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froome
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« on: July 20, 2023, 08:20:24 » |
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I have followed discussions here over the years about split ticket validity, and as I understand it, the general consensus is that a split ticket is valid for a journey that does not stop at the station where the split is occurring.
Yesterday i was on the 14.28 train from Paddington travelling to Bath Spa (which incidentally was terminated at Reading due to a defective wheel). Firstly I was surprised to see that this train does not stop at Didcot Parkway - it must be the only service now from Bath that does not.
As many of you will know, if you are travelling from Bristol or Bath to Paddington (and vice versa) it is invariably cheaper to split your ticket at Didcot Parkway, and many people, inc myself, do just that. As it happens, yesterday I hadn't, as I had an advanced fare ticket which had started at Newark-upon-Trent, so my question below doesn't concern my particular journey.
I was very surprised to hear, not just once but about 4 times, the train manager announce at Paddington that anyone with a split ticket at Didcot Parkway could not use this train as it did not stop at Didcot Parkway. She specifically described it as a split ticket, not just someone with a ticket for Didcot Parkway.
So, was she wrong to make these announcements, or is this a deliberate change of policy from GWR▸ (and if so has it been announced anywhere?) or is it a change in tactic by GWR to intimidate passengers who make use of split tickets to not do so?
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2023, 08:25:59 » |
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I have followed discussions here over the years about split ticket validity, and as I understand it, the general consensus is that a split ticket is valid for a journey that does not stop at the station where the split is occurring. She was right, and you mistaken - It's always been the rule that the train *must* be calling at the station(s) that you split your ticket. |
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2023, 08:28:35 » |
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I have followed discussions here over the years about split ticket validity, and as I understand it, the general consensus is that a split ticket is valid for a journey that does not stop at the station where the split is occurring. [snip]
No - it is more complicated than that, and as a headline the train manager was correct. If you are travelling using split tickets, you must normally travel on a train that actual calls in public service at the station at which you have split. The exception is that you can travel on a train that does NOT call at the splitting station if one of the tickets is a normal individual ticket such as a single or return, and the other is a multijourney ticket such as a season ticket, ranger or rover. So Bath to London on a train NOT calling at Didcot would be VALID on - single Bath to Didcot - weekly season Didcot to Cholsey - single Cholsey to London but INVALID on - Single Bath to Didcot - Single Didcot to London |
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« Last Edit: July 20, 2023, 08:50:04 by grahame »
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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GBM
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« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2023, 11:13:22 » |
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IF your journey is diverted on the day (flooding, tree, animals, etc) would that also invalidate the split, or might that then be at the train managers discretion?
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Personal opinion only. Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)  |
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2023, 11:18:26 » |
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If it’s timetabled to call there then I’m sure that’ll be fine.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Timmer
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« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2023, 11:23:24 » |
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IF your journey is diverted on the day (flooding, tree, animals, etc) would that also invalidate the split, or might that then be at the train managers discretion?
In situations like this I have always asked the Train Manager's permission before boarding. |
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grahame
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« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2023, 11:26:24 » |
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IF your journey is diverted on the day (flooding, tree, animals, etc) would that also invalidate the split, or might that then be at the train managers discretion?
It would be at the Train Manager's discretion but if you were being sensible, the train manager and his bosses would not want to take action that would put the train operator into disrepute. Imagine you bought a Bristol to Didcot and a Didcot to London ticket and boarded a train that was scheduled to call at Didcot. However, if cows on the line near Shrivenham meant that the train was diverted after Bath, next stop Reading, I cannot imagine GWR▸ wanting the publicity of taking you to court. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2023, 17:05:12 » |
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I entirely agree that trains diverted from their normal route should be considered as perfectly valid for split ticketing if the station of the split is no longer on the route.
However, consider this.................
A favourite split for travelling to London via the Berks and Hants is Pewsey. All of the 'semi-fasts' from Exeter to Paddington call there, but for passengers from beyond Exeter (eg Newton Abbot), there are few direct services (and none between 11:16 and 17:31). In the return direction, there is a reasonable choice after 15:36, but none between 08:04 and 15:36. Let's say, for the sake of argument, a customer purchases split (at Pewsey) Advance tickets from Newton Abbot to Paddington on the 11:16 (out) and 07:03 (return), but both are cancelled for one reason or another. Should the customer be permitted to catch the next available direct service irrespective of whether it calls at Pewsey, or should the customer get the next available service to Exeter and change?
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ChrisB
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« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2023, 17:14:14 » |
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Advances are looked at separately, so that's the chance you take - you have to wait for the next train that's at least booked to stop there. Whether that's a service with an extra stop placed on it or the next scheduled train to stop there.
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2023, 17:37:15 » |
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Advances are looked at separately, so that's the chance you take - you have to wait for the next train that's at least booked to stop there. Whether that's a service with an extra stop placed on it or the next scheduled train to stop there.
Personally, I'd like to treat holders of either Advances or walk-up split tickets the same way and ask then to take the next service and change trains at Exeter (unless of course a stop order is given to the next 'fast' service). If they choose to take the next 'fast' service, it would be at their own risk. |
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1st fan
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« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2023, 23:29:27 » |
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I used to travel to Coventry from Kensington Olympia when Cross Country ran the route down to Brighton. This went KPA, RDG‡, OXF» , BAN, LMS▸ where I would change trains to one headed to COV. I would buy a ticket to BAN with a Gold Card discount and then another to COV regular price. Some weekends when the usual route was blocked the train would run nonstop to BHI (Birmingham International) via the West Coast mainline. First time before boarding I asked the Train Manager and they said it was fine to use my ticket combo to reach COV including the 1st Gold Card upgrade which was nice. We went like a bat out of hell up the WCML▸ and arrived at BHI really early compared to normal. This was great.
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