Over-distance excess (NUN-STA to NUN-LIV)

[MKB]

Thanks to broken promises by Virgin Trains that my Traveller membership would auto-renew at the end of November provided I re-qualified before the end of October, I do not yet have a ticket for travel from Stafford to Liverpool this weekend.

The journey is from Nuneaton to Liverpool for 2 adults on a Two Together railcard.

I already have a Nuneaton-Stafford Off-Peak Day Return (not via BHM) at £4.50 each.

At Stafford, if we don't make the 1-minute illegal connection, I will buy a STA-LIV VT-only Off-Peak Return from the Stafford ticket office.

My questions are, if we do make that connection:

(1) Is it permitted to do an over-distance excess on the second train to a NUN-LIV Off-Peak Return using railcard discount?

(2) If so, would the price be £20.45 each less £4.50 each, i.e. £15.95 each?

(3) And can the guard refuse to accept payment in Travel Vouchers?

 

[Starmill]

I think if you have joined a train for which you do not have a valid ticket and there were facilities to get one in working order at your origin (i.e. Nuneaton ticket office) you might end up in some difficulty.

There's no reason why Rail Travel Vouchers should not be accepted onboard. This doesn't guarantee you won't get somebody grumpy.

 

[bb21]

The excess in theory should be done before boarding if there are ticket purchasing facilities, so that would be at Nuneaton. Beyond that point, provided that Nuneaton ticket office is open, you may be refused the excess and a brand new ticket between Stafford and Liverpool sold.

In addition, if an opportunity to pay existed before you reached Stafford, your ticket would have expired on arrival at Stafford so that is another reason why an excess may be refused.

I understand that it sort of puts you in a catch-22 situation. The guard on the second train may use discretion, especially if asked before boarding, but that cannot be guaranteed.

 

[yorkie]

(1) Is it permitted to do an over-distance excess on the second train to a NUN-LIV Off-Peak Return using railcard discount?

When commencing your journey at a staffed station? No.

Though if, as in this case, the train calls at a point your ticket expires (and you're getting off there anyway) and you ask the Guard before that stop, there's a possibility they might show discretion (particularly if you seek them out).

(3) And can the guard refuse to accept payment

They can refuse to sell the excess that you require. They could say the only excess they can offer would be to the Anytime fare with no Railcard discounts, if you commenced your journey at a staffed station.

... Travel Vouchers?

RTVs are a valid payment method but that's a separate matter.

 

[MKB]

Thanks for the quick replies. Confirms what I suspected. I'm hoping VT will resolve my Traveller membership today, so that I can simply catch our usual STA-LIV VT train instead, albeit with a lengthy connection in STA.

 

[bb21]

If it can be established that it were Virgin's fault, you may be better off buying the VT Only fare and asking customer service for a refund. There is no guarantee but I would expect a goodwill gesture to be made.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks for the quick replies. Confirms what I suspected. I'm hoping VT will resolve my Traveller membership today, so that I can simply catch our usual STA-LIV VT train instead, albeit with a lengthy connection in STA.

A forum member recently joined Traveler and there was a lengthy delay with his membership being sorted (and was only done in the last few days), so he contacted them and they offered to book him any journeys in the mean time using alternative methods so he was not out of pocket.

Have you contacted them? If so, try again, as the person he spoke to was very helpful.