Over distance excess query

[admiralm]

Does an over-distance excess allow you to travel by a route that would not be available on the (non-excessed) ticket?

The specific example I am thinking of is an off-peak return from Cambridge to Banbury (route any permitted). I wish to get an over-distance excess to Manchester Picadilly (route any permitted) for the return part, and then an advance single to get back to Banbury. Would this allow me to travel via the WCML? Or would I have to travel via Banbury since I am essentially travelling to Banbury on the original ticket and then on to Manchester on the excess?

Also, is the fare for excessing only the return portion half the difference in price or the full difference? My past experience shows that staff in different ticket offices have different opinions on this question - is there actually a written rule on this anywhere?

Thanks for your help!

 

[barrykas]

Does an over-distance excess allow you to travel by a route that would not be available on the (non-excessed) ticket?

The specific example I am thinking of is an off-peak return from Cambridge to Banbury (route any permitted). I wish to get an over-distance excess to Manchester Picadilly (route any permitted) for the return part, and then an advance single to get back to Banbury. Would this allow me to travel via the WCML? Or would I have to travel via Banbury since I am essentially travelling to Banbury on the original ticket and then on to Manchester on the excess?

The Manual has the following to say on the matter:

EITHER the cheapest Single or Return fare for immediate travel for the additional journey OR HALF the difference between the fare paid and the appropriate Return fare for the through journey.

In your example, if you travel via Banbury, the Off-Peak Single from Banbury to Manchester is £42.20, whereas travelling via Euston would be an Off-Peak Single from Euston to Manchester, at £66.20.

The Excess, meanwhile, would be HALF of £82.30 - £52.80, i.e. £14.75, and my interpretation of the excess rules is that it would, indeed, be valid via the WCML.

All this, of course, assumes you're travelling at a time when Off-Peak tickets are valid.

Whether the Virgin TM takes the same interpretation, however, is left as an exercise for the reader..

Cheers,

Barry