Maidstone West to Holmes Chapel

[DazCM]

Hi all

Booked this today via Southern's website and wondered if someone could check the fare for me as it doesn't seem right. I'm leaving MDW at 0756 on the High Speed to St. Pancras, then to Euston (ticket has the cross symbol so could use LU) for the 0940 to Crewe (and change there).

The return is at 1530 coming back via the same route.

The website let me buy an Off Peak return, but the times seem to be definately peak. I seem to remember once being told that HCH has no peak restrictions, is this true? Also, as the ticket doesn't mention anything about HS1, am I in for a world of hurt when I get on at MDW on Wednesday morning?

The price of the ticket was £80.60.

Thanks

 

[sonic2009]

DazCM hello there

Your ticket carries restriction 9I which is a rather long one :

Restriction Code: 9I

These restrictions apply
MONDAY to FRIDAY. By any train
on other days.

For journeys to/via Birmingham
on Cross Country, use
restriction code 2V.

For travel FROM or VIA:
London Terminals,_Milton
Keynes, Watford, Stevenage,
Reading, Kensington Olympia,
Bedford, Luton and Luton
Airport Parkway.

OUTWARD TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to DEPART as
shown below:

RETURN TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to ARRIVE_as
shown below:

DEPART: LONDON EUSTON
Before 0430, between 0926 &
1500 (inc.) and at or after
1845.

ARRIVE: LONDON EUSTON
Before 0720 or at or after
1130.

DEPART: LONDON KING'S CROSS
Before 0300, between 0906 &
1459 (inclusive) and at or
after 1859.
(Also allowed at or after 1815
on Fridays)

ARRIVE: LONDON KING'S CROSS
Before 0430 and at or after
1117.

DEPART: LONDON ST PANCRAS
INTERNATIONAL
Between 1026 & 1515 (inc.) and
at or after 1859.

ARRIVE: LONDON ST PANCRAS
INTERNATIONAL
At or after 1129.

DEPART:LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET
Between 0930 & 1629 (inc.) and
at or after 1834.

ARRIVE:LONDON LIVERPOOL_STREET
Not valid on any train
arriving before 10.00
(see note below)

DEPART: LONDON MARYLEBONE
Between 0926 & 1500 (inc.) and
at or after 1845.

ARRIVE: LONDON MARYLEBONE
Before 0720 or at or after
1130.

DEPART: LONDON PADDINGTON
Between 0810 & 1640 (inc.) and
at or after 1801.

ARRIVE: LONDON PADDINGTON
At or after 1010.

DEPART: LONDON WATERLOO
At or after 0815

ARRIVE: LONDON WATERLOO
At or after 1000

DEPART: KENSINGTON OLYMPIA
Between 0915 & 1514 (inc.)
and at or after 1812.

ARRIVE: KENSINGTON OLYMPIA
At or after 1100

DEPART: CLAPHAM JUNCTION
At or after 0930

ARRIVE : CLAPHAM JUNCTION
Any train

DEPART: BEDFORD
Between 0901 & 1629 (inc.)
and at or after 1859

ARRIVE: BEDFORD
At or after 0930

DEPART: LUTON/LUTON AIRPORT
________PARKWAY
Between 0901 & 1629 (inc.) and
at or after 1859

ARRIVE: LUTON/LUTON AIRPORT
PARKWAY
At or after 1004

DEPART: MILTON KEYNES CENTRAL
Before 0430, between 0951 &
1514 (inclusive) and at or
after 1914.

ARRIVE: MILTON KEYNES CENTRAL
Before 0639 or at or after
1048.

DEPART: READING
Between 0835 & 1710 (inc.) and
at or after 1831 (see note
below)

ARRIVE: READING
At or after 0940 (see note
below)

DEPART: STEVENAGE
Before 0300, between 0919 and
1507 (inclusive) and at or
after 1901 (Also allowed at or
after 1835 on Fridays_only)

ARRIVE: STEVENAGE
Before 0430 and at or after
1055

DEPART: STRATFORD (LONDON)
Between 0930 & 1629 (inc.)
and at or after 1834

ARRIVE: STRATFORD (LONDON)
Not valid on any train
arriving before 1000.

DEPART: WATFORD JUNCTION
Before 0430, between 0938 &
1438 (inclusive) and at or
after 1838.

ARRIVE: WATFORD JUNCTION
Before 0644 or at or after
1045.

NOTES:

OVERNIGHT BREAK OF JOURNEY
Restarting journey from an
intermediate station.
Outward (on day 2): outward
morning restrictions as above
apply from/via the stations
shown above (Mon-Fri) and
journey must recommence before
12:00 (all days).
Recommencing from any other
station en route that is north
of the stations shown above
must be on trains timed to
depart 09:30-11:59 inc. (by
any train before 12:00 on BH
and other days).
Return: return restrictions_as
above apply Mon-Fri.

Note A:
Travel to all stations
Worcester Shrub Hill to
Hereford (via Oxford) is also
permitted on the 1722, 1750
and 1822 services from
London Paddington (1751, 1823
and 1852 from Reading).
Travel to Gowerton and beyond
is also permitted on the 1745
London Paddington to
Carmarthen service (1812 from
Reading).
Travel to Newton Abbott and
beyond, and all stations
Newton St Cyres to Barnstaple,
is permitted on the 1803
London Paddington to Penzance
service (1833 from Reading).
Travel to Menheniot and beyond
is also permitted on the 1703
London Paddington - Penzance
service (1732 from Reading) on
FRIDAYS ONLY.
For Off-Peak travel via
Hereford, Oxford & Newport see
Restriction YG.
For Super Off-Peak travel via
Hereford, Oxford & Newport see
Restriction YQ.

Valid on all SCOTRAIL (FSR)
CALEDONIAN SLEEPER services
(with supplement).
Travel is permitted on the
0603 Euston to Birmingham New
St. and both the 0500 & 0524
Wolverhampton to Euston.

Off-Peak restrictions will not
apply on Virgin Trains service
from 6 - 9 April 2012 inc.

I have highlighted the part that applies to you.

Print off your itinerary for your journey and take it with you just incase, you will be fine to travel on the 0756 to London St Pancras from Maidstone West as the ticket is routed + ANY PERMITTED.

Any other train before 0756 will not be valid as it does not offer a valid connection in line with the above restriction leaving London Euston.

http://brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=MDW&dest=HCH&grpo=0437&rlc=%20%20%20&rte=0&ldn=1&tkt=SVR

 

[craigwilson]

Your outbound leg: The 0940 from Euston is the first off-peak train after the morning peak from Euston to Crewe (and ultimately Manchester). Ultimately for this ticket this is what the restrictions are based on.

As you are starting from a station inside the Network South East area and travelling to a station outside of it, there is no time restriction on your leg to London.

For such a long distance flow, your ticket will say "ANY PERMITTED" under the route, which allows you to use HS1. For any ticket where a reasonable route could involve HS1, the only thing that disallows HS1 is where the route says "NOT HS1" or "NOT VALID ON HS1".

Return Leg: There is no "evening peak" on London-bound Virgin services, this only applies to trains departing London Euston between (off the top of my head) 1501 and approx. 1845.

So your ticket is fine, and you should have no problems.

 

[DazCM]

Thanks guys

Much appreciated -I'll sleep easier tonight!

Darren

 

[yorkie]

The website let me buy an Off Peak return, but the times seem to be definately peak

No, definitely not peak. Each ticket has a restriction code, and that determines which trains are valid. The exact same question has cropped up this evening in the Ashford Intl to Peterborough thread.

Unfortunately there are some rail staff who do not look up restriction codes and instead say, as you said "it is definitely peak" when it isn't. What they should do is check, as you have done. For an example of an incompetent gateline assistant making someone wait 2 hours see Whitstable to Gatwick Airport: Off Peak Ticket Problems.

I seem to remember once being told that HCH has no peak restrictions, is this true?

That isn't true, but the restriction only applies on the trains to/from London Euston, there is no restriction on the local services.

Also, as the ticket doesn't mention anything about HS1, am I in for a world of hurt when I get on at MDW on Wednesday morning?

The route is "Any permitted", and HS1 is a permitted route. It's valid on any train to London to connect with trains from London (this is known as the Network Area Rule and is described in the restriction text of the ticket). However I cannot guarantee that you will not be in for a "world of hurt" because some SET gateline staff are incompetent. If you do encounter someone who deems it invalid you can ask some questions such as:

(If the time is an issue):

• It is my understanding that ticket validity is determined by the restriction code applicable to that ticket. Is that the case?
• What restriction code applies to this ticket?
• Are you familiar with the Network Area rule?
• What does the Network Area rule state?
• Does the Network Area rule apply to this ticket?

(If the route is an issue):

• Do you comply with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage?
• Are you familiar with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage?
• What does the Conditions of Carriage state regarding the route I may take?
• Are you familiar with the Routeing Guide?
• Can you check to determine if this route is permitted, as I believe it is?
• If this route is not permitted, can you tell me which routes are permitted?

(If they still won't let you through):

• I will be writing a letter of complaint to your Company, South East Trains. For the purposes of this complaint, can you please tell me your name, your managers' name and any other relevant information?
• I would like you to confirm what you have said to me so I can make a note of what to say in my letter of complaint

By asking them questions rather than storming in with all the evidence, and making notes as to what they say, you can strengthen your case. You must try your best to remain calm. If they do deny you access to/from the trains that your ticket is valid for, then we can use that evidence to get a good letter drafted up, and we can insist that SET provide suitable training to ensure that these problems do not recur.