Darlington - Gerrards Cross restriction Question

[RochdalePioneers]

Hoping that someone can help with a restriction code question. Next month I have to travel to Gerrards Cross from Darlington and thanks to a mid afternoon appointment time I'm looking at a more interesting route out (with return via London)

East Coast set a SVR fare at £204 that will cover all the options I'm looking at.

For via London the restriction is 1D which is arrival after 10:08 (so 08:00 off DAR and later). It then says "For journeys to Southern England on XC via Birmingham use code 2V or 8X as appropriate"

2V is any train after 09:30. 8X is any train after 05:00. If I was to go on XC to Birmingham as my 1st move I take that to mean that I can't travel on one of their services before 09:30. But what if I was on another operator (say EC to York then Northern to Sheffield via Leeds) or my first move was TPX to Manchester?

In short when is 2V appropriate and when is 8X appropriate? And if I have to ask will Mr/Ms Gripper agree with the recommendation I hope you good people will help me with.....?

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[soil]

If you are going via Manchester, then you are not travelling to/via London, so the code appears to be largely irrelevant

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/pdfs/SVR_1D.pdf

With that in mind I would comply with 2V on XC services, and treat the ticket as unrestricted on other trains not calling at London.

It is after all more-or-less the same price as a Darlington-Banbury Anytime ticket, which would be the appropriate routeing point for Gerrards Cross.

 

[bb21]

The simple answer is that we don't know when 2V is to be applied and when 8X is to be applied.

Whichever code is to be used, regardless of which operator's service you use, you are subject to the same time restrictions.

Apart from asking XC, I don't think anyone on here will be able to tell you what the answer should be. (Then again I think I know what XC are likely to say.)

 

[34D]

It then says "For journeys to Southern England on XC via Birmingham use code 2V or 8X as appropriate"

All our opinions are subjective of course, but i wouldn't class Banbury as 'southern England'. And if we focus on the _train_ going to Southern England, then I'd say that the only ones that 'count' are those headed for Southampton/Poole, and not those that terminate at Reading or head for Cornwall.

 

[yorkie]

Without knowing what time you need to be in Gerrards Cross for, it's difficult to advise.

If you can depart after 0930, then a Darlington - Gerrards Cross SVR with a change of route excess for the return portion, would save you £35.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Don't worry about the ticket, I'm on expenses! Always use flex tickets bought at last minute (in case of cancellation) but will go for cheapest viable ching that still gives flexibility.

Can't help but being bemused by the amount of interpretation that can be put on this restrictions question! Would definitely leave Darlo before XCs 09:30 restrictions finish if heading not via London. Had a look at TPX and looks like an OK 08:bungle to Manchester for XC from there. Assuming its 8X and not 2V that's in play.....

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[sheff1]

Can't help but being bemused by the amount of interpretation that can be put on this restrictions question!

Indeed, and if you are travelling to 'Southern England' via Birmingham but not 'on Cross Country' does that mean there are no restrictions ?