Birmingham evening peak restrictions

[crosscity]

If I buy a Cheap Day Return from Kings Norton to Birmingham New St for £2.50 (Restriction GF) I cannot return from New St between 16:35 and 18:00.

If I buy a CDR from Kings Norton to Aston for £2.60 there is no evening restriction - even though I must travel through New St. I understand I can break my journey on both outward and return journeys. Does this mean I can break my journey at New St and still return in the evening peak without having to excess up to the Anytime Day Return?

I know this seems like nit-picking but I was really peeved when London Midland brought this restriction in, as it only seems to be those with CDR's who suffer. West Midlands senior citizens and Network Daytrippers have no evening peak restrictions.

 

[bb21]

Yes, you're correct that you can break your journey at Birmingham on the Aston ticket and return from there at times restricted on a Birmingham ticket due to differences in their restrictions.

 

[island]

I agree with bb21, but you'll have to be prepared to argue the point with the gateline at BHM most days.

 

[AlterEgo]

I agree with bb21, but you'll have to be prepared to argue the point with the gateline at BHM most days.

...if they look at your ticket.

I once accidentally flashed my Bite card and was allowed through.

 

[headshot119]

...if they look at your ticket.

I once accidentally flashed my Bite card and was allowed through.

Ahhh the joys of what you can show the new street gateline and still get through.

I could not of course condone bypassing the gate line by using the lifts.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Ahhh the joys of what you can show the new street gateline and still get through.

I could not of course condone bypassing the gate line by using the lifts.

*coughs*

even a parking enforcement officers identity card is valid through them!

And a iff card!

 

[bnm]

And one time I came out of the lift as was confronted by four RPIs. Fumbling for my ticket, I was waved on my way with a, "Don't worry mate, we're just off for a tea break."

 

[crosscity]

Thank you all for your replies. It's what I wanted to hear. I will have a go with the Aston ticket next time I have to pop into Birmingham.

There is a downside, though. When I have found that I'm ready to go home in the evening peak instead of paying the excess (~£1.20) I have had a coffee or half a pint of bitter in the city and waited until after 18:00. It made me feel good anyway.

 

[WCML]

I'm really not sure what the Bham evening peak restrictions are all about. They advertise that you can't use Off Peak tickets between 16:30 and 18:00 yet, even the most vigilent ticket office guy at University will sell you an Off Peak return to BHM in the evening peak.
Strange.
At one point, they were announcing on BHM-MAN CrossCountry services that Off Peak tickets weren't valid in the evening peak, when there's no restrictions after 10am.

 

[thewolf]

And one time I came out of the lift as was confronted by four RPIs. Fumbling for my ticket, I was waved on my way with a, "Don't worry mate, we're just off for a tea break."

A while ago I was meant to collect some tickets from Hamstead for a journey through New Street. Got to Hamstead to find a closed ticket office. In order to get to the TVMs to pick them up from New Street I had to pass through the gateline. I had the itinerary and confirmation ready to show to the staff member and explain that I couldn't collect them from Hamstead. Got to the barrier and stopped to explain the situation, before I could say anything he gave me a look as if to say 'why have you stopped' and waved me through

 

[dvboy]

A while ago I was meant to collect some tickets from Hamstead for a journey through New Street. Got to Hamstead to find a closed ticket office. In order to get to the TVMs to pick them up from New Street I had to pass through the gateline. I had the itinerary and confirmation ready to show to the staff member and explain that I couldn't collect them from Hamstead. Got to the barrier and stopped to explain the situation, before I could say anything he gave me a look as if to say 'why have you stopped' and waved me through

Whereas on other occasions I have gone in the Victoria Square entrance, found no staff selling tickets there and so had to walk through to the main concourse to be asked at the gateline "how did you get here without a ticket?"

 

[Paul Kelly]

At one point, they were announcing on BHM-MAN CrossCountry services that Off Peak tickets weren't valid in the evening peak, when there's no restrictions after 10am.

Off-peak day tickets that are priced by CrossCountry have an evening peak restriction, e.g. Birmingham to Stoke-on-Trent. The off-peak day return on that flow costs £14.20; you need to pay 80p more to get the off-peak return, which is a regulated fare and thus has no evening peak restriction.

 

[graham43404]

Whereas on other occasions I have gone in the Victoria Square entrance, found no staff selling tickets there and so had to walk through to the main concourse to be asked at the gateline "how did you get here without a ticket?"

Something similar happened to us the other week travelling on London Midland to Euston, they had staff selling tickets but no checks were being done on people walking through. Infact we went the whole journey without showing tickets or putting into a barrier at Euston as the baggage one was stuck open!