Route: Southern Trains Only

[Sarah]

The results from searching Red Spotted Hanky or similar sites for tickets Dorking Stations to London Terminals via Redhill include some fares with "Route: Southern Trains Only" even though the Dorking Stations to Redhill part of the journey cannot be undertaken by Southern Trains (since there are no such services). Therefore all the suggested journeys upon selecting "Route: Southern Trains Only" tickets include travel on a First Great Western service between those two stations yet the sites seem happy to sell these tickets anyway.

Please can someone confirm if tickets with the "Route: Southern Trains Only" restriction would really be valid for the entire journey? Or, moreover, would they be valid if starting/stopping short at Redhill and therefore able to comply with the restriction by using only Southern Trains for the entire journey?

 

[alex17595]

Southern operate Dorking station and services down the mole valley, I assume it would be valid only on the Victoria service as FGW only operate services to the other two stations.

 

[yorkie]

Yes you can start/finish short at Redhill (assuming that's a permitted route)

It shouldn't be showing FGW services on itineraries so that's a mistake.

 

[jopsuk]

I suspect this really should have "& Connection" or similar- I think the intention is that it is valid on FGW to Redhill, then Southern only from there to London

 

[Sarah]

Yes you can start/finish short at Redhill (assuming that's a permitted route)

I think it's a permitted route (maps CS+LB indicated by trainscanbecheaper) notwithstanding the 'Route: Southern Trains Only' restriction for this particular ticket. I'm no expert though, so all advice gratefully received!

 

[bb21]

It is a permitted route and there is no break of journey restriction I can see. We have previously debated the issue of whether the whole journey must be possible bearing in mind the TOC restriction on the ticket, but I don't recall reaching a consensus.

I suspect that the intention is to allow travel direct via Epsom.

 

[greatkingrat]

Try making this journey while complying with the restriction!

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BEU&dest=QRB&rte=777&tkt=SDR

 

[bb21]

Try making this journey while complying with the restriction!

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BEU&dest=QRB&rte=777&tkt=SDR

That's due to clustering. It seems to be the way Southern do these things, when they really should have defined specific fares from certain stations.