Anytime tickets

[Belly Buster]

I was about to purchase an “Anytime” ticket which, according to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/anytime_conditions.html allows me to travel with “no restrictions on when you can travel.” " Perfect for people who need complete flexibility.". Furthermore “Anytime Singles tickets are valid for travel on any train on the date shown on your ticket. The outward part of Anytime Return ticket are valid for travel on any train witihin (sic) five days of the date shown on your ticket.”

However in the small print on the booking site it says:

Journey: Stoke-On-Trent to Manchester Piccadilly £11.00
Anytime return £11.00
1 Adult(s) Full Fare @ £11.00
This ticket is only valid for travel on Virgin Trains services.
Flexible ticket with no time restrictions on when you can travel.

So now I have both valid for travel on any train and This ticket is only valid for travel on Virgin Trains services.

My head hurts!

 

[First class]

Why would you think an Anytime ticket is valid Anywhere?

It is valid for use on any Virgin Train whenever you want

The very last sentence on the webpage is most relevant.

All tickets and travel are subject to National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

 

[Belly Buster]

It's not so much that is is valid "Anywhere", but "Anyhow".

The real problem is that the national rail online booking doesn't distinguish between VT only anytime and Anyhow Anytime untill you want to buy the ticket. You click on info for "Anytime" and you get the "complete flexibility" gush when in fact it is far from that.

 

[bb21]

Anytime describes the fact that there is no restriction on when you can travel. The difference is that Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets may have time restrictions on when you can travel.

Ticket type does not mention operator restrictions. TOCs are free to offer any of these ticket types that are restricted to their own services. The restriction on operators will be shown under the Route section of the ticket. Any Permitted means that there is no restriction on which operator you may use. Route Virgin Trains Only can only be used on one specific operator.

 

[island]

As a bonus, if you use that ticket on a weekend, you can go First Class for free.

 

[LexyBoy]

As others have said, 'Anytime' means just that - any time, not necessarily by any route or operator. However, the OP has a valid point that National Rail Enquiries and most TOC websites (not those that use WebTIS) do make it hard to see what the ticket restrictions are - they're not shown on the main page, only the price (which can make fares seem even more complicated than they are).

Also, there's no need to buy in advance unless you want to reserve seats. These tickets are available at the station from the ticket office or machines, and also on-board (though Stoke is barriered IIRC).

 

[DJ737]

G'day

It is valid for use on any Virgin Train whenever you want

No it's not, Its only valid for a Virgin Train between Stoke & Manchester whenever you want.

I wouldn't try to use a Stoke-Manchester ticket between Euston and Birmingham, which according to the advice given by First class should be OK.

Chees
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[yorkie]

The ticket type is "Anytime", meaning it can be used at any time.

The route is "Virgin Trains Only", meaning it can be used on Virgin Trains only.

It can therefore be used on any Virgin train (that takes a permitted route for the ticket held, obviously) within the validity period.

The real problem is that the national rail online booking doesn't distinguish between VT only anytime and Anyhow Anytime untill you want to buy the ticket.

The National Rail website lets you look at prices but does not actually sell tickets, it will re-direct you to another website to buy. I do not know which website you are referring to, so cannot comment on how clear it is.

 

[LexyBoy]

No it's not, Its only valid for a Virgin Train between Stoke & Manchester whenever you want.

No it's not, it's only valid on Virgin Trains services which stop at both Stoke and Manchester in passenger service. I wouldn't try using it on an ECS move...

 

[AlterEgo]

I do not know which website you are referring to, so cannot comment on how clear it is.

In this case it would most likely be Virgin Trains' website, or Trainline.