Minimum Distance between two stations to make a return open

[lewisdicks]

Just a general query. I’m thinking it’s 50 miles but want to be sure

 

[najaB]

Just a general query. I’m thinking it’s 50 miles but want to be sure

I don't think there's a hard limit, and if there is then it's less than 50 miles. Carlisle - Dumfries is 32 miles and period returns are available.

 

[Hadders]

It varies. You can get an Anytime Return between Hampton in Arden and Birmingham International even though it’s only a couple of miles (if that).

 

[John @ home]

Yes. At 1.75 miles (National Rail timetable) or 1.94 miles (Rail Journey Information System) each way, the £3.40 Standard Anytime Return Birmingham Intl - Hampton in Arden route Any Permitted must be a contender for the shortest Anytime Return with outward validity 5 days and return validity one month. There is no corresponding First Class Anytime Return. The fare is set by Transport for West Midlands.

In contrast, at some 183 miles each way the £60.40 Standard Anytime Short Return Micklefield - Galashiels route via Appleby, Carlisle and bus is the longest journey I have found where validity of the outward leg of the anytime return ticket is generally restricted to one day. Again, Standard is the only available class. This fare is set by Northern.

 

[johntea]

This is one area in which somehow I think needs to be improved, but I'm not sure how logistically - just one example I've had recently Starbeck to Huddersfield I believe you can only get 2 x singles at £14.30 a piece off peak so £28.60 for the journey there and back...the irony being you can get a Starbeck to Manchester off peak (30 day) return for £26.40!

 

[Merseysider]

Starbeck to Stalybridge at £22.40 is cheaper still.

Or York to Huddersfield SVR is £22.50

 

[John @ home]

one example I've had recently Starbeck to Huddersfield I believe you can only get 2 x singles at £14.30 a piece off peak so £28.60 for the journey there and back...the irony being you can get a Starbeck to Manchester off peak (30 day) return for £26.40!

For off-peak Starbeck to Huddersfield, returning on a different day, a £22.50 Standard Off-Peak Return Cattal - Huddersfield Route Any Permitted is better (Mon-Fri not valid on services timed to depart 04:29 - 08:45).

 

[yorkie]

Just a general query. I’m thinking it’s 50 miles but want to be sure

Not sure what you mean by "open" (the ticket type of that name was abolished about 10 years ago and since the onset of online booking engines, the term has been used for a very different meaning to the original) but, in addition to the example given by John @ Home above, Scarborough to Seamer is under 3 miles and has an SOR (Anytime Return; formerly known as Standard Open Return) and Filey to Hunmanby is about a quarter of a mile shorter and has an SHR (Anytime Short Return).

Some people refer to any ticket that allows you to return within a month as an "open return", this includes (Super) Off Peak Fares and not just tickets of the type "SOR".

Confusingly some booking engines use the term "open return" to mean any ticket that allows you any degree of flexibility, thus also including Day returns.

Therefore, to avoid confusion, the term "open" is best avoided.

 

[lewisdicks]

Not sure what you mean by "open" (the ticket type of that name was abolished about 10 years ago and since the onset of online booking engines, the term has been used for a very different meaning to the original) but, in addition to the example given by John @ Home above, Scarborough to Seamer is under 3 miles and has an SOR (Anytime Return; formerly known as Standard Open Return) and Filey to Hunmanby is about a quarter of a mile shorter and has an SHR (Anytime Short Return).

Some people refer to any ticket that allows you to return within a month as an "open return", this includes (Super) Off Peak Fares and not just tickets of the type "SOR".

Confusingly some booking engines use the term "open return" to mean any ticket that allows you any degree of flexibility, thus also including Day returns.

Therefore, to avoid confusion, the term "open" is best avoided.

Thanks, I knew about the vagueness but wasn't sure how else to express it, when I say open I meant an anytime or off peak return valid for one month

 

[yorkie]

Luton to Luton Airport Parkway also has an SOR. At a distance of 1 mile (and 1 chain) that will be hard to beat!

 

[CyrusWuff]

I believe the "traditional" criteria were that it was either in excess of 50 miles (30 miles in the former Network SouthEast area) or a station serving an Airport was involved.