Stratford International a London Terminal?

[MedwayValiant]

First of all, apologies for having registered two years ago, made three posts, and then vanished. Must try harder!

Today I made a return journey between Rochester and Stratford International via HS1. Southeastern offers one of its new SuperOffPeak returns from Rochester to London Terminals, but does not offer one to Stratford International. On the face of it, this means that a return to St Pancras is cheaper than a return to Stratford.

So when I asked for my ticket today, the clerk wouldn't sell it to me - and instead sold me the SuperOffPeak to London Terminals. She told me that they have been told to issue this rather than a return to Stratford when appropriate. Is this correct, implying that Stratford International is considered a London Terminal? Or was the ticket clerk being a bit naughty and telling me to travel short?

The ticket wouldn't work the gates at Stratford, supporting the second. But gateline staff were happy to pass it, which sort of supports the first. How would an RPI have reacted, had there been one at the Stratford gateline?

 

[bb21]

How much did it cost you? Were you sold the £18.90 ticket?

 

[RJ]

It's not a London Terminal. Maybe there were some bureaucratic issues with introducing Super Off Peak fares to Stratford Int at the same time as to St Pancras. It doesn't look prohibited to stop short.

 

[MedwayValiant]

bb21, I have a Network Card and so the fare paid was £12.50. A day return from Rochester to Stratford Intl with a Network Card is £14.00.

RJ, if travelling short is allowed on this ticket then that's fine and I'm happy. Rather oddly, the restriction code for this ticket states "Not Valid on Southeastern High Speed", even though it is.

 

[bb21]

Yeah, we have had a discussion recently regarding this inconsistency and the consensus seems to be that when SET copied the restriction text over from that already in existence on the classic lines, they forgot to amend it.

The ticket says Plus High Speed, and it is difficult to argue otherwise.

As RJ says, no restriction on break of journey and stopping short on this ticket. No restriction is assumed in this respect unless specifically mentioned in the restriction text. Neither Stratford stations is classed as a London terminal for ticketing purposes.

 

[yorkie]

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=RTR&dest=1072&rlc=NEW&rte=131&tkt=SRR

The route is "PLUS HIGH SPEED", that is the route printed on the ticket, so it is valid via High Speed 1, and yes you can finish "short" at Stratford Intl.

Southeastern's pricing department are woeful, so the contradictory (and wrong!) text in the restriction code doesn't surprise me.

There's only one rail employee - as far as I know - who has ludicrously claimed that a ticket isn't valid by the route specified on the ticket, and he's the infamous Newcastle-based East Coast guard of which numerous forum members are familiar and have encountered. I don't Southeastern, even with their reputation, have anyone quite that bad, so I doubt you will experience any problems using this ticket.

 

[MedwayValiant]

Thanks guys, you've answered my question. Even better, the answer is the one I was hoping for!

 

[DJ737]

G'day

As it is a ticket to London Terminals wouldn't it be valid to Liverpool St?
Changing from Stratford International to Stratford Mainline for a connection to Liverpool St would be allowed anyway.

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[RJ]

The official source for the restriction code is www.nationalrail.co.uk/F4

No mention of route restrictions.