Zero excessing an Off Peak Return to a Super Saver Return

[Deerfold]

Example 2) Pax holds ticket for Aberdeen but now wishes to travel to Dyce. As there is no difference in fare we cannot issue a ticket because the zero fare would be flagged up upon download and we do not have any documentary proof to support the zero fare. We do not retain the original ticket as the pax requires this to support the excess ticket. As far as the auditors are concerned we have just issued a free ticket to one of our mates. Therefore in theory issue a single from Aberdeen to Dyce or in practice do a Nelson.

Surely the excess ticket isn't valid on its own? Surely someone with an excess but no original ticket is rather suspicious.

It sounds like the auditors don't know/care how excesses work (along with so many other people)

 

[RJ]

Sometimes zero fare excesses have to be sanctioned, in which case the ticket is not handed back until every detail is logged in the book.

 

[CarterUSM]

Rail companies don't like to issue zero fare excess tickets because these are flagged up during audits and having previous experience of both internal & external auditors in a previous career I know where they are coming from.

If possible get the lower value ticket issued first then "alte rte" excess one way. I realise that you will be excessing from an any permitted to a not london fare ie in theory paying more to restrict your options (but in fact not in this case) but I don't see why this would not be issued.

We are instructed NOT to issue zero fare tickets on train unless we are retaining a passengers ticket for further enquiry or the passenger is being TIed for having no means of payment. In both cases a TI form has to be completed and a full report submitted.

Example 1) Pax holds ticket to Falkirk but wishes to travel to Glasgow. Solution = issue overdistance excess to cover fare. As there is a difference in fare this can be charged.

Example 2) Pax holds ticket for Aberdeen but now wishes to travel to Dyce. As there is no difference in fare we cannot issue a ticket because the zero fare would be flagged up upon download and we do not have any documentary proof to support the zero fare. We do not retain the original ticket as the pax requires this to support the excess ticket. As far as the auditors are concerned we have just issued a free ticket to one of our mates. Therefore in theory issue a single from Aberdeen to Dyce or in practice do a Nelson.

Not Ideal. When we had excess books in the above example (2) We would retain the original and write out a new ticket including details of the original. The original ticket was handed in with your shift sheet to support the issue of the excess free or otherwise.Everybody was happy apart from the fact you had writers cramp at the end of your shift.

This is news to me! Surely the documentary evidence would be the original ticket number?

 

[b0b]

Go onto the National Rail website, input the journey details and flag the route as via East Croydon. It will tell you if one ticket is sufficient or not. Failing that, use the Routeing Guide. This is publicly accessible so I'm not quite sure what your moaning is getting at.

I just tested out the NRE site,

it reckons that London Victoria to Anerley via East Croydon needs multiple tickets, but it if the fast Victoria takes the normal route via Balham & Selhurst, the route seems to be permitted on map LB which doesn't need a fares check.

If the fast Victoria train goes via Crystal Palace instead you would double back through Norwood Junction.

The key piece of information missing is the route of fast trains.

It is not an imaginary problem - it is quickest to go via East Croydon for this journey.

 

[MikeWh]

The route through Selhurst has four tracks while the Crystal Palace route only has two. Fast trains will always go via Selhurst unless engineering works dictate otherwise.