SVR Starting Short query

[RochdalePioneers]

A little while since I have done something like this, so thought I would ask the assembled experts. High flight costs make flying to Manchester way cheaper than Birmingham for a show I am going to at the NEC. MIA to BHI tickets are valid via MAN, and I'd be landing at 07:55.

A Manchester Airport to Birmingham International ticket Off Peak Return is valid after 09:30 (restriction 2V) and costs £55.90. An anytime alternative allowing travel before 09:30 is an exciting £129.50. If I bought a Standard Day Single for £7 from Manchester Airport to Stockport, I could use it to travel on the 09:25 Cross Country departure to BHI which calls at Stockport at 09:33 - when the SVR is valid. I would then use my Manchester AIrport - Birmingham International Off Peak Return for my onward journey to the NEC.

So I just want to sense check my rationale - can I start short from Stockport on this ticket? I won't had time during the ticket's validity to come from the starting station (Manchester Airport) but does that matter? I would of course be able to show the Day Single from the Airport to Stockport to demonstrate that I hadn't been using the SVR to Birmingham International before departure from Stockport...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think it very likely you'll get an argument about that even if it may be technically* allowed. Why not simply split tickets so the SVR originates at Stockport? Near enough all trains stop there anyway.

* It's actually near enough explicitly allowed - the restriction code says the following but in relation to overnight break, not starting short, so it's not quite enough to rely 100% on:

Overnight Break of Journey is permitted under this restriction code, but the restriction applies for all individual legs of the journey at each intermediate station:

Outward: Outward restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday.


Return: Return restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Fair enough. The difference in cost between Off Peak and Any Time Returns is ludicrous. I suspect because the SOR has 5 days validity for the outbound.

 

[mangyiscute]

Yeah just buy a Manchester Airport to Stockport anytime short return for £13.90 then a stockport to Birmingham International off peak return for £51.50 - its slightly more expensive but is unquestionably valid

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

You don't say what date you are talking about (pre or post timetable change on May 21), or day of week.
Or what your return plans are (day trip or something longer).

If a day trip you could consider buying a Cheshire Day Ranger (£28) and a West Midlands Day Ranger (£32) which are both valid after 0900.
With these, if you are lucky, you could use the 0904 MIA-MAN to reach the 0925 XC, or use the 0901 Northern to Crewe and then pick up Avanti (through train to BHI) or LNR for Birmingham.
Won't work for longer trips though.

 

[MrJeeves]

I can't see an issue with this, personally.

Starting short on this ticket is possible, as it's not explicitly restricted. It's not valid on the 0925 service for the first section on to Stockport, but you can then pick up validity from Stockport onwards with the off-peak ticket.

I don't see how this could be seen as anything but permitted. I do this fairly often if I am going to London on the Brighton Mainline during the cusp of peak to off-peak. While I've not had any issues so far, I would simply present the ticket I am currently using during that portion of my journey. I.e., if I was checked between Manchester and Stockport, I would show the Anytime single, otherwise I would show the off-peak return.