Leaving A Train Early On An Advanced Ticket

[samplingkeyboard]

Hello,

First post.

I've booked an Advance ticket from Bristol to Selly Oak in Birmingham, the journey involves a change at Birmingham New Street. Due to a change in circumstances I now need to be in central Birmingham, not Selly Oak. Will the staff checking tickets on the gates have any problem allowing me to leave at New Street? I only ask because I found this on the National Rail site:

You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.

Many thanks,

 

[Mojo]

I'm assuming the ticket you've been issued with is one train from Bristol to Birmingham New Street and another from New Street to Selly Oak? If so, I can't see why not. The only train that you have to travel on is the service from Bristol (Temple Meads/Parkway) to Birmingham New Street. The train from New Street to Selly Oak is not reserved therefore you can use it on any train that day.

In theory it may not be allowed (I don't know), though.

 

[samplingkeyboard]

The ticket says Bristol to Selly Oak, with seperate seat reservations for each journey. I can't see it being a problem though to be honest?

Cheers for your help.

 

[TEW]

Its not technically allowed but I doubt you will have any problem going out at Birmingham.

 

[Max]

You're technically allowed to stay 'on the station premises' I believe, so of course those on the barriers don't know you're going to leave once you've passed the barriers. You'll be fine, I'm sure!

 

[jd]

I don't think you'd have a problem. Barrier staff at New Street are usually too busy gassing to look very closely at tickets. If you do have problems, just say you're going to Burger King or somewhere.

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Can't see it being a problem, it should'nt be a problem - but it depends on what type of mood the ticket inspectors are in!

 

[mathmo]

If you fancied peace of mind you could buy a cheap single - Five Ways to New Street is £1.50 and will get you through no problem! But it might equally be a waste of £1.50...

 

[Mojo]

If you fancied peace of mind you could buy a cheap single - Five Ways to New Street is £1.50 and will get you through no problem! But it might equally be a waste of £1.50...

It would be a waste, as, unless the staff follow you to see where you go they'd have no idea!

 

[Phoenix]

Its not technically allowed but I doubt you will have any problem going out at Birmingham.

Of course they will let you out mate there making extra profit out of you.
Let's put it this way if you didn't catch the train would they care.
Nope............
So getting off early is hardly a problem.....

A while ago I bought a ticket for a months travel between Water Orton and Derby and basically I used it to get just to Birmingham cause I usually change there anyway and also I would just go to leicester either just to go there or to stop off before carrying onto derby.

Bottom line is as long as you don't go against the distance the ticket allows then your in trouble but really you can..............

Get off early
Do a Longer route
Make one intermediate stop (not including your changes)

 

[yorkie]

Just go through the barrier at BHM showing your ticket. If they say anything like "you can't break your journey" (let us know - I'd be shocked if they do!) then just say "I'm not - I am just using station facilities, I'm going to Marks & Spencer" then go to M&S which is round the corner, they won't follow! You can then go out of the station. In the unlikely event that they follow you just say an emergency has cropped up and you have to go somewhere fast, they can't detain you.

But this is all pie-in-the-sky stuff as in reality they'll have a quick glance at your ticket, see that it's in date and just wave you through!

 

[jd]

...in reality they'll have a quick glance at your ticket, see that it's in date and just wave you through!

You really think they'll go that far? You give them more credit than I do then. Mojo has shown them out of date FIT-BRI season tickets on many occasions before with no problem (whilst holding a valid ticket for the journey in question I must add).

I entertain myself by showing barrier staff random tickets/passes and seeing if they notice - they invariably don't.

 

[Tom B]

You really think they'll go that far? You give them more credit than I do then. Mojo has shown them out of date FIT-BRI season tickets on many occasions before with no problem (whilst holding a valid ticket for the journey in question I must add).

I entertain myself by showing barrier staff random tickets/passes and seeing if they notice - they invariably don't.

As I have said previously, I have a YPR which ran out in July. I am still using it and have not ever been challenged since.

I should add that I have a valid YPR, which is in the wallet behind the expired one! However, I have simply never had to swap it over!

 

[metrocammel]

Not Birmingham, but I know bashers who showed Kit Kat wrappers to the ticket checkers at Manchester Victoria 'back in the day, and I don't think Birmingham New Street's ticket checkers training is that much more comprehensive!

 

[P156KWJ]

Out of all the times I've been to BHM, i've only had my ticket fully checked once. And that was just to ask if I was young enough to be on a child rate ticket (of course it's a penalty fare area so if you are not then it's a fine), and all the other times they've either just waved me through or not been there and too busy chatting I was worried they were going to take my AP ticket off me when I'd completed my journey (they usually do for most tickets) but I needed that ticket to gain entry to the first class lounge to wait for my connection, sure enough, nobody checked...

 

[ian13]

Birmingham is startling. I want to try a VOID VOID VOID coupon next visit.

 

[metrocammel]

I was worried they were going to take my AP ticket off me when I'd completed my journey (they usually do for most tickets) but I needed that ticket to gain entry to the first class lounge to wait for my connection, sure enough, nobody checked...

Unless your connection was part of the AP ticket, which I assume it wasn't, I don't think you're supposed to use the FC lounge facilities, as your journey has ended

Secondly, if anybody tries to take your ticket away, just say you want to make a complaint or comment about your journey, and require the ticket as proof of travel.

 

[ashworth]

No need to worry about them taking your ticket. Just say you need it as proof of travel and price paid for claiming travelling expenses.

I don't think there is any question of them not allowing you to go through the barrier without having completed your journey. I do it regularly at Leeds and as soon as I say I'm just going to get something to eat they usually just see that i have a ticket, and wave me through, without even looking at it.

 

[devon_metro]

Are the barriers at birmingham automatc then? I thought that irrespective of what ticket you put in they will open.

 

[yorkie]

Human barriers at BHM last time I was there.

 

[martyn29]

leeds wouldnt let me have my ticket back grrrr

 

[jd]

Are the barriers at birmingham automatc then? I thought that irrespective of what ticket you put in they will open.

Barriers at Birmingham are human. As of yesterday. And automatic barriers do not open irrespective of what ticket you put in, they read the magnetic stripe on the back of the ticket and determine if it is valid in that location, on that day, at that time.

 

[yorkie]

leeds wouldnt let me have my ticket back grrrr

What ticket was it?

 

[gingerheid]

I might confess that I might have pretended I was feeling very sick when challenged in similar circumstances. They couldn't get rid of me fast enough.

 

[adambro]

I do it regularly at Leeds and as soon as I say I'm just going to get something to eat they usually just see that i have a ticket, and wave me through, without even looking at it.

Obviously not too regularly since they've had automated barriers for a few months now.

 

[scrapy]

And automatic barriers do not open irrespective of what ticket you put in, they read the magnetic stripe on the back of the ticket and determine if it is valid in that location, on that day, at that time.

Not at Manchester Oxford Road! you can put out of date tickets or even blank tickets and they still let you through. Apparently Northern having problems with barriers accepting Mcr CTLZ tickets, so barriers set to open, whatever is inserted.

 

[ashworth]

Obviously not too regularly since they've had automated barriers for a few months now.

When I have had a ticket that I have any doubt about the automated barriers accepting, I have gone to the staffed exit. Usually before I can even finish explaining that I am just going out to get some refreshments before continuing my journey, they wave me through, often without really looking at my ticket.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

I've Shown Arriva,SLT,First Bus tickets at Manchester Victoria every time they think its a Bus/Train day ticket. Oxford road is alot harder to trick. I've always had a real ticket though.