Breaking journey - discretion?

[Class377]

Tomorrow I have an advance journey which involves connecting from a branch line train (which runs on an hourly frequency) with an intercity service (which also is hourly), therefore giving me a 40 minute interchange to walk across a platform.

However, this is an advance ticket and so I obviously am not allowed a break of journey at this station. Ordinarily therefore I would have bought my advance from this intermediate station to my destination and a day single from the origin but on this occasion it was cheaper to buy an advance all the way through.

Realistically though, will staff really prevent me from going to the shopping centre next door for a bite to eat during my 40 minute interchange? I will still be travelling on the booked services and from the origin to the destination.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

From a logistical point of view, it would depend on the station. If there are ticket barriers or staff on revenue duties, realistically, they can and should stop you doing that.

No-one here can say what staff on the day would do though.

 

[Be3G]

Class377: note that either way, you are permitted to go through the gate line to access the station's eateries if there are any – doing so doesn't count as a break of journey. I don't know if the gate line staff realise that though!

 

[Qwerty133]

nothing to stop you getting a local takeaway to deliver to the station http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88167&highlight=pizza

 

[Class377]

The station is Preston, which has a pub on one platform but I assume that will be very expensive. There is a retail park next door to the station which was what I'd be looking at if that's any use?

 

[causton]

Should have no problem with that, if in doubt just say you're going out for a cigarette! That usually gets any potential checker to agree to let you out. But you should be able to walk straight out IIRC?

 

[sheff1]

The pub isn't actually that expensive. Breakfast, in particular, seems popular although I have never tried it myself.

If you do want to go out it is highly unlikely that there will be checks at the shopping centre entrance anyway and, if there are, I would be very surprised if you were prevented from crossing the road for a sandwich.

 

[John @ home]

if in doubt just say you're going out for a cigarette!

Agreed. I'm not a smoker, but I have found that the question "Where could I go to smoke a cigarette?" obtains an appropriate instruction from a member of staff.

NRCoC: you will be treated as breaking your journey if you leave a ... station after you start your journey other than to ... follow any instructions given by a member of a Train Company’s or Rail Service Company’s staff.

 

[Be3G]

The pub isn't actually that expensive. Breakfast, in particular, seems popular although I have never tried it myself.

Furthermore, the Bite card can be used there too.

 

[David Goddard]

I remember a lengthy thread about this before.
Condition 16 really needs updating to better define "break of journey", to enable such a break. If the booked connection is as long as this, you should really be allowed to do as you please in this time, not be held captive by a TOC on railway premises.
You are more likely to have success when station facilities are on the unpaid side of the gateline (such as at Reading where shops, toilets, information etc are all on the unpaid side)

 

[142094]

The ticket checks at Preston are normally on the footbridge from the station entrance to platforms 1 and 2. Never seen anyone at the station entrance checking tickets.

 

[itsjamierawr]

I take it you're connecting from the Blackpool South train to a London/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Lake District/Birmingham service (those are the only ones I can think of that would be hourly)... only ticket inspectors I've seen at Preston are (as mentioned before) on the bridge from Platforms 1&2... personally Fishergate centre is actually more expensive than the pub in the station (and I find the waiting room at Preston more comfortable) but you see people using that small side exit all the time to smoke.

 

[Class377]

Just thought I'd give an update on this - it was indeed switching from a Blackpool South service to a Euston train. However, the hourly service from BPS was cancelled meaning I would have missed my connection resulted in me running across Blackpool to Blackpool North station for another train to Preston and only having 11 minutes to change.

My ticket got endorsed and stamped at BPN so no loss at all except for me being very hungry all the way home!