Season Ticket advice needed

[whole diary]

[JaminBob]

Dear all,

Ok, so i'm being silly... I'm swapping a 30min cycle ride (or a short train / walk if its raining hard) for a proper day-in day-out rail commute.

What i want to know is, whilst i'm planning to go from Backwell to Bedminster to save some money and then walk or cycle, i might want the flexibility of a BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) ticket. Stapleton Rd would also be handy and give even more flexibility. So:

- if i get a season to Bedminster, can I 'top up' to BRI when needed on board or at the station without getting accused of being a fare-dodger
- if i got a season to stapleton road (same price to BRI), can i get on and off at BRI / Bedminster, and through barriers without a problem?

Thanks a lot. 

[JayMac]

On the first point, the rules state that you need to buy an appropriate single/return for the additional journey:

From ATOCs^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) Excess Fares Procedure:

Over-riding (travelling beyond the destination on the ticket)

Except for Season-ticket holders, a customer travelling beyond the destination of the ticket will be required to pay an Excess fare for the difference in price between the ticket held and the appropriate Single or Return fare, available for immediate travel, for the complete journey from the originating station to the final destination. Alternatively, if cheaper the appropriate Single or Return fare available for immediate travel, for the additional journey may be charged.

Season ticket holders need to pay the appropriate Single or Return fare for the additional journey.

If there is an opportunity to do so you should buy this additional fare before boarding. So if the ticket cabin is open at Nailsea and Backwell then buy from there. If it's not open then fine to buy on board (or at destination if no opportunity onboard).

As regards your second query, if you have a season ticket from Nailsea and Backwell to Stapleton Road then it is valid for any intermediate journey(s) between those two stations.

TOP TIP: Buy the season Nailsea & Backwell to Clifton Down for extra journey opportunities. Still the same price as to Stapleton Road!

Now you just need to work out whether to buy the cheaper season to Bedminster (^67.20 month, ^700 year) with the occasional additional fare or the more expensive one to Clifton Down (^75.70 month ^788 year). That'll depend how many additional journeys you plan to make if you buy the former.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I merely offer the following information, without prejudice:

There are no ticket barriers at Nailsea & Backwell, Bedminster, Stapleton Road or Clifton Down.

Make of that what you will.

Chris. 

[railwayfan]

What are you trying to say Chris? I hope it's not what your post and use of smileie seems to suggest

[Chris from Nailsea]

My point was simply that the original poster is concerned at their ability to get "through barriers without a problem". As there aren't any ticket barriers at any of the stations I mentioned, that situation shouldn't arise.

Of course, the thoroughness of on-board ticket checks between those stations is an entirely different matter ... 

[railwayfan]

No one stops me from driving off before paying for my petrol or leaving the supermarket before paying.

If I could pay up front for the fuel I know I was going to use AND get a discount I would

[JayMac]

No one stops me from driving off before paying for my petrol or leaving the supermarket before paying.

Not sure whether you are using that situation in comparison to reaching a train destination having had no opportunity to purchase a ticket. If you are then it is a spurious comparison. One is illegal the other isn't.

Unfortunately there are instances on the railways where it is possible to make a journey having had no opportunity to purchase a ticket. That is the railways fault not the passengers. Driving off without paying for petrol is the customer's fault not the retailers.

[JaminBob]

Wow. Thanks guys. That's really useful. I knew you'd all know the answers! 

I'm tempted by the Clifton Down...