Rather unusually for me I was travelling from Paddington on a ticket for which I wasn't sure of the restrictions. This was on Monday and I arrived at Paddington later than anticipated at 4:10pm.
I had an Off Peak Day Travelcard from Bristol TM to London Zones 1-6.
I went to the ticket office to ask if I could see, or have read to me, the restriction text. I was told, "...that this is sensitive information, not available to the public from FGW, and if I wanted it I'd have to ask National Rail Enquiries. We (FGW) are not allowed to give it out."
Disbelief to say the least. I had no internet means available to me and certainly did not want to waste time on a call to NRE. So I asked, "Is my ticket subject to the list of barred trains in the evening peak, or a blanket time ban?"
"You can't use it between 4pm and 7.15pm sir. The first train you can catch is the 1930 to Bristol TM."
My reason for enquiring was to see whether an Off Peak Day Travelcard from Bristol was valid on the return from Paddington on the 1706. If the restriction code for my ticket had the list of barred trains then this train isn't on it and I'd be free to use it. However it would be included if the restriction code was one where a blanket time ban is imposed.
Being left with either believing what I was told by a clerk who refused to call up the restriction text, or go hunting for an internet cafe in the Paddington area, I resigned myself to a long wait until 1930.
But wait, there's the posters all over Paddington, detailing what trains you can take with what ticket (see attachment). On that it says that Off Peak Day tickets are valid on the 1706. I locate the TM before boarding and he says, yes my ticket is valid.
Only on getting home do I finally find out what the restriction actually is (LC).
From that, I see that the text is one that has a time ban rather than the list of barred trains. I note I could've caught the 1630, despite what I was told by the ticket office clerk. I could also have caught the 1845 and changed at Bristol Parkway, the 1847 (change Swindon) the 1900 direct, or the 1915 (change Parkway)
Also, it turns out my ticket wasn't valid on the 1706, so I should be thankful I was allowed to travel. But with the poster saying Off Peak Day tickets are valid on the 1706, it's a little confusing. Is an Off Peak Day Travelcard not to be included?
So, in summary, very disappointed with the information given by the booking clerk - who had the tools at his disposal to check but refused to do so, saying the information was 'sensitive'. If he'd checked I could've boarded the 1630 and been home much much earlier. Disappointed with the ambiguity of the 'When Can I Travel' posters - should also mention Travelcards. But happy that I was permitted to travel on the 1706 despite later discovering my ticket wasn't valid. Even though that train got me back to Temple Meads at 1947, whereas the 1630 would've got me back at 1815.
On this occasion my ticket costs were being refunded after I attended an audition in Central London, so I bought the through ticket. Back to split tickets in future so I know I'm on restriction P7 and can use the 1706. Or C4 with no evening restrictions at all.
I had an Off Peak Day Travelcard from Bristol TM to London Zones 1-6.
I went to the ticket office to ask if I could see, or have read to me, the restriction text. I was told, "...that this is sensitive information, not available to the public from FGW, and if I wanted it I'd have to ask National Rail Enquiries. We (FGW) are not allowed to give it out."
Disbelief to say the least. I had no internet means available to me and certainly did not want to waste time on a call to NRE. So I asked, "Is my ticket subject to the list of barred trains in the evening peak, or a blanket time ban?"
"You can't use it between 4pm and 7.15pm sir. The first train you can catch is the 1930 to Bristol TM."
My reason for enquiring was to see whether an Off Peak Day Travelcard from Bristol was valid on the return from Paddington on the 1706. If the restriction code for my ticket had the list of barred trains then this train isn't on it and I'd be free to use it. However it would be included if the restriction code was one where a blanket time ban is imposed.
Being left with either believing what I was told by a clerk who refused to call up the restriction text, or go hunting for an internet cafe in the Paddington area, I resigned myself to a long wait until 1930.
But wait, there's the posters all over Paddington, detailing what trains you can take with what ticket (see attachment). On that it says that Off Peak Day tickets are valid on the 1706. I locate the TM before boarding and he says, yes my ticket is valid.
Only on getting home do I finally find out what the restriction actually is (LC).
From that, I see that the text is one that has a time ban rather than the list of barred trains. I note I could've caught the 1630, despite what I was told by the ticket office clerk. I could also have caught the 1845 and changed at Bristol Parkway, the 1847 (change Swindon) the 1900 direct, or the 1915 (change Parkway)
Also, it turns out my ticket wasn't valid on the 1706, so I should be thankful I was allowed to travel. But with the poster saying Off Peak Day tickets are valid on the 1706, it's a little confusing. Is an Off Peak Day Travelcard not to be included?
So, in summary, very disappointed with the information given by the booking clerk - who had the tools at his disposal to check but refused to do so, saying the information was 'sensitive'. If he'd checked I could've boarded the 1630 and been home much much earlier. Disappointed with the ambiguity of the 'When Can I Travel' posters - should also mention Travelcards. But happy that I was permitted to travel on the 1706 despite later discovering my ticket wasn't valid. Even though that train got me back to Temple Meads at 1947, whereas the 1630 would've got me back at 1815.
On this occasion my ticket costs were being refunded after I attended an audition in Central London, so I bought the through ticket. Back to split tickets in future so I know I'm on restriction P7 and can use the 1706. Or C4 with no evening restrictions at all.
