Additional fare payable

[whole diary]

[Clan Line]

I wish to get the train to/from Heathrow from Westbury.

The most suitable ticket appears to be an Off Peak Return.......available at two prices: £76.35 or £81.70. The cheaper ticket is direct to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) - which suits my itinerary fine ! However the return leg restricts me to direct trains also. If I buy the more expensive ticket I can return to WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) on any route - via SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) or BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains).

My question: If I buy the cheaper ticket and get to PAD (on my return) and find I have to wait 1h 59M for the next direct WSB train, what extra would I be charged if I get the next train to SWI or BTH ? Would it just be the difference between the two tickets or would some additional "penalty" be imposed ?

[grahame]

I wish to get the train to/from Heathrow from Westbury.

The most suitable ticket appears to be an Off Peak Return.......available at two prices: £76.35 or £81.70. The cheaper ticket is direct to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) - which suits my itinerary fine ! However the return leg restricts me to direct trains also. If I buy the more expensive ticket I can return to WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) on any route - via SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) or BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains).

My question: If I buy the cheaper ticket and get to PAD (on my return) and find I have to wait 1h 59M for the next direct WSB train, what extra would I be charged if I get the next train to SWI or BTH ? Would it just be the difference between the two tickets or would some additional "penalty" be imposed ?

My understanding is that you can "excess" the ticket - bump it up - and you will certainly not be charged more than the £5.35 difference. In fact, in some cases I think it can be cheaper to excess if your outward route is cheaper.  It gets very complex though, and not sure what can be done on the train and what would require you to visit the ticket counter.

[eightonedee]

Clan Line - have you thought about taking the train to Reading and the Railair coach from there to Heathrow?

[plymothian]

A change of route excess is half the difference between return tickets if on the return journey, make sure you do it a Paddington ticket office.

Return tickets - change of route in one direction only

Half the difference between the price already paid and price of the cheapest Return ticket, available for immediate travel that allows the customer to travel on the route and Train Company of their choice.

https://internal.nationalrail.co.uk/187064.aspx#route

[JayMac]

Whilst it's recommended, you don't have to purchase a change of route excess at the station.

From National Rail Conditions of Travel:

13.2. If you make a journey by a route that is not valid you will be liable to pay an excess fare. The price for this will be the difference between the amount paid for the Ticket you hold and the lowest price Ticket available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel by that route.

From the rail industry's Internal Knowledge Base:

Change of Route
The Excess Fare to charge on-board where there was “opportunity to buy” before boarding the train

National Rail Conditions of Travel (Condition 13.2) permits customers to travel by a different route, from the one stated on the ticket or allowed by conditions of the National Routeing Guide, to make their journey on payment of an Excess fare. The Excess fare is calculated as follows:

Single tickets
The difference between the price already paid and price of the cheapest Single ticket, available for immediate travel, that allows the customer to travel on the route and Train Company of their choice

Return tickets - change of route in both directions
The difference between the price already paid and price of the cheapest Return ticket, available for immediate travel, that allows the customer to travel on the route and Train Company of their choice.

Return tickets - change of route in one direction only
Half the difference between the price already paid and price of the cheapest Return ticket, available for immediate travel that allows the customer to travel on the route and Train Company of their choice.

Provided you are still travelling by a permitted route you should not be liable for a penalty fare in these circumstances.

[Clan Line]

Many thanks for the helpful replies and the "quotes" from the relevant documents.

I had thought about the rail-air coach.........very briefly. It doesn't seem to be exactly passenger friendly - I can get a slightly cheaper Advance single ticket to Heathrow on it, but that comes with a 59 minute connection (honest !) at Reading. Additionally, you don't seem to be able to get an Open return, so I would have to mess around getting a ticket at Heathrow/bus/Reading. The increased fare via PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) seems to be worth it just to avoid the hassle.

My last trip, pre Covid, I used the National Express coach from Salisbury (joined it at Amesbury) - absolutely brilliant, I think I paid £19 each way. Unfortunately, that service seems to have fallen victim to Covid, otherwise I wouldn't be contemplating the train for the next trip.

[JayMac]

Bear in mind that I said you should not be charged a Penalty Fare if you request a Change of Route Excess Fare onboard. However, there are no certainties when it comes to what should and what will happen onboard.

It is therefore best if you buy the excess before you make your return journey.

[plymothian]

Bear in mind that I said you should not be charged a Penalty Fare if you request a Change of Route Excess Fare onboard. However, there are no certainties when it comes to what should and what will happen onboard.

It is therefore best if you buy the excess before you make your return journey.

And on board staff are much less likely to be able to understand how to process a half difference excess than a ticket office should*.  As it's not something they'd do very often you're more likely to end up in a what will happen on board situation, which could range from paying the full difference, being let go or reported...

*if they can be bothered to enter the excess details correctly, their ticket machines work it out for them, but you run up against the 'I can't be bothered to educate myself in how to do it' attitude even though they have had plenty of training and access to help guides (both on board and ticket office).

[JayMac]

I travelled to London today from Templecombe. Day Return split tickets at Basingstoke.

My plans in London went awry. I was visiting the Queen pop up shop on Carnaby St to get a limited edition 7" Single. 500 available, going on sale at 1100. I arrived at around 0920, counted the queue and realised I would very likely be out of luck.

So, plan B. Over to Paddington for breakfast then return home to Templecombe via Reading and Basingstoke.

The pertinent ticket was a Basingstoke to London Terminals (via Woking) Anytime Day Return. Of the e-ticket variety.

Went to the Paddington ticket office. Change of Route Excess (to Any Permitted) purchased promptly and without fuss. Correct price too - half the difference between 'via Woking' and 'Any Permitted' for travel on the return portion. I'm a little disappointed that it went so smoothly. I was audio recording, had an Excess Fares Procedure pdf ready on my phone and had rehearsed answers to potential problems. Disappointed but impressed. Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)!

EDIT. Oh and I passed the ticket check onboard with no comment.

[Timmer]

Went to the Paddington ticket office. Excess purchased promptly and without fuss. Correct price too. I'm a little disappointed that it went so smoothly. I was audio recording, had an Excess Fares Procedure pdf ready on my phone and had rehearsed answers to potential problems. Disappointed but impressed. Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)!

Paddington ticket office must have had a tip off.