Bolton to Winchester

[ffcphone]

I very rarely make last minute rail excursions but it looks as though I am going to have to travel to Winchester (to arrive by 12:45pm) one weekday next week, returning probably around 4:30-5:30pm.

I did this once before earlier in the year taking a local service from Bolton to Manchester Piccadilly before boarding a CrossCountry service direct to Winchester. The ticket price was, as I recall, around £80 anytime return.

However, I found the 4 hour journey on a Voyager to be exceptionally dull and, more importantly, fairly uncomfortable.

I was considering catching a Pendo to Euston, catching the tube and then a South East Trains service down to Winchester. It may still take a similar amount of time but at least I would not be stationery for the same length of time as I would need to change in London, something I am not averse to at all.

I'm going to start looking at train times and prices tomorrow evening as I'm out tonight but I don't particularly want to be paying a hefty price although appreciate I may have little choice.

Annoyingly, I will not be 100% certain of my return from Winchester until I actually get to the station on way back but I can wait around in London pending a booked (cheaper) service.

Any advice would be much appreciated as the furthest I normally travel is to London and I book these weeks in advance to get the £16 return tickets, and that's easy to do. This is slightly more complex.

F

 

[clagmonster]

A saver Bolton-Winchester would cost you £87.50. This is restricted as follows:
OUTWARD TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to DEPART as
shown below:

RETURN TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to ARRIVE_as
shown below:

DEPART: LONDON EUSTON
Between 0905 & 1514 (inc.) and
at or after 1832.

ARRIVE: LONDON EUSTON
At or after 1055


Alternatively, as you are unsure as to when you are returning, you could buy an advance single for the outward, and then a saver half return for the return.

 

[tony_mac]

As a starting point - a £93 off-peak return from Lancaster to Winchester would allow you to get the 07:58 from Preston to Euston, and arrive at 12:05. I assume that you would also need an anytime return from Bolton to Preston.
It's about 10 minutes slower than going via Manchester - on the morning connection at least.

 

[ffcphone]

Thanks to the two of you for your prompt replies. Some useful info there. Must confess I was expecting 3 figures for such a late (and long) journey.

As it happens, I already have a monthly season ticket covering Bolton-Preston as part of my daily commute. However, without looking into it, I had just assumed travelling north west (Bolton to Preston) to then travel south to London defeated the object a bit.

But I'm more than happy to contemplate it for so little time difference.

I presume the saver ticket clagmonster mentions is available come what may and isn't dependant upon whether there's any availability etc ie Virgin can't control the number issued?

Presumably I could also make seat reservations if I booked in sufficient time?

Thanks guys.

F

 

[tony_mac]

Actually, I think I got it wrong for that particular journey - it would be much quicker to change at Wigan, but I'm sure you can check the details for yourself! (it just depends on the connections)

....but yes, these tickets will all be available on the day - and you can book seats if done in sufficient time.

The problem with the ticket from Bolton is that arriving into Euston after 1055 makes it difficult to get to Winchester in time. You also won't be able to leave Euston before 6:30pm, so you may find yourself having to wait (but only for half an hour or so). The ticket from Lancaster has better restrictions.

 

[yorkie]

I'd imagine (without checking the RG) that Bolton to Preston is valid via Wigan, so you can use your season to get to Wigan if that helps.

The "Banbury" fare costs more than the "+ London" and is therefore valid via London, but you would have arguments with insufficiently trained LU barrier staff doing that, and guards would probably look up the fares to see if you should be excessed (and discover that you shouldn't) so it is not worth the hassle.

Not only is the "+ London" ticket cheaper, as the fare is set by a more reasonable company, but it is also valid earlier! On the return you can leave Winchester at any time to connect with trains that leave Euston after 0905, but on the Cross Country priced ticket you are stuck in Winchester until 0930!!!

 

[thefab444]

South East Trains service down to Winchester.

How very dare you. South West Trains actually.

 

[SWT Driver]

Do split ticketing.

You only buy the most expensive ticket for the shortest length of route, as long as the train calls at the station where one ticket expires & next one starts then there's no problem.

 

[ffcphone]

Celia...I do apologse. I just imagined the geographical region. As you can tell, I'm not from those parts!

Well, my journey is now confirmed and I have to be in Winchester for midday on Wednesday.

I've read about ticket splitting but without the necessary experience in knowing where to split etc and not wishing to spend all my waking hours researching this, I may have to give that one a miss.

But the fares mentioned above interest me. I've just got to start working out what time trains call where to see whether those tickets remain valid.

F

 

[Helvellyn]

Be careful to make sure you get a fast train at Waterloo.

The xx05 and xx35 departures to Weymouth are the fast trains to Winchester, taking approximately an hour. These trains will also be formed with 444 stock that has 2+2 seating in Standard Class, and will have a trolley service.

The xx09 departures to Portsmouth Harbour (via Basingstoke) and xx39 departure to Poole take approximately an hour ten minutes. These trains can be either 444 stock or 450 stock (3+2 seating), and you may only get a trolley on some of the Poole services.

Coming back from Winchester the fast departures are at xx18 and xx48, again taking approximately an hour. The semi-fast services are at xx24 and xx54, and take approximately an hour 15 minutes.

Finally, if you weren't aware there are ticket barriers at both Waterloo and Winchester, so allow yourself time to get through those. At Waterloo, trains are taken off the departure screens on the concourse one minute before departure. Train doors will start being closed 30 seconds (45 seconds at Waterloo) before departure too.

 

[yorkie]

Can I also add to the advice, that the fastest and least hassle route to get from EUS to WAT is to take the Victoria line to Oxford Circus, then simply go through any of the inter-connecting passageways to the adjacent Bakerloo line platform and take a Bakerloo train to Waterloo. This is quicker than changing at somewhere like Warren Street. The journey can be done in about 20 minutes.

 

[tony_mac]

Is there something wrong with taking the Northern Line direct to Waterloo?

 

[yorkie]

I was thinking of King's Cross, nevermind!

 

[tony_mac]

A ticket from Lancaster would be valid for arrivals into Euston after 10:05, there is a service via Wigan that gets in at 10:12, so you should have plenty of time to get to Waterloo for the 11:05, and possibly even the 10:35.

It also looks like the ticket from Lancaster would be also valid though Bolton and Manchester, giving you a choice of routes on the return journey - although this may raise some eyebrows with the guard (if they bother to check!)

 

[ffcphone]

Continued thanks for the info guys. Very useful, especially the ticket barrier and LU connections.

Presumably, if I end up buying a ticket from Lancaster (if this provides less restricitivity - word?) there won't be an issue with me boarding at Preston or Wigan?

F

 

[clagmonster]

The restriction code for a Lancaster-Winchester, route +London saver priced at £93 states the following:
No break of journey allowed on
outward travel, except to
change trains.
Therefore, in my opinion, the ticket would only be valid from Preston or Wigan on trains which do not stop at Lancaster or start at Preston.

 

[tony_mac]

That wasn't in NFM02!

I have quite often got on an earlier train for 1 or 2 stops, just because I am bored of waiting at the station - or am with a friend for part of the way - or want somewhere to sit and drink my coffee - no guard has ever pointed out that I should have got on the train at a previous station.

Booking tickets on NXEC, and travelling via Westhoughton, would give you a seat reservation starting at Wigan to London.

So, in practice, I can't see any problem - but it is (extremely) remotely possible that a guard could be suspicious that you hadn't actually got on at Lancaster - I guess that he would have to check CCTV footage to actually find out!

In theory, you aren't allowed to do it. However, the NRCoC says that if a break of journey is not allowed then it will be made clear in the companies publications. It isn't - the only way the public can find out is by ringing up and specifically asking about it.
I would say that you would not be in breach of the NRCoC any more than the train companies are; they haven't told you that you aren't allowed to break your journey, and they should have done according to their own terms, so I doubt that they could reasonably enforce it. But that argument would be very likely to derail this thread entirely!

 

[glynn80]

The restriction code for a Lancaster-Winchester, route +London saver priced at £93 states the following:
No break of journey allowed on
outward travel, except to
change trains.
Therefore, in my opinion, the ticket would only be valid from Preston or Wigan on trains which do not stop at Lancaster or start at Preston.

This is correct, the ticket would only be techincally valid if the passenger started their journey at Lancaster and would not be valid for passengers starting their journey short at intermediate stations. The FRPP states the following on the situation:

Break of journey

Break of Journey, including starting or finishing a journey at an intermediate station between the origin and destination, is generally allowed as stated in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

Break of Journey is not available:-

· with Advance tickets issued from a quota;

· where the restriction code specifically restricts this;

· for any ticket with a validity shown as not available at intermediate stations;

· At London Underground (LU) stations other than at LU stations on a Train Company route where Train Company trains are scheduled to call, and subject to the general terms and conditions of the ticket permitting break of journey. EXAMPLE: with an Off-Peak Day Return from Luton to Brighton, break of journey is permitted at Kentish Town or Farringdon.

Emphasis added personally

Whether the above has been made clear or not is another one of those legal questions that probably shouldn't even be started, but in the eyes of the TOCs it would be invalid to start the journey at Preston or Wigan.

The best advice I can give if the OP really did wish to use this ticket, is to ask the guard before boarding whether this ticket can be used on his service and see what is said.

 

[tony_mac]

I would agree that it's not really worth debating again. As well as the quote from the FRPP - which is not public information - I would add the relevant quote from the NRCoC - which is.

However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications.

Personally, I wouldn't ask the guard, but I would have a seat reservation from Wigan. While Lancaser - Bolton - Wigan - London is a bit odd, it is permitted - and he isn't actually going to ask if you originally got on at Lancaster or not.
....
but the alternative is £156 for an anytime single, plus £86.50 for an off-peak single to return - or £167 anytime return via Banbury.
If I was the really nervous type (which I'm not!), and it was my money, I would probably just get up half an hour earlier and actually go up to Lancaster and join the train there.

 

[ffcphone]

I've only just realised the problem you've been trying to explain to me...tickets from any of Bolton, Manchester, Wigan, Preston all involve a restriction on the time of the train arriving into Euston and as ever, I need to be at Euston before the restriction expires.

A ticket purchased from Lancaster has an "easier" restriction.

But then there's the issue of would the guard/conductor/train manager take issue with me boarding at Preston or Wigan North Western and then producing a ticket from Lancaster. Afraid to say I'm a very bad liar and as a result have frequently done the honest thing, even to my fiscal disadvantage, so I don't envy the possible confrontation with the guard asking me where I got on etc.

Also, the trip from my home in Bolton to Lancaster would add an extra 45 mins or so to my journey already 8-9 hour round trip. So that doesn't appeal.

Despite my discomfort for multiple hours on a Voyager it's looking like this is the only sensible option as I don't want to pay stupid amounts. Virgin's advanced tickets are in 3 figures for the early morning train no matter where I board.

Hmmmmm...

 

[John @ home]

Presumably, if I end up buying a ticket from Lancaster (if this provides less restricitivity - word?) there won't be an issue with me boarding at Preston or Wigan?

The restriction code for a Lancaster-Winchester, route +London saver priced at £93 states the following:
No break of journey allowed on outward travel, except to change trains.
Therefore, in my opinion, the ticket would only be valid from Preston or Wigan on trains which do not stop at Lancaster or start at Preston.

My opinion is that you would be perfectly entitled to board a train at Preston or Wigan with an Off-Peak Retrun (SVR) from Lancaster to Winchester. The reason is the definition in the National Conditions of Carriage of the term break of journey.

C. USE OF TICKETS
16. Starting, breaking or ending a journey at intermediate stations
You may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) at any intermediate station, as long as the ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) before the destination shown on the ticket. However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications.
If you start, break and resume, or end your journey at an intermediate station when you are not entitled to do so, you will be liable to pay an excess fare. This excess fare will be the difference between the price paid for the ticket you hold and the price of the lowest priced ticket(s) available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to start, break and resume, or end your journey at that station on the service(s) you have used.
A ticket which entitles you to travel on the London Underground and/or Docklands Light Railway does not entitle you to break and resume your journey at any of the stations on these networks unless it is a Season Ticket or a Travelcard.
For the purposes of this Condition and Condition 11, you will be treated as breaking your journey if you leave a Train Company’s or Rail Service Company’s stations after you start your journey other than:
(i) to join a train at another station, or
(ii) to stay in overnight accommodation when you cannot reasonably complete your journey within one day, or
(iii) to follow any instructions given by a member of a Train Company’s staff.

The first thing to note from this extract is that there are three separate concepts: starting a journey at an intermediate station, ending a journey at an intermediate station, and breaking a journey at an intermediate station.

Second, breaking a journey is defined very precisely. A necessary, but not always sufficient, condition for breaking a journey is leaving an intermediate station. If you use a season ticket between Bolton and either Preston or Wigan, followed by a Lancaster - Winchester return ticket from either Preston or Wigan, then you cannot be said to be breaking your journey as defined in the National Conditions of Carriage. Instead you are Starting a journey at an intermediate station

Now we know from the definition that all 3 concepts are normally permitted: starting a journey at an intermediate station, ending a journey at an intermediate station, and breaking a journey at an intermediate station. But the Conditions include the sentence

However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications.

To find out whether you are allowed to start this particular journey at an intermediate station, we need to examine the detailed rules for this particular type of ticket between the two stations Lancaster and Winchester. These rules appear in the National Fares Manual and the version which will be valid next week is NFM 04 (6 September 2009 - 1 January 2010). You can buy the CD of this from http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?trackid=002068&FO=1159966&action=SearchResults for £14.67. Fortunately, my copy arrived in the post on Friday. To put your mind at rest, I quote the entry for a Lancaster - Winchester off-peak return route + London. Words in blue are mine.

Origin: LANCASTER
Destination: WINCHESTER
SVR - OFF-PEAK RETURN VWC
VWC means the fare is priced by Virgin Trains.
Route: 00200 - +LONDON
Adult fare: £93.00
Standard Class Return
Restriction : 3A
These restrictions apply Monday to Friday. By any train on other days.

SVR OFF-PEAK
Ticket Code: SVR
Ticket Class: STANDARD
Ticket Name: OFF-PEAK
Single/Return: RETURN
Out Validity:- Day - DATE ON TICKET. Time - SEE BELOW
Return Validity:- Day - ONE CALENDAR MONTH. Time - SEE BELOW
Break of Jrny: (OUT) YES. (RTN) YES (but SEE NOTES BELOW)
Pre-Booking Requirement: NONE
Reservations Compulsory: NO
Child Discount: YES
Railcard Discount: YES
Group Discount: YES
Refunds: SEE 'REFUNDS' SECTION
Details snipped for ticket codes other than SVR

For traval (sic) TO or VIA:
London (including Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Milton Keynes, Watford Junction and Reading) but NOT Kings Cross or Stevenage. Code 1K applies for journeys to/via Kings Cross or Stevenage.

Outward Travel.
You may travel on any train that is scheduled to ARRIVE:
London Euston: At or after 1005
Milton Keynes Central: At or after 1020
Watford Junction: At or after 1020

Return Travel.
You may travel on any train that is scheduled to DEPART:
London Euston: At or after 0905
Milton Keynes Central: At or after 0900
Watford Junction: At or after 0900

No break of journey allowed on outward travel, except to change trains.

Valid on all ScotRail (FSR) Caledonian Sleeper services (with supplement).

The details for 1K Snipped because this is for journeys to/via Kings Cross or Stevenage.

NOTES:
1) Time restrictions are indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's
validity code.
2) Holders of 16-25, Senior, Disabled Persons, HM Forces and Family & Friends Railcards, New Deal Photocards and Inter-Rail (Code 70) Cards travelling with Off-Peak tickets may use ANY Virgin train service, as long as the journey being made is priced by Virgin Trains. If the journey is not priced by Virgin Trains then the stated Off-Peak restrictions apply.
3) Only Senior, Disabled persons and HM Forces Railcards discounts are
offered with First Class Off-Peak Tickets.

BREAK OF JOURNEY
Break of journey is allowed on Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code.

Off-Peak Singles and the outward portion of Off-Peak Returns are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket. Where a journey can't be completed within one day, break of journey for an overnight stay is allowed. Where a journey continues into the next day, travel must resume before 1200 and any relevant time restrictions apply. No further break of journey is allowed except for the purposes of changing trains.

Return portions of Off-Peak Return tickets are valid for travel until 0230 on the day following the last day of validity (i.e. one calendar month from the outward journey). If a passenger is still travelling at 0230, they may stay on the train to complete that part of the journey but no further break of journey is allowed and all travel must be completed by 1200.

Note: Cross London transfers will only be accepted by London Underground on the date shown on the ticket (or last day of validity for Off-Peak Returns) and until 0429 the following day.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Off-Peak tickets are not valid when the journey is affected by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code.

Tickets with a 'Maltese Cross' shown in the route description allow transfer across London on London Underground, Docklands Light Railway or First Capital Connect (Thameslink route) services appropriate to the route of
the through journey being made.

Any local validity easements can be found in the Easements section EASEMENTS.

Travel restrictions do not apply on Public Holidays.

NETWORK AREA:
The London & South East Network Area is shown in the London Area Fares section E0.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys starting within the Network Area to destinations outside the Network Area with travel via London are valid by any train to London, to connect with trains from London.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys starting outside the Network Area for travel via London use restrictions from the origin station to London and return. Unless shown otherwise, they are unrestricted between London and the destination station, and return.

SELLING AN OFF-PEAK TICKET
Customers should be told of any restriction which may affect any part of their journey.

Where available, an information card giving ticket validity details should be
given out with each Off-Peak ticket.

Starting a Lancaster - Winchester journey at Preston or Wigan is allowed unless the relevant Train Companies ... make this clear in their notices and other publications. In my opinion, you are not breaking your journey - starting your journey at an intermediate station is a separate concept. The conditions above do not allow break of outward journey with this particular ticket. But they do not restrict starting your journey at an intermediate station.

Even if my interpretation is wrong, and starting your journey at an intermediate station is an activity which is a sub-set of the activity breaking your journey, a break does not occur until and unless you leave the station.

By either interpretation, starting a Lancaster - Winchester journey at Preston or Wigan using the outward portion of a Off-Peak return ticket is allowed. I hope ffcphone agrees.

John

 

[yorkie]

The restriction code for a Lancaster-Winchester, route +London saver priced at £93 states the following:
No break of journey allowed on
outward travel, except to
change trains.
Therefore, in my opinion, the ticket would only be valid from Preston or Wigan on trains which do not stop at Lancaster or start at Preston.

Are you sure? Isn't break of journey is defined as leaving station premises, not changing trains? There's nothing compelling you to get on the first available train that I can see, and there's nothing compelling you to take any particular route, and you can use station facilities so you can be allowed through barriers. Of course, all this makes the rule unenforceable

 

[ffcphone]

I appreciate the advices here but it seems we're getting into the realms of technicalities regarding the phrase "break of journey".

I don't particularly want to be excessed for a walk-on fare when a conductor takes the view I am wrong to board mid-route (ie Preston or Wigan North Western) as his/her view will be final, at least as far as on the train is concerned, and then I'm into a potentially lengthy written dialogue with Virgin Trains etc as to the definition of "break of journey". I can already see the response...you only bought the Lancaster ticket to get round the restrictions for a ticket from your starting station.

In addition, there is a new twist to this.

Firstly, I'd like to reach Winchester by 11:30am now and, ideally, return via London with a stop off for tea with a friend of mine. So I'm now contemplating the via Banbury route going down (bloody Voyager though) and returning via a Pendo either to Wigan or Manchester.

Going to start looking now.

 

[Helvellyn]

What fares are available with Virgin to Milton Keynes or Watford Junction? The reason I ask is that you shouldn't forget Southern run an hourly Milton Keynes - East Croydon(?) service that stops at Clapham Junction, where you could pick up a SWT service to Winchester (xx12 and xx46).

Might be another option you want to look at if you really do want to avoid a Voyager.

 

[clagmonster]

Before typing the rest of my reply, I must point out that I am not a legal professional and that what I post below, stated otherwise is my opinion.
Firstly, the NRCoC states:
"However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited".
I note that the word right is pluralised, hence suggesting to me that all three rights being described in the clause, ie starting, breaking or ending your journey at an intermediate station in your journey do not apply a break of journey is prohibited. The restriction code for this ticket states that break of journey is prohibited, so this would suggest that starting at an intermediate station is prohibited.

However, the NRCoC go on to say
"in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications."
Avantix and the FRPP are not available to the general public, so the only use that these have is for rail staff to advise passengers, which I don't think can class as a notice or other publication for these purposes.
This page: http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/buy_tickets/tickets_explained/offpeak.aspx on the Virgin Trains website, which is the relevent train company states:
"Break of Journey: Permitted on all Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket’s validity code."
The tickets valdity code is not displayed, and I don't think the general public can be expected to know what one is. Neither is any information given on how to find out the restriction code, although common sense would dictate that the most sensible options would be to either go to a station and ask or telephone Virgin, in both cases the response would be after looking up the restriction code, to state that break of journey is not permitted. I don't think however that this can be counted as a clear statement, although a court may disagree.
The other relevent website, National Rail states:
"You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel on Off-Peak tickets unless the ticket restriction for the journey you are making does not allow it. If you intend to start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station, please call 08457 48 49 50 to check if it is available on your specific journey."
This is more clear than the Virgin website, however the webpage I first found, and which I think many passengers would take of being the full information does not even mention break of journey, which is not exactly clear.

In summary therefore, I believe that the intention is that starting the journey at an intermediate station is not permitted. However, using the NRCOC and the publications available online I do not think that this is advertised sufficiently to be enforcable.

 

[glynn80]

Avantix and the FRPP are not available to the general public, so the only use that these have is for rail staff to advise passengers, which I don't think can class as a notice or other publication for these purposes.

Avantix is available to the general public through the TSO.

The information located within the FRPP applicable to passengers is also available to the general public through National Rail Enquiries or from booking offices.

Whether this constitutes enough of an effort to make the information available to stand up in court is of course another question.

 

[tony_mac]

"However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited".
I note that the word right is pluralised, hence suggesting to me that all three rights being described in the clause, ie starting, breaking or ending your journey at an intermediate station in your journey do not apply a break of journey is prohibited. The restriction code for this ticket states that break of journey is prohibited, so this would suggest that starting at an intermediate station is prohibited.

I would have drawn the opposite conclusion!
Having a plural, if anything, suggests to me that these rights can be treated seperately. If it had said 'this right may not apply to' then I would assume it was a single right which was to do any of starting late, breaking or ending early, and either all or none were allowed.
So, using 'rights' instead of 'right', I think, only strengthens the argument that they are seperate. I certainly don't think that it strengths the argument that either all or none are allowed.

Either way, it's ambiguous, and hence the consumer is entitled to the most beneficial interpretation.

BTW, I'm looking at the NXEC site, and it seems to think that a 'route Banbury' off-peak return is valid for the 7:01, arrive 11:24 - is that right?
A route Banbury ticket is more expensive, so is valid for return via London, isn't it? Although I gather that LU staff probably won't agree.

 

[glynn80]

I would have drawn the opposite conclusion!

Really!?

It clearly is mentioning the three rights that are stated in the first sentence and the end of journey right in the sentence prior. Perhaps beacuse the full paragraph has not been posted it does not seem clear:

16. Starting, breaking or ending a journey at intermediate stations
You may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) at any intermediate station, as long as the ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) before the destination shown on the ticket. However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications.

Surely if it were to only state the word "right" it would not be clear which of the four rights in the paragraph it is referring to.

 

[paul1609]

To be honest if i was doing this trip with a weeks notice `i'd get an early train from Bolton to Manchester Airport then one of the morning flybe flights to Southampton and then the train 2 stops back to winchester or possibly a taxi from the airport. Id return on the train via London.
XC south of Birmingham is more regional than Intercity and its usually horribly overcrowded between Birmingham and Reading

 

[ffcphone]

Well, I've spend the last while on this and now booked tickets.

I hope my understanding is correct.

I've booked an off-peak single from Preston to Winchester on 9 September departing Preston at 7:17am. I change at Wolverhampton and travel via Banbury. Not ideal but little choice. Cost £46.15.

My understanding is a break of journey is allowed on this and thus I can actually bored at Wigan North Western rather than Preston. Do we all agree with my interpretation?

Coming back, I have another off-peak single booked on the 6:24pm from Winchester via Waterloo and Euston. Again, my understanding is I can catch an earlier train from Winchester and also alternative services from Euston on this ticket. Cost £45.85. Am I correct on this too?

Total cost £92.00

If my understanding is correct I'm quite pleased with this.

F