Birmingham to Chester day return

[Railjet]

I would like to do a day trip on a weekend from Birmingham to Chester, and I am a bit unsure about the rules.

I see that the cheapest fare is an Off-peak day return at £14.70. I also see that the cheapest equivalent to Crewe is an Off-peak return at £21 (ignoring the West Midlands Day Ranger which is not valid on VT).

A few questions:

1. Does this mean that I cannot break my journey at Crewe without paying the higher fare?

2. Otherwise, if I buy the Off-peak day return to Chester, am I allowed to break my journey in either direction (e.g. at Shrewsbury), and as many times as I like, or only on the return journey? The NR website says something about having to phone to check if break of journey is possible on a specific routeing. :-?

3. Can I route via both Shrewsbury and Crewe in the same direction (this seems to be allowed in the National Routeing Guide) if I don't break my journey at Crewe?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[dan_atki]

1. Does this mean that I cannot break my journey at Crewe without paying the higher fare?

No - you are permitted to break your journey wherever you wish, regardless of intermediate fares.

2. Otherwise, if I buy the Off-peak day return to Chester, am I allowed to break my journey in either direction (e.g. at Shrewsbury), and as many times as I like, or only on the return journey? The NR website says something about having to phone to check if break of journey is possible on a specific routeing. :-?

The Birmingham to Chester ticket has a restriction code of B4 - break of journey is permitted in both directions, and this means as many times as you wish.

3. Can I route via both Shrewsbury and Crewe in the same direction (this seems to be allowed in the National Routeing Guide) if I don't break my journey at Crewe?

Yes, by maps BC and CH. You are permitted to break at Crewe. If they give you a hard time doing so politely refer them to the routeing guide and the National Conditions of Carriage. You are also permitted to complete your journey at Crewe and not use the Crewe-Chester part of the ticket if you do not wish to.

 

[John @ home]

I see that the cheapest fare is an Off-peak day return at £14.70. I also see that the cheapest equivalent to Crewe is an Off-peak return at £21 ...

1. Does this mean that I cannot break my journey at Crewe without paying the higher fare?

No, it doesn't. Break of journey at Crewe (or anywhere else on a permitted route) is allowed in both directions. From the NFM 02 CD:

Origin: BIRMINGHAM N ST
Destination: CHESTER
Route: ANY PERMITTED
Adult Price: £14.70
Ticket Name: Off-Peak Day
Code - CDR
Class - STANDARD
Single/Return - RETURN
Outward Validity: Day - DATE ON TICKET
Time - SEE BELOW
Return Validity: Day - DATE ON TICKET
Time - SEE BELOW
Break of Journey: Out/Rtn - YES
Pre-Booking Req: NONE
Reservations Compulsory: NO
Discounts:
Child - YES
Railcard - YES
Group - YES
Refunds: See 'Refunds' section
Restriction: B4
OUTWARD TRAVEL
By any train except those timed to depart Mondays to Fridays before 0845
RETURN TRAVEL
By any train

if I buy the Off-peak day return to Chester, am I allowed to break my journey in either direction (e.g. at Shrewsbury), and as many times as I like, or only on the return journey?

Yes, you are allowed to break your journey as often as you want on both legs.

The NR website says something about having to phone to check if break of journey is possible on a specific routeing.

I have not yet heard of anyone doing this and being given the correct answer.

3. Can I route via both Shrewsbury and Crewe in the same direction (this seems to be allowed in the National Routeing Guide) if I don't break my journey at Crewe?

Yes. Travel via Shrewsbury, Wem and Chester is allowed using maps BC + CH. It remains valid whether you break your journey at Crewe or not.

John

 

[robert2000]

its quicker to go via crewe either way.

 

[Railjet]

Thanks, dan_atki and John @ home for your full answers.

robert2000, I am not necessarily looking to go the quickest route, which is why I asked about breaks of journey.

 

[Polarbear]

I live in Chester & often travel to Birmingham using this ticket. It has to be one of the best value for money "walk up" fares in the UK.

There are a multitude of routes to choose from & it's valid on all TOC's with the only time restriction being in the morning peak on weekdays which is fair enough.

Also, travelling into the West Midlands from Chester, you can actually purchase an off peak day return to places as far afield as Lapworth for the same money. I'm not sure if that works the other way around, though I do know that if I book over the internet, (or at Chester station at the excess window), I can get the ticket from Bache at no extra cost.

 

[Railjet]

Also, travelling into the West Midlands from Chester, you can actually purchase an off peak day return to places as far afield as Lapworth for the same money. I'm not sure if that works the other way around, though I do know that if I book over the internet, (or at Chester station at the excess window), I can get the ticket from Bache at no extra cost.

Yes, it does work the other way around. And to the Chester area the fare is the same as far as Mouldsworth, Capenhurst or Helsby.

However, I found out that there is a CDR from Birmingham to Ruabon for only £12.10. Same conditions, except valid from 09:00 instead of 08:45. And according to NR it is valid via Crewe and Chester.

 

[mark_hammond75]

Is a break of journey allowed in both directions?

There's a note on National Rail Enquiries saying that "Please note Outward Break of Journey is not permitted on Virgin Trains"

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/trp?ticketTypeCode=SVR

but it doesn't say it here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak_conditions.html

However, it doesn't really quantify this statement. Is this a change to the tickets that Virgin sets the prices for? Or does it mean that you can't use an outward break of joureny and travel by Virgin trains?

 

[yorkie]

A few points about that:

1. The ticket in question is a Off Peak Day (CDR) not an Off Peak (SVR). All Off Peak Day tickets allow break of journey on both outward and return portions always.

2. Virgin have decided to set Off Peak ticket restrictions to not allow break of journey on outward portions.

3. Virgin only set restrictions where they set the fare. They do not set the Chester-Birmingham fare. So Virgin's restrictions do not apply to that ticket.