C2C fares to Stratford during Engineering works

[andykn]

I arrived at Westcliff station this morning and bought a single ticket to West Ham from the machine outside the station, where I would usually change to the Jubilee Line on PAYG Oyster to continue my journey home.

Due to Engineering works the train went from Barking to Stratford (omitting West Ham entirely) where I changed to the Jubilee line after swiping an PAYG oyster.

Was my ticket valid? I paid £6.40 with a Network Railcard, the C2C website quotes £6.60 with Railcard (changing at Stratford to the Jubilee line) and a whopping £11.50 to Stratford alone.

What would the ticket office have given me had I braved the queue, seen that engineering works was on and just asked for a ticket to Stratford?

 

[maniacmartin]

What an interesting question.
Westcliff's Routeing Points are Barking, Romford Group and Southend Group. tcbc claims that only Romford Grp and Southend Grp are appropriate RPs for this journey, and since you didn't travel via either of them, nor did you take shortest route, then the ticket would not ordinarily be valid.

As the engineering works mean that no National Rail trains were running at all to West Ham today, then I'm unsure of the validity today.

I believe the ticket office would have sold you a Stratford ticket if that's what you asked for - a SOA SUP OFFPK DAY S ANY PERMITTED £11.50 with Gold Card, unless you wanted to go via Romford, which is only £6.95

 

[Ivo]

Given that the District line was running, I would suggest that your route was not valid. Tickets are (supposed to be?) interavailable on c2c and LUL between Upminster, Barking, West Ham and Fenchurch Street or Tower Hill, meaning that the correct course of action would in theory have been to change at Barking. Whether this would actually have been enforced or not I don't know, especially given the chance of people not realising that the change at Barking would be needed - the excuse of using Platform 8 instead of Platform 5 would not be applicable for those travelling from Rainham etc...

 

[yorkie]

Tickets are (supposed to be?) interavailable on c2c and LUL between Upminster, Barking, West Ham and Fenchurch Street or Tower Hill, meaning that the correct course of action would in theory have been to change at Barking.

Yes, that is indeed the case.

Relevant extracts from the RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide:

7.3.3 National Rail tickets valid on Underground/DLR

National Rail single, return and season tickets also have validity on London Underground or DLR services if listed below. These are known as 'Interavailable routes.' If this applies, tickets are only valid to enter/exit the Underground/DLR system at the station(s) listed. Note that any route restriction still applies, for example a ticket routed 'Not Underground' or 'FCC Only' would not be valid as appropriate.

National Rail tickets valid between (<>) the following stations also have validity on London Underground/DLR services, as described for each flow below. Note that tickets are NOT valid at intermediate stations unless specified otherwise.

• Barking <> West Ham
  • Valid between Barking & West Ham on LU.
• Barking <> London Terminals
  
  • Valid between Barking & West Ham on LU;
  • Valid between West Ham & Tower Hill on LU; and
  • Valid between Limehouse & Tower Gateway on DLR.
• Upminster <> Barking
  • Valid between Upminster and Barking on LU.

As for engineering work, routeing restrictions are relaxed when engineering work causes disruption to the usual service patterns. Whether or not this specific ticket would be considered valid on these circumstances, I do not know. It is best to check with the operator in advance of travel.

The relevant extract from the RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide is part of Section 1 so has not yet been released but I'll reproduce it here:

1.8 Engineering work

On occasions due to short notice engineering work and disruption, services may be diverted from their normal routes or customers asked to use alternative routes. In these circumstances operators are required to make special provision to allow extra permitted routes. They should advise other operators and retailers of the extra provisions made to convey customers by routes other than those which are normally permitted. This provision should also apply to connecting services which are not directly affected.

Unfortunately in some cases provision is not made, and this can lead to booking sites not offering itineraries for some journeys during times of engineering work. In these cases it is best to contact the relevant Train Company and seek advice. It may be necessary to book through telesales or at a station rather than online.

Any through train diverted from its usual route will count as a permitted route between the stations it is normally scheduled to call at. This does not apply to additional stops on the diversionary route, unless specially advised or they are on the permitted route for the journey being made. For example, a York to Edinburgh service diverted via Newcastle and Carlisle, would be considered to be taking a permitted route. Therefore, a passenger holding a Preston to Edinburgh ticket would be valid on this train, as York is on a permitted route and the route taken by this train counts as a permitted route.

Tickets routed via specific stations that are on the route a train would normally take, remain valid.

Tickets routed via specific stations that are on the diverted route, additionally become valid, on the diverted trains.

 

[34D]

I arrived at Westcliff station this morning and bought a single ticket to West Ham from the machine outside the station, where I would usually change to the Jubilee Line on PAYG Oyster to continue my journey home.

Due to Engineering works the train went from Barking to Stratford (omitting West Ham entirely) where I changed to the Jubilee line after swiping an PAYG oyster.

Was my ticket valid? I paid £6.40 with a Network Railcard, the C2C website quotes £6.60 with Railcard (changing at Stratford to the Jubilee line) and a whopping £11.50 to Stratford alone.

What would the ticket office have given me had I braved the queue, seen that engineering works was on and just asked for a ticket to Stratford?

I'm confused as to why you swiped your oyster, however it is always worth emailing C2C with a screenprint from your oyster account and explaining that you paid more than normal, and see whether they refund you.

 

[andykn]

I'm confused as to why you swiped your oyster, however it is always worth emailing C2C with a screenprint from your oyster account and explaining that you paid more than normal, and see whether they refund you.

I swiped my Oyster card at Stratford to pay for the Jubilee line to Waterloo, which I would have done at West Ham had the train called there.