Long-distance ticket validity question

[Panceltic]

Hello,

I would just like to confirm the validity of this ticket:

Super Off-Peak Return from Aberystwyth to Gatwick Airport, route ✠VIA HIGH WYC&SHR (£50.65 with a 16-25 railcard)

Can i travel on:

- any train to London Marylebone on the outward leg (on a Sunday)
- any train departing London Marylebone 08:30-16:30 on the return leg (on a Wednesday)

I understand that one Tube journey per leg is included, what about Gatwick Express? Does it have any time restrictions?

The outward leg will be on 31 December, does this present any substantial changes to the timetables?

Thank you very much for your advice.

 

[alistairlees]

Yes, it's valid on Gatwick Express. There are no time restrictions on this.

You can travel at any time on the outward journey on the Sunday (the restrictions apply Monday to Friday only)

On your return on the Wednesday, you cannot leave Marylebone at or after 16.00 (the restriction ends at 19.00 but I'm assuming that's too late to get to Aberystwyth!); as you note, you can't leave Marylebone at or before 08.30 either.

 

[gazthomas]

Alistarilees is spot on

 

[Panceltic]

That's fantastic, thank you very much!

It has just crossed my mind that the first train out of Aberystwyth on Sundays is at 09:30 (which is too late to catch a 17:00 flight from Gatwick), so I'll have to leave on Saturday afternoon already. What are the rules on break of journey in this case?

Coming back, the times fit in nicely so there'll be no problem.

 

[gazthomas]

I think you're okay, let's see what other people say!

 

[Panceltic]

Cheers, I'm thinking of departing Aberystwyth on Saturday afternoon and breaking my journey in High Wycombe, then continuing on Sunday morning to arrive to Gatwick at around 15:00. I hope this is possible on this ticket!

 

[Hadders]

It's valid to break your outward journey overnight and continue the next day. It might not be hassle free as travel on day 2 will involve the Gatwick Express whose staff are poorly trained and have a notorious reputation for making their own rules up.

 

[gazthomas]

It's valid to break your outward journey overnight and continue the next day. It might not be hassle free as travel on day 2 will involve the Gatwick Express whose staff are poorly trained and have a notorious reputation for making their own rules up.

The Gatwick Express are very special that's for sure. And generally wrong

 

[Panceltic]

Thanks, that's great to hear. If they decide not to let me on the Gatwick Express, I'll just use another train then, it's not a big deal.

Will the Tube still accept my ticket the following day or will I have to pay separately for Marylebone-Victoria?

Many thanks

 

[najaB]

Will the Tube still accept my ticket the following day or will I have to pay separately for Marylebone-Victoria?

I don't think the Tube will accept the ticket during its extension period.

 

[Joe Paxton]

I don't think the Tube will accept the ticket during its extension period.

If the OP has a contactless debit or credit card, they could just use that for any Tube journey they need to - see this short YouTube video from TfL. It's easy and painless.

(I'm rather less convinced by people using their mobiles with Apple or Android Pay or whatever NFC contactless payment system on public transport, saw a woman today getting in a right fuss trying to get out of a Tube gate not-too-successfully brandishing her mobile at the yellow pad! But sorry, I digress...)

 

[Panceltic]

Yes I have a contactless card (and an Oyster with railcard discount for that matter) so this is not a problem.

I have now booked a flight on the 1st January (Monday) instead as this allows me to get from Aberystwyth to Gatwick on the same day, so there will be no fuss with breaking the journey overnight and (non-)acceptance of the ticket on the Tube the following day.

According to the online timetables, the 1st (being a bank holiday) is just a normal Monday in railway terms? I understand that on the above mentioned ticket I can't arrive into London before 11:00, but this is not a problem in my case.

Thank you

 

[roversfan2001]

Time restrictions don't apply on bank holidays AFAIK. The timetables are unchanged but the restrictions aren't applicable, a win-win situation.

 

[Hadders]

Is the timetable the same? On Great Northern it's normally a Saturday service that's run iirc.

 

[30907]

Is the timetable the same? On Great Northern it's normally a Saturday service that's run iirc.

Depends on the operator. In England and Wales (Jan 1 is different in the North East and Scotland) long distance and rural services tend to operate fairly normally while London area services are Saturday or Sunday timetables.
For the OP's journey the OJP shows trains from AYW starting with the 0530(!) but is flagging up that Gatwick Express engineering work alterations are not yet known (probably applies to Southern and Thameslink too).