Excess tickets

[ATW Alex 101]

Hi

I have been looking online at some fares and I am wondering about excess fares. They look very confusing and the internet nor this forum has given me any real understanding. Is anybody able to please tell me when they can and cannot be used and when they should be used? So what tickets can you excess and what you cannot and just generally about them.


I think I know the basic principal of paying the difference where appropriate, so for example if I held a ticket from Capenhurst-Port Sunlight but want to go to Green lane, I can ask for an excess to Green lane.

Another reason I ask is because I might be going to Severn tunnel Junction and have found a nice advance to Newport then I want to buy a return (Anytime day return) to Severn T J from Newport but I might want to head into Cardiff later on if I get bored. Will 1 adult and 1 child anytime day return from Newport to Severn tunnel Jct with a family discount on it be able to be excessed from Newport to Cardiff and how would I go about getting one, just ask the guard/ticket office clerk?

Thanks very much for taking time to tell me and sorry for not being able to find out myself

 

[yorkie]

Unless it's a change of route excess you need, I would advise against setting out to buy an excess fare. Try to get the right ticket in the first place. Finding someone who can issue an excess fare correctly can be a very time consuming experience, as you often have to 'shop around' for someone competent & willing to issue it.

Another reason I ask is because I might be going to Severn tunnel Junction and have found a nice advance to Newport then I want to buy a return (Anytime day return) to Severn T J from Newport but I might want to head into Cardiff later on if I get bored. Will 1 adult and 1 child anytime day return from Newport to Severn tunnel Jct with a family discount on it be able to be excessed from Newport to Cardiff and how would I go about getting one, just ask the guard/ticket office clerk?

That makes no sense at all.

Cardiff is to the west of Newport! Severn Tunnel Junction is to the east!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

That makes no sense at all.

Cardiff is to the west of Newport! Severn Tunnel Junction is to the east!

Yes Newport is between Cardiff central and Severn tunnel Jct so if a hold a return from Newport to Severn T J, can I excess it to allow me to continue to Cardiff from Newport on the return portion. (I would have to buy a single back)

 

[bb21]

I haven't checked but I highly doubt that will save you money compared to buying a Newport-Cardiff return.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Hi

I have been looking online at some fares and I am wondering about excess fares. They look very confusing and the internet nor this forum has given me any real understanding. Is anybody able to please tell me when they can and cannot be used and when they should be used? So what tickets can you excess and what you cannot and just generally about them....

Different excess fares are for different jobs and have different processes, rules and opportunities to buy, there is no 'general rule' to apply to all excess fares.

....I think I know the basic principal of paying the difference where appropriate, so for example if I held a ticket from Capenhurst-Port Sunlight but want to go to Green lane, I can ask for an excess to Green lane....

Sort of, but it isn't quite that simple.

....Another reason I ask is because I might be going to Severn tunnel Junction and have found a nice advance to Newport then I want to buy a return (Anytime day return) to Severn T J from Newport but I might want to head into Cardiff later on if I get bored. Will 1 adult and 1 child anytime day return from Newport to Severn tunnel Jct with a family discount on it be able to be excessed from Newport to Cardiff and how would I go about getting one, just ask the guard/ticket office clerk?....

Over-riding (over-distance) excess fares are the complete difference in fares (not just the return leg) or a new ticket for the extra distance (if cheaper).

In your case, the excess would be the difference between the Newport (NWP)-Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ) returns (£3.45+£1.00) and the appropriate Cardiff Central (CDF)-STJ returns (£5.90+£1.70).

Given that STJ has limited ticket office opening hours, you might get an excess from the guard on the train (from STJ), however, there is no guarantee that the guard will do the over-riding (over-distance) excess on the return portion of a return ticket.

My advice would be this, if there is a good chance you will go back to Cardiff, buy the CDF-STJ ticket to start with, if there is not, get the NWP-STJ ticket and ask for the excess, but be prepared to pay for a new ticket beyond NWP (with your Railcard discount).

 

[yorkie]

Yes Newport is between Cardiff central and Severn tunnel Jct so if a hold a return from Newport to Severn T J, can I excess it to allow me to continue to Cardiff from Newport on the return portion. (I would have to buy a single back)

Bonkers. Singles for short journeys typically cost about 10p more than a return. So it would cost MORE to do that!

Why not just get the right tickets in the first place as I posted earlier?

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Yes figured out Yorkie. Just me being a prat again sorry. Thanks for the help. Also thanks to Hairy handed fool and bb21. I will just use normal tickets