Invalid ticket with FCC

[radamfi]

Belgian Railways allow you to use either the shortest or quickest route:

http://www.belgianrail.be/en/customer-service/FAQ/tickets.aspx?cat=travel

so it isn't completely obvious to the laymen that the quickest route isn't valid.

 

[rdwarr]

...not sure how many laymen would have a knowledge of Belgian ticketing policies though.

Didn't this come up a while back concerning Brookmans Park to London via Hatfield?

 

[yorkie]

Didn't this come up a while back concerning Brookmans Park to London via Hatfield?

It did.

The FCC journey planner gave a route via Hatfield. FCC Customer Relations informed me that FCC would not prosecute someone for following an itinerary provided by their journey planner. But, guess what? They did prosecute!

FCC did not win the case, and it cost them a lot of money. Serves them right!

However this isn't the same. Unless I've missed it, the OP hasn't stated what journey planner was used, and it doesn't appear to be the FCC journey planner at fault here.

 

[radamfi]

...not sure how many laymen would have a knowledge of Belgian ticketing policies though.

The point is, even some railway companies (well definitely at least one) allow you to go the quicker route, so it isn't that obvious that you can't in the UK.

 

[Realfish]

You cannot be off-route if you are not travelling by a permitted route between the origin and the destination, which the OP is not. The concept of off-route only applies in situations where a higher fare applies to the route taken.

This is deviation from the route rather than off-route, or even over-riding depending on which angle you look at it from.



Season ticket.

I thought that I'd got it, but just looking at the FCC Travel Planner, it offers the 07.32 Radlett to Kent House with a change at St Albans for the same price (£12.60) as a change at Herne Hill or changes at Blackfriars and Herne Hill.

NB: I was only interested in this, having being threatened with a PF or worse for going 'Off Route' (or change of route) between Lichfield City and Euston (via BHM)

 

[bb21]

I thought that I'd got it, but just looking at the FCC Travel Planner, it offers the 07.32 Radlett to Kent House with a change at St Albans for the same price (£12.60) as a change at Herne Hill or changes at Blackfriars and Herne Hill.

It does indeed. Interesting.

NB: I was only interested in this, having being threatened with a PF or worse for going 'Off Route' (or change of route) between Lichfield City and Euston (via BHM)

You cannot be Penalty Fared or prosecuted if you travel using a route where a higher fare applies. You should have been offered an excess. Further actions may only be taken if you refuse or were unable to pay the excess.

 

[longcommute]

I thought that I'd got it, but just looking at the FCC Travel Planner, it offers the 07.32 Radlett to Kent House with a change at St Albans for the same price (£12.60) as a change at Herne Hill or changes at Blackfriars and Herne Hill.

NB: I was only interested in this, having being threatened with a PF or worse for going 'Off Route' (or change of route) between Lichfield City and Euston (via BHM)

Hi realfish,

really appreciate your digging. I have also just looked on the FCC journey planner and both option (via St Albans and via Henre Hill are the same price at £12.60)

Any advice from those on the know about how this affects things would be much appreciated.

 

[bb21]

Did you use the 0732?

 

[longcommute]

Did you use the 0732?

Yea, I took the exact route for that is detailed for £12.60. 07.32 from Radlett changing to the 07.44 from St Albans.

 

[maniacmartin]

If the train company's website details the itinerary you said as a valid route, then I would expect (hope?) that it would be honoured, even if the route is not technically valid

 

[bb21]

In that case I would agree that it should be honoured.

 

[tony6499]

But as it was a season ticket aren't there different rules to routing ?

 

[oversteer]

Some of the TOC mobile apps are bad at this, for example London Midland's one shows you the "next train home" which includes ones that require doubling back and two tickets.

To the uninitiated it's an easy trap to fall into.

Definitely print off some screenshots of the FCC Journey Planner and include the steps along the way, especially where it directs you to buy a Radlett - Kent House ticket for the 0732

 

[bb21]

But as it was a season ticket aren't there different rules to routing ?

A season ticket can give additional validity over a single/return ticket, but I don't think a season ticket can restrict your choice of routes compared to an equivalent single/return ticket. A valid itinerary is a valid itinerary.

The only exception I can think of is when the season ticket is wholly zonal.

Definitely print off some screenshots of the FCC Journey Planner and include the steps along the way, especially where it directs you to buy a Radlett - Kent House ticket for the 0732

Agreed. I think a screenshot for the 0732 being suggested for the £12.60 ticket should be sufficient evidence.

 

[longcommute]

But as it was a season ticket aren't there different rules to routing ?

I'm sorry if I'm boring everyone now but I have checked online and the monthly season ticlket for Radlett and zones 1-6 is the same price as the season ticket for radlett and zones 1-6 via st albans. £286.10 for both.

It just seems mad that I'm facing prosecution for this...

 

[bb21]

I'm sorry if I'm boring everyone now but I have checked online and the monthly season ticlket for Radlett and zones 1-6 is the same price as the season ticket for radlett and zones 1-6 via st albans. £286.10 for both.

It just seems mad that I'm facing prosecution for this...

It is not valid that way, however a bug in the booking engine allows you to be routed that way as already noted above. The ticket valid via St Albans is about £20 more expensive per week.

That doesn't matter to your case, given the new observations. Follow my advice and get a screenshot for the journey being offered with a £12.60 fare, and send this to FCC with your appeal. It should be quashed promptly.

Edit: Even better, the £22.00 Anytime Day Travelcard is offered for this journey, which is the equivalent Day Travelcard for your season. A screenshot of this is even more concrete evidence. (You need to request a return journey for this to show.)

 

[longcommute]

It is not valid that way, however a bug in the booking engine allows you to be routed that way as already noted above. The ticket valid via St Albans is about £20 more expensive per week.

That doesn't matter to your case, given the new observations. Follow my advice and get a screenshot for the journey being offered with a £12.60 fare, and send this to FCC with your appeal. It should be quashed promptly.

Edit: Even better, the £22.00 Anytime Day Travelcard is offered for this journey, which is the equivalent Day Travelcard for your season. A screenshot of this is even more concrete evidence.

Thanks,

Thanks. I've taken the screenshots and will wait for the letter.