"See Restrictions"

[trainophile]

I have consulted the Fares and Ticketing Guide on this section before posting this, but all I can find in the section on Off Peak Day Returns is...

Not valid at all times and break of journey may be restricted on either portion (although usually isn't) – check individual ticket restrictions.

I had such a ticket for Hereford to Birmingham Stns today, with the wording "SEE RESTRICTIONS" under Validity. However I have no idea where the details of said restrictions may be found.

On my return trip I fancied breaking my journey at Worcester, and asked the guard whether this was allowed, showing him my ticket. He barely glanced at it, and said "of course it is". So that was fine, I got off at Foregate Street for an hour, and back on the next train with no problems whatsoever.

I just wondered how I could have known what the Restrictions relating to this ticket are, without having to ask. Is such information generally available to the ordinary passenger?

 

[TEW]

It is available quite easily nowadays, but the normal passenger would have no idea how to find it. You need to go to the following webpage:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/xx

Where 'xx' is the restriction code for the ticket. On most tickets this can now be found printed in small writing next to the words Validity on the ticket. New style tickets are clearer, directing passengers to that webpage to check restrictions.

For example, for the restriction code 'BE' this is the webpage:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/BE

An example where Break of Journey is prohibited (a code applied to Off Peak Returns, rather than Off Peak Day Returns) is 8A:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/8a

 

[trainophile]

That's brilliant. My ticket code is DI, which disallows travel on trains at certain times on weekdays but is fine for weekends.

Thanks you, mystery solved .

 

[hounddog]

It is available quite easily nowadays, but the normal passenger would have no idea how to find it.

Nor, indeed, ticket-checking staff at a certain London terminus.

 

[ainsworth74]

Another way of doing it is through BR Fares. For example if I wanted to check the restrictions of a Middlesbrough to Manchester ticket I would go to BR Fares, input my origin and destination, select the ticket I wanted to check (lets say an Off-Peak Return) and it will then tell me the restriction code, the meaning of that code and if there are any break of journey restrictions on that ticket.

 

[yorkie]

...On my return trip I fancied breaking my journey at Worcester, and asked the guard whether this was allowed, showing him my ticket. He barely glanced at it, and said "of course it is"....

Indeed; if holding an Off Peak Return (SVR) or Super Off Peak Return (OPR/SSR), you only need to check for the outward portion, and the restriction only applies on a small number of journeys. The return portion always* allows break of journey. For an Off Peak Day Return (CDR), you don't need to check at all.

(* I better get this disclaimer in for pedants, though the OP can safely ignore this: there are one or two exceptions in the case of a small number of OPRs set by LM, however it's clearly not enforceable and LM themselves have encouraged passengers to break their journeys regardless!)