Changing Ticket

[Stuwhu]

If I have bought a Hazel Grove-Manchester cheap day return online, can I collect the ticket from the machine and then change it to a Hazel Grove-Horwich cheap day return at the station ticket office (paying the 30p difference)

Thanks as always for any help

 

[bb21]

Yes, but you must do so at the first available opportunity, so the ticket office at Hazel Grove if open.

 

[ASharpe]

You can probably get an over-distance excess. Try your luck at the ticket office and if not then on the train before you get to Manchester.

If you get to Manchester without one then you will probably have to buy a second ticket to continue your journey.

 

[SickyNicky]

If I have bought a Hazel Grove-Manchester cheap day return online, can I collect the ticket from the machine and then change it to a Hazel Grove-Horwich cheap day return at the station ticket office (paying the 30p difference)

Thanks as always for any help

Yes. This is called an "Overdistance Excess" and you should be able to get it from the ticket office (in theory!).

Just to confuse things, Hazel Grove to Horwich Parkway has two Off Peak Day Returns available, one routed Any Permitted at £6.30 and the other routed Metrolink CTLZ at £4.20.

I'm sure someone more local than I will explain the additional routes available on the Any Permitted ticket.

 

[button_boxer]

Looking at those links the thing that jumps out at me is that the £4.20 ticket has the new evening peak restrictions on weekdays whereas the £6.30 one doesn't.

 

[Stuwhu]

Just at hazel grove, and the ticket office said they couldn't do it as it was booked online and I would need to see if the guard would do it.

 

[SickyNicky]

Just at hazel grove, and the ticket office said they couldn't do it as it was booked online and I would need to see if the guard would do it.

Hence my "in theory" comment. Guards on board tend to be better at issuing excesses anyway. However, you may wish to consider writing to the TOC responsible for the station and asking why they couldn't issue a completely standard excess.

 

[Stuwhu]

It gets better.. the guard has a problem with his ticket machine so can't issue anything!

 

[SickyNicky]

You can still get the excess at the "first opportunity" - clearly you haven't had an opportunity yet!

 

[Merseysider]

...they couldn't do it as it was booked online

That's a load of BS! I can empathise with you quite well, I had a similar excuse given to me a few weeks back. Excess tickets are notoriously hard to obtain. (unless it's from off-peak to anytime )

As you've said the guard hasn't got the facility to issue the excess you need, I would expect discretion to be shown once you reach Manchester. The Virgin staff in Piccadilly tend to be very good with excess tickets, give them a go and explain (if asked) how you haven't had a chance yet to do it.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....I'm sure someone more local than I will explain the additional routes available on the Any Permitted ticket.

As far as routes go, in practice there will be no difference.

The 'Rte Metrolink CTLZ' ticket is valid on the tram in Manchester city centre, the 'Rte Any Permitted' fare is not. It could be argued that the 'Rte Metrolink CTLZ' is only valid when part of the route includes the tram. This comes about because 'Rte Metrolink CTLZ' should only exist where the journey 'requires' the use of Metrolink to get across the city centre, hence journeys like Bolton to Stalybridge do not have a 'Rte Metrolink CTLZ' fare, whilst journeys like Stockport to Ashton-under-Lyne do.

Looking at those links the thing that jumps out at me is that the £4.20 ticket has the new evening peak restrictions on weekdays whereas the £6.30 one doesn't.

It doesn't surprise me, though also of note is that, officially, the 'Rte Any Permitted fare is set by Northern whilst the 'Rte Metrolink CTLZ' fare is set by TfGM.