Question from downunder

[DJ737]

Hi there

I currently live in Melbourne, but I am visiting the UK in FEB 2010.

I have reletives in Elsenham (Essex) and also in Lamphey (Pembrokeshire)

I need to travel between the two.

Outbound from Elsenham to Lamphey, I want to have lunch with a friend in Birmingham. Returning will be via Paddington & Liverpool Street, so is not an issue.

The timetable indicates Elsenham to Lamphey via Birmingham is doable, changing at Audley End, Birmingham New St. & Llanelli.

I can't find a fare for the journey though.
I need to break my Elsenham-Lamphey journey in Birmingham for about 3hrs.

Is there an advance single ticket to cover this journey?

Over to the experts.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Advance singles do not allow break your journey, so unless you buy two seperate Advance singles for each 'half' of the journey, you can't have lunch in Birmingham on one of those. They should not be confused with singles bought in advance, which could allow break of journey depending on the restrictions of the ticket, but are generally more expensive.

The fares for February 2010 won't be available on websites and ticket machines untill approx. 5th December, because a fares change is due at the start of next year.

It is difficult to help more than that at the moment, particularly as you don't have more precise information about when you are travelling (even a rough guide of time of day, which day of the week, etc, helps).

 

[moonrakerz]

Advance singles do not allow break your journey, so unless you buy two seperate Advance singles for each 'half' of the journey, you can't have lunch in Birmingham on one of those.

You can do this to some extent. I recently travelled from Worcester to Sheffield on an Advance Ticket. The trip involved a change at New St.
There are no seat reservations for the Worcester to New St leg, so I was free to travel on any train, I booked a seat on a train from New St to Sheffield two hours after my planned arrival in Brum.
I then met up with my cousin for a chin wag and several cups of coffee, I did not break the Ts & Cs of my ticket as we didn't leave the station. The railway staff have to let you out of the barriers if you wish to use station facilities sited there.
How they would then monitor you to make sure that you did not "leave the station" is a bit difficult to imagine !

 

[DJ737]

It is difficult to help more than that at the moment, particularly as you don't have more precise information about when you are travelling (even a rough guide of time of day, which day of the week, etc, helps).

Hi there

It will be a wednesday or thursday in early febuary, if that helps.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[hairyhandedfool]

You can do this to some extent. I recently travelled from Worcester to Sheffield on an Advance Ticket. The trip involved a change at New St.
There are no seat reservations for the Worcester to New St leg, so I was free to travel on any train, I booked a seat on a train from New St to Sheffield two hours after my planned arrival in Brum.
I then met up with my cousin for a chin wag and several cups of coffee, I did not break the Ts & Cs of my ticket as we didn't leave the station. The railway staff have to let you out of the barriers if you wish to use station facilities sited there.
How they would then monitor you to make sure that you did not "leave the station" is a bit difficult to imagine !

Technically you are supposed to use a 'reasonable' service where the route states 'and connections' on the ticket. Where it doesn't you have still technically agreed to use a set service, even if it is unreservable.

In this instance we are likely talking about reserved services atleast part of the way on both sections of the journey, this makes such option a virtual no-no.

Hi there

It will be a wednesday or thursday in early febuary, if that helps.

Cheers
DJ737

Not greatly, but it you were to buy a 'walk up' single (on the day or in advance) it may be subject to time restrictions because it is on a weekday.