Quick Question - Advance Tickets

[CentralTrainer]

Just a quick question asked in our office today.

Someone has got two Advance Singles departing from Sandwell & Dudley down to Euston on Virgin at 2255 on a Friday night.

Are they ok to board the same train - but at Birmingham New Street (the next station along) instead?

 

[robbeech]

Officially this is not valid so we can not recommend this.
In practise it may not be a problem.
Finishing short is considered less of an issue than starting short.
You may find problems at the gateline at New Street. The barriers would likely reject them forcing you to speak to a member of staff.
It may be worth asking their social media team?

 

[skifans]

Officially, no:
"You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary." http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46546.aspx

How likely they would be to be caught it a different matter I won't get into - are there ticket barriers at New Street. If they do to a ticket office then they will be able to change their advance tickets, but will be a £10 admin charge and they will have to pay the difference between the old and new fares.


Edit: Just piped at the post by robbeech

Edit2: No you can't - with thanks to Haywain, got a bit confused there, thanks.

 

[robbeech]

The likelihood of being ‘caught’ starting at New Street is higher than average. Ticket barriers are in operation most of the time from experience and the barriers are not lenient on ticket types. There are not likely to be any issues on the train, unless your reserved seats are taken when you don’t show up.

Are they short of time at Birmingham, at £3.40 for a single would it work for them to get a train to the starting point a little earlier?

 

[Haywain]

If they do to a ticket office then they will be able to change their advance tickets, but will be a £10 admin charge and they will have to pay the difference between the old and new fares.

The origin and destination of an Advance ticket cannot be changed.

 

[Kite159]

Officially this is not valid so we can not recommend this.
In practise it may not be a problem.
Finishing short is considered less of an issue than starting short.
You may find problems at the gateline at New Street. The barriers would likely reject them forcing you to speak to a member of staff.
It may be worth asking their social media team?

I would be very surprised if the gates at New Street were in operation that time of night, they are normally left open after around 8pm in my experience

 

[robbeech]

I would be very surprised if the gates at New Street were in operation that time of night, they are normally left open after around 8pm in my experience

This is interesting to know. To be honest I’ve been at all sorts of times of day and never known them open but I haven’t been that much in the late evening so likely a one off.

 

[CentralTrainer]

Thanks all - let them know and they’re not going to risk it.

 

[iainbhx]

This is interesting to know. To be honest I’ve been at all sorts of times of day and never known them open but I haven’t been that much in the late evening so likely a one off.

I go through most evenings between 6pm and 7pm, I usually find them staffed at 6pm, I rarely find them staffed at 7pm.