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Open Return Break of Journey Overnight

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AFitz

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Hi. Apologies if you've been asked this question many times. I just want to check that I'm understanding this properly.

I've bought off peak open return tickets between Edinburgh and Filey, with changes at York and Seamer. I used my Friends and Family railcard to do this.

On the return journey I would like to travel from Filey to York, spend an overnight in York, then continue on my journey back to Edinburgh. I would only be a week into the use within one month validity period.

From what I've managed to read online I THINK that this is possibly allowed, is that correct? Or does "break of journey" mean that you still have to travel onwards on the same day?

If the ticket conductor marks and dates my tickets from Filey to Seamer/Seamer to York would that invalidate me being able to travel the following day?

Thanks.
 
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bb21

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There is no such thing as an off-peak open return. The ticket that used to be called the Open Return is now the Anytime Return. The Off-Peak Return used to be called the Saver Return (mostly).

The return portion of an Off-Peak Return (which is what I suspect you have) is valid for one calendar month. You may break your journey any number of times within the validity period, so you may have as many nights' break as you wish, provided that you complete your journey within the month.

You can ask if the guard would mark your ticket in a way to show that you have broken your journey, but not doing so does not affect the ability to break your journey, overnight if you wish. Most guards probably wouldn't bother even if asked to. Any marking only shows that the ticket has been used (in part at least). No such mark will magically shorten the validity period of the ticket.

The outward portion is more restricted in that respect, as it is only valid for one day for an Off-Peak Return, but that is not an issue for you as you are not doing it on the outward portion so I won't go into details.
 

Hadders

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Welcome to the forum :)

I've bought off peak open return tickets between Edinburgh and Filey, with changes at York and Seamer. I used my Friends and Family railcard to do this.

Technically there isn't a ticket called an Open Return although many websites erroneously refer to open returns. You've simply purchased an Off-Peak Return which allows you a month to make the return leg, subject to the time restrictions on the ticket.

On the return journey I would like to travel from Filey to York, spend an overnight in York, then continue on my journey back to Edinburgh. I would only be a week into the use within one month validity period.

From what I've managed to read online I THINK that this is possibly allowed, is that correct? Or does "break of journey" mean that you still have to travel onwards on the same day?

That's absolutely fine as the return portion of an Off-Peak Return always allows a break of journey.

If the ticket conductor marks and dates my tickets from Filey to Seamer/Seamer to York would that invalidate me being able to travel the following day?

No it doesn't invalidate it although some poorly trained staff might claim it does.
 
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PermitToTravel

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The chances are that it wouldn't be questioned, unless the first mark was of the date of the ticket rather than just a cross/scribble/hole. If it is questioned, then you're not doing anything at all wrong as long as you don't cover the same bit of track twice.
 

yorkie

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Welcome to the forum :)
If the ticket conductor marks and dates my tickets from Filey to Seamer/Seamer to York would that invalidate me being able to travel the following day?
Break of journey is always permitted on return portions of Off Peak tickets.

Marking the ticket does not invalidate it for the part of the journey not yet undertaken, and the Guard from York is not going to be surprised to see marks on the ticket from TPE and Northern Guards, so this is nothing to worry about.
 

AM9

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In a similar vein, can an off-peak return be used for the outward journey after the start date shown on it?
 

ASharpe

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In a similar vein, can an off-peak return be used for the outward journey after the start date shown on it?

It can be used the day after the start day to complete a journey that wasn't possible the day before. An Anytime Return has 5 days of validity for the outward leg.
 

Haywain

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In a similar vein, can an off-peak return be used for the outward journey after the start date shown on it?

It can be used the day after the start day to complete a journey that wasn't possible the day before. An Anytime Return has 5 days of validity for the outward leg.

To be clear, it (an Off Peak Return) can be used to continue a journey the day after the start date, when the journey could not be completed on the first day, but it cannot be used to start the journey on a date after the start date. As asharpe correctly states, and Anytime Return has 5 days of validity on the outward portion.
 

yorkie

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In a similar vein, can an off-peak return be used for the outward journey after the start date shown on it?
I think your best bet is to start a new thread, outlining your travel plans and what tickets you've come up with so far. We can then advise accordingly :)
 

AFitz

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Thank you all for your welcome and very helpful answers. You've helped alleviate my worries.

Travelling with luggage and family isn't so daunting when you know what to expect. ☺
 

yorkie

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Thank you all for your welcome and very helpful answers. You've helped alleviate my worries.

Travelling with luggage and family isn't so daunting when you know what to expect. ☺
No problem :)

We can also help with any other aspect of your journey, such as informing you where the likely best place to get off/on the trains is (for example, if you plan the right trains, then barring any signalling alterations, you can avoid any stairs/lifts at York), and where to go/eat/stay, and how to get around, in York :)
 
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