Burgess Hill to Barnham

[adam_mitchell]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I have a season ticket between Burgess Hill (BUG) and Barnham (BAA). I was wondering if it is ok for me to get the direct train from BUG to Littlehampton and then get one from there to Barnham, rather than having to change onto a busier train where I may not get a seat at either Hove or Worthing. Also, would I be allowed through the ticket check at Littlehampton to leave the station if I chose to get picked up from there instead of carrying on to BAA.

Thanks in advance.

 

[transportphoto]

Also, would I be allowed through the ticket check at Littlehampton to leave the station if I chose to get picked up from there instead of carrying on to BAA.

If the route is valid...

No Guarantee but, if the ticket states

Between
Burgess Hill
and
Barnham

or something along those lines then yes - as it can not be a specific train ticket and it should be a ticket allowing breaks in the journey.

 

[adam_mitchell]

Hello,

It states on the ticket 'Between Barnham and Burgess Hill' and the route is 'Any Permitted'

Thanks

 

[dan_atki]

In short, yes you are valid to Littlehampton, and you are valid to leave the station there. The following is the technical explanation behind this:

We need to use the routeing guide to determine if Littlehampton is on a permitted route from Burgess Hill to Barnham.

We find that Burgess Hill is related to Three Bridges, Lewes, and Brighton Group. Barnham is related to Ford Group and Havant.

The fares check rule means that we can use routes Lewes to Ford Group, or Brighton Group to Ford Group. I'll leave out Lewes as it'll be an extension of Brighton Group.

We note (although the current document listing group stations is corrupt) that Ford Group comprises of Ford and Littlehampton*. As Ford Group is evidently on the valid route (we are, after all, looking for valid routes to Ford Group!) then we note travel via Littlehampton is valid (as you want).

You are perfectly within your rights to leave at an intermediate station (which is what Littlehampton is, here) with your season ticket. If there's any confrontation then you should politely request they check the Routeing Guide to determine that Littlehampton is on a valid route.

*Group stations allow you to travel between any station in the group (including doubling back), provided your origin or destination (as printed on the ticket) is not part of the group.

 

[paul1609]

Yeah its valid as Dan says and you wont be questioned for using the ticket at Littlehampton in my experience, I commute from LA daily.
One thing worth mentioning if you are buying the season ticket yourself is to check out the price of a Burgess Hill to Havant season (which would be valid at Barnham and Littlehampton). It may well be cheaper than a season to Barnham (due to an oddity of pricing that has existed since BR days), as well as giving you validity almost to Portsmouth.
Also for your journey consider changing at Angmering rather than Littlehampton. All the coastway semi fasts stop there so it will most likely be 10 to 15 mins quicker to Barnham. In the unlikely event that you cant get a seat its only 8 mins on a semi fast train.

 

[John @ home]

check out the price of a Burgess Hill to Havant season (which would be valid at Barnham and Littlehampton). It may well be cheaper than a season to Barnham

Yes, it is!

Burgess Hill - Barnham 7 day season First Class £89.70, Standard £59.80.
Burgess Hill - Havant 7 day season First Class £84.80, Standard £56.50.

In each case, monthly is 3.84 times weekly and annual is 40 times weekly.

 

[adam_mitchell]

Thank you all for your help. As it happens, there was nobody checking tickets at Littlehampton anyway!