Complicated Journey!

[skizz]

Hi all

I've been afforded the luxury of a work trip to Milton Keynes next week Friday, however while in the general direction of "up north" I want to make a trip to see family in Crewe.

I already have an anytime return First Class ticket on VT from Euston to Milton Keynes (£48) however I'm trying to work out the cheapest way to get to Crewe first class from MKC on the Friday, and then back to London on the Saturday.

I'm aware that any return train I get will need to stop at Milton Keynes if I use that return portion of my ticket. Any ideas? Would prefer to stick to VT rather than LM.

Thanks!

EDIT: Just to add, my meeting at MKC finishes at 1430 so will be looking to head to Crewe then.

 

[Be3G]

I already have an anytime return First Class ticket on VT from Euston to Milton Keynes (£48) however I'm trying to work out the cheapest way to get to Crewe first class from MKC on the Friday, and then back to London on the Saturday.

I'm afraid you'll find this is an anytime day return, which complicates what you want to do somewhat. The most obvious thing to do would be to excess your current ticket to a Euston–Crew 1st anytime [period] return, but that would cost a wallet-emptying £316 for the excess. Otherwise, if you want to stick to Virgin, the cheapest thing to do will probably be to look for advances; you could use your current ticket on the way to Milton Keynes, then an advance from there to Crewe, plus one from Crewe to London.

 

[IrishDave]

I'm afraid you'll find this is an anytime day return, which complicates what you want to do somewhat. The most obvious thing to do would be to excess your current ticket to a Euston–Crew 1st anytime [period] return, but that would cost a wallet-emptying £316 for the excess.

Quite apart from the cost, unless I'm mistaken, the £48 is a First Class Anytime Day Return route Virgin Trains Only, in which case I think the excess would still only be valid on Virgin? Or does that only apply to change of route (rather than overdistance) excesses?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Quite apart from the cost, unless I'm mistaken, the £48 is a First Class Anytime Day Return route Virgin Trains Only, in which case I think the excess would still only be valid on Virgin? Or does that only apply to change of route (rather than overdistance) excesses?

You cannot excess a TOC specific ticket for use on another TOC, regardless of reason.

 

[bb21]

Quite apart from the cost, unless I'm mistaken, the £48 is a First Class Anytime Day Return route Virgin Trains Only, in which case I think the excess would still only be valid on Virgin? Or does that only apply to change of route (rather than overdistance) excesses?

You are correct that any excess from a TOC-specific ticket would still only be valid on the same TOC over the same part of the journey.

Sometimes when a passenger travels at a restricted time, there may not be an appropriate TOC specific ticket to excess to, which means that the ticket can be excessed into one routed Any Permitted, however it would still only be valid on the same TOC.

The Manual is silent on the matter of over-distance excess involving a TOC-specific ticket, and the restriction on TOCs only explicitly applied to travel over the same part of the journey.

The general consensus in the industry however is that TOC-specific tickets cannot be excessed full-stop unless travelling at a restricted time, though if the excess is to the same TOC-specific ticket, eg. London Terminals - Milton Keynes Central Route LDN MIDLND.ONLY CDR to London Terminals - Rugby Route LDN MIDLAND ONLY OPR, some clerks I believe will be happy to issue it.

 

[LexyBoy]

All this discussion on overdistance excesses is well and good, but as pointed out by Be3G in the first reply this option is exhorbitantly expensive.

There's currently a 1st Advance MKC-CRE on the 1441 on 15/3 for £65.00
and a 1st Advance CRE-EUS on multiple departures on 16/3 for £38.00
Total £103

NB also the weekend 1st upgrade is £15 for this journey so don't pay more than this for a 1st class ticket on the Saturday.

 

[skizz]

thanks for all the help chaps, will let you know how I get on!

 

[LexyBoy]

Also to add that if you go for Advances, you would do well to exchange your London-MK ticket for the equivalent First Day Single, for which you should recieve £14 back.

 

[skizz]

just one more thing chaps - i'm aware that coming back from Crewe I need to get a train that stops at MKC (as I will have a ticket from CRE - MKC then MKC - EUS).

as there are very few direct trains is there a problem with me getting a VT to Wolverhampton/Birmingham and then getting a train back to London from there? don't mind the scenic route just want to avoid london midland...

 

[bb21]

You can travel via Birmingham, but calling it scenic is probably overdoing it.

 

[Be3G]

just one more thing chaps - i'm aware that coming back from Crewe I need to get a train that stops at MKC (as I will have a ticket from CRE - MKC then MKC - EUS).

Are you sure about this? As discussed earlier, the return ticket you originally purchased was a day return, so you wouldn't be able to make use of it as part of your Crewe to London journey on the Saturday. Of course, if you've since changed your plans and will now return on the Friday, then fair enough!

 

[skizz]

Are you sure about this? As discussed earlier, the return ticket you originally purchased was a day return, so you wouldn't be able to make use of it as part of your Crewe to London journey on the Saturday. Of course, if you've since changed your plans and will now return on the Friday, then fair enough!

i've had a think and decided I can cope with standard class i'll be getting an off peak return which allows return within 30 days on both legs.

is there a number i can call to make seat reservations once i've decided what train(s) i wish to catch home, or did that die with british rail? :cry:
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You can travel via Birmingham, but calling it scenic is probably overdoing it.

definitely, last time I went through birmingham it was quite an interesting journey home on a declassified pendolino full of my fellow arsenal fans!