National Rail Conditions of Carriage updated October 2011

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

The NRCoC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage) has been updated with some small changes. Nothing major. Details of the changes made have been provided to rail staff in an ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) briefing.

Thanks for the following documents go the a forum member ('First class') over at RailUK:

New NRCoC: http://www.railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=7864&d=1316912039 (.pdf file)
Staff briefing: http://www.railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=7867&d=1316958542 (Microsoft Word .doc)


Note: The new NRCoC is not yet available online, so from a legal standpoint, I believe the December 2009 edition is still to be used.

[ChrisB]

Not yet updated - effective some time in October I think, so current one still in force.

Apologies - I've had this a little while, but asked tnot to publicise it till nearer the effective date - it does standardise the time at which a day finishes, and clarifies when a ticket's use can be extended into the following day

[JayMac]

I said no 'major changes', but there does appear to be one according to that staff briefing.

Overnight break of journey on Off Peak/Super Off Peak Singles or outward portions of Off Peak/Super Off Peak Returns appear to no longer have the option for the passenger to break their journey overnight if they wish. The new rule appears to omit this, only allowing overnight BoJ^▸ (Break of Journey) if the journey cannot be completed - which technically isn't a BoJ anyway.

[JayMac]

Another change coming is that the restriction code for ticket validity is to be printed on the ticket. At least according to east coast:

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/train-ticket-information/ticket-sales-terms-and-conditions/

Over the next few months, the restriction code that applies to some ticket types will start to be printed on tickets, to aid recognition, and these codes are shown above. Even where the code is not yet printed on the ticket, the advertised restriction as shown above will apply, as previously.

This change is, apparently, at the discretion of individual TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (according to a rail staff member over at RailUK - no independent verification) who can choose to update their TIS^‡(resolve) software on or after 5th October to print restriction codes on tickets.

[inspector_blakey]

Seems like a step in the right direction to me - at least it will be marginally easier to find out the specific restrictions applicable to the ticket if the code is printed on it.

Going off on a slight tangent, but Wolmar's column in Rail 677 has an (unsourced) inset suggesting that TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) are moving towards permitting the price already paid for an Advance ticket to be taken into account if for any reason it has to be 'upgraded' to a flexible fare (missed trains etc I assume). At the same time he also mentions the possibility of operators attempting to stop split-ticketing to save money. First I'd heard of any of these suggestions.

[ChrisB]

- which technically isn't a BoJ^▸ (Break of Journey) anyway.

If they choose not to catch the first train the next day, it is, surely?

At the same time he also mentions the possibility of operators attempting to stop split-ticketing to save money.

The only way I can currently see them doing this is if they ban them completely and insist on one ticket for the whole journey....

...that won't work. People will just get off one train, exit the station & get on the following train. OK, you might not feel that's worth it for a couple of quid, but the savings can be a lot larger....

Also, if they adopted that, how would season ticket holders cope if they want to go beyond their season jorney?....it would be jolly unfair to insist they completed their journey by exiting their station before continuing!