Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi - I've just found out I need to go home early today to sort out a problem at home, so I won't be taking the train specified on my advance ticket, which cost ^7.50.

If I bought a new ticket now, the cheapest would be a super off-peak at ^12.10. However, if I wait for the conductor to check my ticket on the train, would he just charge me the difference?

The route is Bath - Didcot.

I think you have to do any changes at the ticket office before you board.

The problem with that is that I think there's a ^10 fee to change an advance ticket, so I would just end up paying the full ^12.10.

If that's what I have to do, then fair enough.

Sorry you won't get anything on the ticket - if you just board the train you would run the risk of being sold an Anytime Single.

...which is ^22.50. Ok, thanks.

Of course I realise the way this works - if I don't buy a new ticket now, the conductor will check my ticket and I will have to buy an anytime. If I do buy one now, he won't come near ::)

Could always ask at the ticket office if they will excess it to a off peak single, there is a chance they might not charge the admin fee if they are feeling generous.

Yep, worth a go - thanks.

Nah :(

I would have just got on the train and if they wouldn't excess it ay

Pay the 12 odd - but I would find the tm before they found me

Best case they would let you - worst you get the cheaper fair

Erm no, worst case you get the full anytime fare or possibly a penalty fare. Or even reported for prosecution should the staff member involved decide there's intent to defraud...

I've seen Revenue Protection board at Bath quite a few times recently.  They don't hold back with the Penalty Fares.  Three ^20 penalties dished out to people sitting near me last time, at least two the time before - both from a supposedly barriered station.  Plus they had to pay for an onward ticket from the next station.

On the Pompey service, enough of them board to get through the whole train before arriving at Bradford on Avon - well worth the money IMO.

O - forgive me I was assuming a hss service qh which rightly or wrongly rarely have rip apart from one guerilla who is well known and does it on hIs off time - I don't use local that often

As predicted, having paid the full ^12.10 for a new ticket like a good boy, no one came to check it. Pah! :)

But if it happened again I would probably do the same thing. That's despite having got away with it a year or 2 ago - I had bought an advance ticket for an earlier train than my usual (the usual was too expensive IIRC) but had forgotten by the time the day came. Decided to get on the wrong train without changing my ticket, conductor did come, looked at my ticket, and just moved on, much to my relief. Probably just didn't notice (the minutes past the hour figure was the same for both trains).

Translation please?

Mookiemoo rightly or wrongly assumed that HSS (High Speed Services) rarely have RPI's / RPO's (Revenue Staff) apart from one who is well known and does it on his time off (don't know who she is on about myself lol) - she doesn't use local that often.