Advance Fare Query

[dave_wm]

Hello,

I'm buying an advance ticket from Canterbury to Four Oaks and I'd like to know whether I can break my journey in London before continuing on my reserved train from London Euston to Birmingham, and then to Four Oaks?

For example, I'm looking at a train that does this;
1651 Canterbury West to London Charing Cross 1837
1923 London Euston to Birmingham New Street 2045
2105 Birmingham New Street to Four Oaks 2128

Could I catch a train leaving Canterbury West at say 1139 and have a few hours in London, as the train from Canterbury West to Charing Cross doesn't have any seat reservations?

Thanks in advance,

David

 

[Pumbaa]

You could only buy an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket for the Canterbury West > Charing X leg, and then buy a seperate Advance ticket to Four Oaks. You cannot break your journey on Advance tickets, and the ticket will have a coupon issued with it telling you (and the guard/RPI) what train the ticket is valid on.

 

[dave_wm]

OK, thanks.

What about on the way there - National Rail has only given my 39 minutes to cross London (Euston - Victoria), but the Victoria Line is shut. If the tube's got problems or my incoming Pendolino's delayed, am I valid on the train after?

 

[jopsuk]

Actually, I'd be almost certain that the only train you'll specifically have to catch is the Euston-Birmingham one, as that will be the only one on which you'll have a reservation. I may be wrong, but I think you'd actually be able to travel from Canterbury to Charing Cross at any time during the day. Whilst your through ticket will be valid on the Underground, it will only be so for one journey. You could travel any other way between Charing Cross and Euston at your own expense.
If the Pendo is late you could get a later service to Four Oaks, and if it's on time you'd be valid catching the 20:55.

With Advance tickets it's ONLY the portions with reserved seats that are mandatory.

 

[yorkie]

OK, thanks.

What about on the way there - National Rail has only given my 39 minutes to cross London (Euston - Victoria), but the Victoria Line is shut. If the tube's got problems or my incoming Pendolino's delayed, am I valid on the train after?

Absolutely yes!

If you want to get an earlier train, that's fine. But you are not compelled to.

As for breaking your journey in London, you can't do it on that ticket. But in theory you could use Oyster from Victoria to central London to go shopping (or whatever) and again to Euston and no-one would be any the wiser!