East Coast+Connections

[route:oxford]

I've spotted a rather good fare from Edinburgh to Oxford (via London) in January.

It arrives into London at 17.41 and has me on the 18.30 from Paddington to Reading (on a service that I'm sure that many discounted tickets are invalid).

Would I be able to use that EC+Connections Advance ticket on any train heading in the Reading direction in the evening peak? There is always the chance that I could be in Paddington by 18.10 if the Underground gods are with me.

 

[yorkie]

There are no peak restrictions as such. The rule is that you are allowed on appropriate trains

If it were an off peak it would still be valid on any train from London to oxford with no peak applying to that leg

 

[AeroSpace]

What's 'appropriate'? Is it allowed to have a meal in London and then get a train from Paddington at 8pm?

(I'm making a similar journey in a few days' time.)

 

[yorkie]

It is undefined although break of journey is not permitted. see recent topics on this subject.

 

[route:oxford]

There are no peak restrictions as such. The rule is that you are allowed on appropriate trains

If it were an off peak it would still be valid on any train from London to oxford with no peak applying to that leg

Great, thanks.

 

[clagmonster]

As Yorkie says, this is a bit of a grey area. The wording of the relevent ticket condition is as follows (from the East Coast website, different websites have a different wording):
" If your ticket shows a route "EC and Connections", you will be reserved on to all necessary East Coast trains and connecting trains of other companies at the time of booking. Please note that if you take connecting trains other than those shown on your ticket, you will need a seat reservation to travel by any connecting train shown in the timetable as reserveable."
http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/travel-i...nformation/Ticket-Sales-Terms-and-Conditions/
The vast majority of Intercity services will be reservable, so will be barred with your ticket, however I don't see a problem if there is a fast suburban service (I believe some of the Thames Turbos to Newbury, Bedwyn, Ocford etc have fast runs, particularly in the peaks).
Of course, you could always ask the guard on an earlier Intercity service.