Tfw flex return

Hi

I searched for an advance journey Chester to Manchester pic on specific start time but with open return selected.

On national rail it gave a tfw advance flex return showing as a return ticket - when I go tfw to buy it shows as a single - which is it? And if buy that do I need return same day ? Appreciate its tfw trains only. It seems very cheap and wondering if it is valid fare.

I've never heard of it but, apparently (according to National Rail), it's a semi-flexible ticket where the outward journey is valid only on a specific train but the return journey can be made on any service the same day. Break of journey is not permitted. Restriction code AF.

So much for simplification of fares.

Note I can only get that fare via national rail as the tfw site doesn’t have option for open returns

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I asked the staff at Chester ticket office and they had no idea about flex return option and wanted to charge me £24 rather than £12.40 it smells like an error to me

I tried to purchase it on the TfW app. When I selected open return, it didn't offer an Advance Flex, but when I selected a return journey on the same day it did.

It seems to be a valid ticket, and you get the usual railcard discount. But you must return the same day.

Maybe thinking it’s legit - 50% advance discount - doubt it get me through gates at Manchester / Chester on return

I have used flex advances for travel to Chester from North Wales quite a few times now. They are perfectly legit, and very good value.

I think that the reason they don't come up as open returns is because TfW have had to shoehorn them into the fares structure as advances. Disconcertingly this means that both the outward and return tickets both say "Only valid on booked train", even though the conditions clearly say the return is valid on any TfW train that day.

I haven't had any issues getting through the gates at Chester with them. Bit disappointing that Chester booking office knew nothing about them. However, I don't think they have received much publicity, probably because they are only available on some routes.