Break of journey?

[Essex Virgin]

I commute weekly from Chelmsford to Preston. Outward journey on Friday is on the 20:30 from Euston, returning Monday morning from Preston at 8:58 using an off peak return ticket.
I have discovered that if I buy an off peak return ticket from Chelmsford to Lancaster, that ticket is valid on an earlier train on the Monday morning, 7:38 form Lancaster, calling at Preston at 7:58. I would however get off and on the train at Preston.
My friendly ticket office lady tells me that this is a practice other regular commuters indulge in, that it is not permissible and that a revenue enforcement officer could oblige me to pay an excess fare.
The National Conditions of Carriage at para. 16 headed "Starting, breaking or ending a journey at intermediate stations" state that I can start and end my journey at an intermediate station but then goes on to to say that "these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited" It then adds "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 an excess fare.
The new Virgin booklet "Tickets and Fares" (w.e.f. 6/9/09) states that a journey with an off peak ticket can be broken "except for certain journeys to/from...Lancaster"
I have two questions:-
1.Is there a difference between starting/ending and breaking?The heading of para 16 suggests that they are three different things but the then the second passage quoted above lumps them all together.
So when the Virgin booklet talks of breaking a journey, does that include starting and ending?
2.If there are specific restrictions on tickests to and from Lancaster where can one find them?
The help of forum members would be much appreciated.

 

[yorkie]

This has been discussed at great lengths (done to death I'd say) on this forum, and quite recently too. No conclusive answer was reached, but I do not believe that they can possibly stop you cutting short your journey at Preston.

See http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=354260&highlight=break+journey#post354260

and http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=348687&highlight=break+journey#post348687

and more topics going further back!

Don't forget that getting off a train at Preston and going through a manual barrier (if one is ever in place at Preston) is NOT breaking your journey, as you are not breaking your journey until you leave station premises. Using station facilities is not breaking your journey.

So unless someone follows you, they can't do anything until you step foot on the street. I hardly think they can persue you after that point.

Admittedly your ticket may not be valid any more as you cannot break and resume, so you cannot resume to Lancaster.

In the other direction, if the crew of the train joining at Preston sees you walk into Preston station and when they check your ticket remember seeing you outside the station then theoretically they could claim your ticket is invalid, however that is debatable and unenforceable IMO.

 

[OwlMan]

According to Avantis break of journey is only prohibited on the outward journey - not on the return.


Peter

 

[glynn80]

According to Avantis break of journey is only prohibited on the outward journey - not on the return.

The FRPP confirms this position as follows:

Validity Code 5F

These restrictions apply Monday to Friday. By any train on other days.

...

· No Break of Journey allowed on outward travel, except to change trains
· Pls note: Off-Peak and Break of Journey restrictions will not apply from 24th Dec – 1st Jan inclusive on Virgin Trains & NXEC services

 

[nedchester]

This has been discussed at great lengths (done to death I'd say) on this forum, and quite recently too. No conclusive answer was reached, but I do not believe that they can possibly stop you cutting short your journey at Preston.

See http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=354260&highlight=break+journey#post354260

and http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=348687&highlight=break+journey#post348687

and more topics going further back!

Don't forget that getting off a train at Preston and going through a manual barrier (if one is ever in place at Preston) is NOT breaking your journey, as you are not breaking your journey until you leave station premises. Using station facilities is not breaking your journey.

So unless someone follows you, they can't do anything until you step foot on the street. I hardly think they can persue you after that point.

Admittedly your ticket may not be valid any more as you cannot break and resume, so you cannot resume to Lancaster.

In the other direction, if the crew of the train joining at Preston sees you walk into Preston station and when they check your ticket remember seeing you outside the station then theoretically they could claim your ticket is invalid, however that is debatable and unenforceable IMO.

Surely on the return journey the TICKET is valid on the earlier train whether you get on at Lancaster or Preston or anywhere else for that matter.

As for using it on the outward as far as Lancaster, seeing as the 2030 terminates at Preston then you can leave the station at Preston and 'continue the following day to Lancaster'.......