Swindon - Sheffield 18/03

[JN114]

On the 18th March I'm travelling from Swindon to Sheffield, coming back late the same evening.

I'm using my TOC-issued free travel pass to get from Swindon to Bristol TM, and I then have purchased (already) a PRIV Bristol TM - Sheffield Off Peak Return, routed NOT VIA LONDON

I've since discovered I can leave Sheffield much later (and have more drinking/socialising time) if I travel home via Doncaster and Kings Cross, and a good 40 minutes later travelling via St Pancras. If I go to London I can return from Paddington to Swindon using my Free travel again.

So the challenge -

On the way out I have to go via Bristol (meeting up with someone enroute). But the return is a little more fluid. I'd like to retain the via Bristol option in case there's problems on the MML etc. The simple option in my mind would be to Excess the return portion of my ticket to a Via London, but it's something I've never done before, and I don't know if there are additional restrictions because it's a Priv ticket. I also end up paying for my journey from Paddington to Swindon, (and Swindon - Bristol that I don't use). The plus side is no Voyager....

Does anyone have any suggestions for the most painless way of doing things?

 

[button_boxer]

As I understand it there's no difference with the tickets being PRIV. A change of route excess in one direction only on a return ticket is half (?) the difference in fares between what you hold now and what you want to excess to. In this case that's less than £7, and I can't see how you could do it cheaper. Even if I'm wrong and it's actually the full difference, that's still cheaper than a public price Advance from Sheffield or Chesterfield to London to bridge the gap.

 

[JN114]

As I understand it there's no difference with the tickets being PRIV. A change of route excess in one direction only on a return ticket is half (?) the difference in fares between what you hold now and what you want to excess to. In this case that's less than £7, and I can't see how you could do it cheaper. Even if I'm wrong and it's actually the full difference, that's still cheaper than a public price Advance from Sheffield or Chesterfield to London to bridge the gap.

Ok so we'll take Excess the return as the best option - is it something that could with be done relative ease at Sheffield Station at 7pm on a Saturday? If not, if I do it before I travel can I revert back to travelling via Bristol or am I then locked in to travelling via London?

I've never excessed a ticket in my life, so not sure how convoluted he process is.

 

[Hadders]

Change of route excess on one portion is half the difference. In my experience you have to shop around to obtain excesses. Just last week Marylebone (which according to many on here is a good ticket office) denied that excesses exist! Note however there is no penalty for obtaining a change of route excess on board and I expect many guards will be familiar with them.