Using Anytime Returns

[Chapeltom]

Hi all

I use Anytime Returns all the time as it's the only ticket available on the journey I 'make' Chinley to Formby. I am comfortable coming back within a few days on the return portion but I've bought a Chapel en le Frith to Formby Anytime Return and need to take a substantial BoJ and resume Friday morning.

I've taken a train from Chapel en le Frith this morning, arrived in Manchester Piccadilly but I'm breaking my journey until Friday as I'm off to London on a separate (megabus) trip. I plan to take the 0453 from Manchester Picc and complete my journey Friday. My ticket has been marked 25/02/14 in pen. Obviously I'm concerned this will arouse suspicion when I resume my journey on Friday morning. My return portion will be unmarked of course.

Should I expect any issues, because I'm a bit worried! I know people do abuse SORs!

Cheers

Tom

 

[IanXC]

I sometimes have a similar worry, from time to time I do the same thing. Its never been a problem, but what I always do is make sure I have the evidence of what I did next to hand when using the remaining validity. Whether that be another ticket, receipt usw, in your case I'd make sure I had the Megabus bookings.

 

[yorkie]

My ticket has been marked 25/02/14 in pen.

All that means is you commenced your journey on that date.

All ticket inspectors should be aware that Anytime tickets are valid for breaks of journey within the validity period, and if not, it's made very clear on the National Rail website.

 

[Chapeltom]

All that means is you commenced your journey on that date.

All ticket inspectors should be aware that Anytime tickets are valid for breaks of journey within the validity period, and if not, it's made very clear on the National Rail website.

Now edited for clarification, I've not had any sleep so this post didn't initially make much sense. I'm not complaining, but thought I'd feedback.

I arrived back in the north at 4am this morning from London and got on the 0453 to Liverpool Lime St. I was told by the guard I'd used the ticket before. I replied I'd been in London for 3 days and had only just arrived back in Manchester, I'd only used it as far as Manchester and broken my journey at Manchester.

I'd got a travel card showing in my railcard wallet from yesterday. I'd got proof of my Megabus journey on my phone but I didn't feel necessary to show it. I just seemed to get the impression he didn't believe a word of what I was saying. Which was frustrating but he wrote today's date on the ticket and nothing more was said. Understandable he may not have believed me, he may well have but it was 5am and I struggle to pick up on cues with communication :$

Anyway, for the avoidance of any doubt the return portion was intact, the ticket was still as one, I hadn't broken the portions apart so it cannot have gone through a barrier. I'm not sure I could do that journey in full without using a barrier anyway! The ticket did look a bit battered from being in my back pocket for the last 3 days.

Shame people do abuse them, as I know they do get abused and can see why people would abuse SORs. It was the best way for me to make the journey I was making. There has to be some way for people to make BoJs of Anytime Returns and not feel as if they have to try and justify why they are travelling on the 2nd/3rd/4th/5th day of validity etc. I'm not sure what the solution is, but the current way we do things seems to make it difficult/awkward for both the passenger and those inspecting the ticket.