Great Western Coffee Shop

If you have an advnced ticket to beyond Reading and already have a single to Wokingham in your possesion can you get off at Reading and catch the Wokingham train.

Strictly not according to the rules but?

In theory: No

In Practice: Yes

The Ticket Restrictions on Advance Tickets say you must go right the way through to the end point on your ticket. So If you're ticket says to Paddington, you must go all the way to Paddington. However, If you alight at Reading and then used your ticket onto Wokingham, the inspector on the Wokingham train isn't going to know any different. But if you alight at Reading and do this, you cannot use the Advance to then continue onto Paddington at a later time as this WOULD land you in hot water.

So whilst I do not endorse going against the rules, you in practice, could do that. But it is against the rules.

I can recall a situation where I did something similar with an Advance ticket. I had booked Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads. Some very inconsiderate cow decided she was going to bring a very small child into First Class. Said child did nothing but ear piercingly scream from Birmingham right the way to Cheltenham Spa over what sounded like the child wanted something but mother refused... By this point it was either bail out at Cheltenham, or really give that child something to scream about and it looked like the other occupants were also getting very pi$$ed by this point... Being the nice polite and placid person I am... ;D I opted for the former. But then I bought a walkup ticket from Cheltenham Spa onto Bristol Temple Meads.

*Opens tin of worms and attempts to fly away*

Sorry I asked the wrong question originally it should have been can you break your outward journey  with an Off Peak return?

AFAIK you can... I quite often used to break the outward portion of a First Class Off Peak Day Return at Bristol Temple Meads to have lunch down at the Wetherspoons on Temple Key ;D

But I wouldn't want you to quote me on that if you see what I mean ;)

Depends on the restriction code shown against the ticket's validity.

If you post the journey details, I'll (or someone else will) check the fares manual to see if an outward break of journey is allowed on that specific ticket.

Have done a similar thing  ::)   ... booked a cheap ticket for the family to Paignton.... only didn't realise once booked from Clapham Junction to Paignton that I couldn't start short!  So.... had to get up at daft o'clock, travel from FNB to Clapham then board the down Paignton and come back through Farnborough. My return was an advanced ticket back to Clapham... but I got off at Basingstoke and had singles from here to FNB!  Naughty... be every so nice!

This seemed the most sensible place to add this little question. Hopefully someone can help please?

I am travelling from Canterbury West (CWE) to Reading on Friday.
- A normal ticket CWE - STP, STP - PAD, PAD - RDG is ^24.85 (Off Peak with a YP Railcard)
- A normal ticket CWE - STP, STP - PAD and an advance single between PAD - BTH is ^18.25 (With a YP Railcard)

Question is: Can I end my journey at Reading if I'm travelling on an advance single from PAD - BTH. I know I could "get away with it", but can I do it legally?

Thanks.

You certainly can't do it legally, and you're unlikely to "get away with it" either since Reading has ticket barriers controlling exit from the station. You would risk either a penalty fare or an excess fare from PAD - RDG for travelling with an invalid ticket.

No

That's all I needed to hear thanks.

No problem, EBrown - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!  :)

Chris.  :D