euston. Marked ticket... train does not call... boundary zone... oyster card... hell no!

 

[AlterEgo]

Hopefully you won't have a problem with the Oyster part....

 

[island]

Virgin has been known to say that it does not accept tickets issued on Oyster cards.

 

[MikeWh]

Virgin has been known to say that it does not accept tickets issued on Oyster cards.

They'll be in danger of losing their licence even sooner if they do that. It is a clear breach of the NRCoC that they have to adhere to.

 

[penaltyfines]

Also what's interesting is for a EUS to MKC journey with a Travelcard Season, which could be used in combination with other tickets for a longer journey, there's an advantageous differing restriction.

If e.g. you are travelling on the 08:51 VT service, the cheapest fares are:

EUS MKC SDR VT Only - £25.80
BZ2 MKC CDR - £19.00

Also some other useful fares:

EUS to BHM in peak with a Travelcard:

BZ2 to NMP SDR £42.90
NMP to BHM SDR £15.80

Total £58.70

Saving £90.30 vs a EUS to BHM SOR @ £149.00


Northampton seems a good place to split when using a season ticket, as you can use Virgin fast trains but benefit from LMR pricing without being on a 'LONDON MIDLAND ONLY' route.

 

[MikeWh]

Northampton seems a good place to split when using a season ticket, as you can use Virgin fast trains but benefit from LMR pricing without being on a 'LONDON MIDLAND ONLY' route.

Are you sure? A ticket to Northampton wouldn't cover you on the Northampton avoiding route that pretty much all Virgin trains use.

 

[penaltyfines]

Are you sure? A ticket to Northampton wouldn't cover you on the Northampton avoiding route that pretty much all Virgin trains use.

At what point is a route different? Splitting at Westbury on a RDG-TAU route is OK even if it doesn't physically route through the station?

 

[LexyBoy]

At what point is a route different? Splitting at Westbury on a RDG-TAU route is OK even if it doesn't physically route through the station?

There's no routeing difference in that case, as the maps don't distinguish the avoider and the station. Similarly, I often split at Didcot, where travel from Oxford is via the avoiding line.

The question of how the passenger is supposed to know is a little less clear. The answer would have to be to ask (though the NRE website can be used to find out routeings.

 

[clagmonster]

Personally, I'd be inclined to agree that a Northampton split would not be valid on a train going via Weedon, but the evidence in the public domain is:
Table 59-66 network map: implies all trains travel via Northampton
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/eNRT/May11/timetables/MapTable59.pdf

Table 65 route map: shows separate routes
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/eNRT/May11/timetables/MapTable65.pdf

BR network map: shows separate routes
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/eNRT/May11/Network map.pdf

NSE schematic map: shows separate routes
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/eNRT/May11/Schematic Map.pdf

ATOC map: shows separate routes
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/OfficialNationalRailmaplarge.pdf

Project map: shows most Virgin services as avoiding Northampton
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/nationalrailoperatorsmap.pdf

ATOC NSE map: shows most Virgin services as avoiding Northampton
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/London_South_East.pdf

Also, if you Euston-Birmingham via Northampton into a journey planner, the results will not contain services via Weedon.

 

[penaltyfines]

Are you sure? A ticket to Northampton wouldn't cover you on the Northampton avoiding route that pretty much all Virgin trains use.

Sorry I see what you mean now.

This looks quite good:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/nationalrailnetworkmapZoom.pdf