Ticketing sites don't understand restriction code exceptions?

[hvshe]

I have two questions regarding tickets, as follows.

1.

I am planning to catch the 09:12 service from BHM (Birmingham New Street) towards BRI (Bristol Temple Meads) on a weekday, with a split in CNM (Cheltenham Spa), with returning from BRI the same day at 20:33.

I checked BRFares beforehand and realised that the Off-Peak Return (XZ) ticket condition says as follows:

Outward Travel
Not valid for trains scheduled to depart after 04:29 and before 09:30.

Exceptions as below:

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Cheltenham Spa

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Parkway

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Taunton

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Tiverton Parkway

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Exeter St David's

- 09:12 departure from Birmingham New Street to Newton Abbot

Pretty clear, isn't it?

But when I search such a journey [BHM-BRI] on the forum ticketing site, it decided to sell me two Advance Singles to cover the BHM<>CNM segment (£24.90+12.10=37.00), which is more expensive than the Off-Peak Return (£34.10). Sensing that things are off, I checked BHM to CNM on its own on the forum, TfW and XC's websites, all refusing to sell an Off-Peak Return for the journey. So, what is my best course of action?

---

2.

My journey is actually Olton [OLT] to Birmingham NS (bus), Birmingham NS to Bristol TM (train, dep 0912), and Bristol TM to Olton (train, dep 2033).

Considering that the price for an Off-Peak Return for OLT<>CNM and BHM<>CNM are the same, and are with the same ticket restriction (XZ), would I be able to use an OLT<>CNM ticket to start the journey at BHM?



Thank you so much in advance!

 

[SickyNicky]

The restriction code XZ doesn't have electronic definitions for those easements, so no ticket site will allow them. See https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=BHM&dest=CNM&grpo=0418&tkt=SVR

Unless they are published in the data, journey planners can't do anything.

 

[Swedenorer]

Southern only offers the same. If no one will sell you the fare there is no point brandishing BR fares at anybody either - it is an unaccredited source. And if you read right down the restriction code XZ over rides it anyway. I imagine if the concession exists it was intended to smooth out demand. Your only course - should you wish to risk it - is to buy the fare anyway for some valid departures - you will have no itinerary of course - and try your luck. I wouldn't personally.

 

[SickyNicky]

Indeed. But National Rail's own website shows the easements just fine (in text form) here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/validity/xz/ - and obviously that's an official data source.

It's probably worth us querying the lack of electronic data to back up the easements with the data provider.

 

[81A]

Given the inability to buy online with itinerary, maybe the best option would be to buy at a ticket office at least one day before (if it is convenient) and see if they will issue it with a seat reservation on the 0912? Then it will have been sold for travel on that train by a member of rail staff, probably making other rail staff less likely to question it?

 

[Watershed]

There is no risk here as I see it. The link to the restriction code is printed on the ticket so in the event of any query you would simply invite the member of staff to look up the restriction code (or show it on your phone).

What would not be valid, is to take an earlier connecting service from Olton. The exception to the 09:30 rule is only specifically for the 09:12 XC service from BHM, not connecting services (much though an easement to that effect would make sense).