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Advance fares ~ will I get away with this?

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MARIADABROWSKA

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Hello I need a bit of advice.

I am a poor person without much money. I will be soon travelling from Luton to Hastings. The single standard fare is £40.

But there is an Advance Ticket online from Kettering to Hastings for just £14. The leg from Kettering to St Pancras stops at Luton. Then St Pan is the next stop.

a> If I buy this Kettering to Hastings ticket and start my journey from Luton, will the ticket barrier machine prevent me from going through?

b> If I choose not to use the machine but go through the side where the ticket collector is and show him my ticket, will he notice or care that it says "Kettering to Hastings"?

(I know that if I buy a single from Luton to St Pancras, I will be 100% legal, but that costs £15 so if I can get away with the above, I will!)

Any advice welcomed.

EXTRA QUESTION!

OK so on the Kettering to Hastings ticket, it specifies the first train, the one from Ket to St P. But the train from Charing X to Hastings isn't written on the ticket. If I took a couple of hours in London, and went to Hastings later, would the ticket barrier machine reject my ticket? Would a man at the gate notice that I was on a later train than I "should" (though if no train time is printed on the ticket doesn't that mean it's valid for any train?)

Maria
 
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gazthomas

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You won't be able to do it for a number of reasons, starting late, break of journey and so on. You can do what you propose but technical it is not legal as you didn't start your journey at Kettering.

Have you considered a Southern Day Save, £18 (off peak) for the day on the whole Southern network when bought online in advance. You could go from Milton Keynes, Watford Junction, etc.

http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave-off-peak/
 
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Bletchleyite

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a> If I buy this Kettering to Hastings ticket and start my journey from Luton, will the ticket barrier machine prevent me from going through?

I would expect so, though it would depend on how it is set up.

b> If I choose not to use the machine but go through the side where the ticket collector is and show him my ticket, will he notice or care that it says "Kettering to Hastings"?

Yes, he may do, and he would be within his right to stop you.

(I know that if I buy a single from Luton to St Pancras, I will be 100% legal, but that costs £15 so if I can get away with the above, I will!)

That isn't "legal" either, though it would seem unenforceable.
 
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Maria,

If your ticket is marked 'Advance' then, strictly, you can't do this. You might be lucky and find someone on the barrier who will let you at Luton but, strictly, your ticket is invalid. However, this may be cue that you can find a cheaper ticket if you break the journey, eg. Luton - St. Pancras. Separate tube/bus over to London Bridge or Victoria and maybe an advance fare from either of those stations to Hastings. Good luck!
 

dzug2

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a Maybe maybe not

b Maybe maybe not

c - which you didn't ask - will train staff check your ticket before arriving at St Pancras and will they remember you got on at Luton and if so will they care. Again maybe maybe not
 

bb21

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What you are proposing is not allowed and we cannot condone this. You are not permitted to start short or break your journey in London.

We are not in a position to say whether you will get away with it as there is always a chance that the guard on the Hastings train will ask to see your reservation for the first train (I have witnessed this before) and it will not bode well for you if he noticed what you were doing.

If you post your journey requirements then people may be able to advise of legitimate ways to reduce your fare. For the sake of £25, I would strongly advise against taking your chances.
 

James Wake

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What you are intending on doing is not recommended, it could cost you more than you would have saved, have you thought about getting the 757 coach from Luton to London Victoria, then a cheap Southern Rail ticket from Victoria to Hastings?
 

MARIADABROWSKA

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Wow thanks for the fast and careful replies, guys.

Yes James I looked into the coach fare. I walked with my suitcase once before from Vic coach station to railway station - never again!!!!!

I looked at the Southern Day Save and it says only valid on Southern trains. That means nothing north of Victoria. So no help to me on this journey, but useful to know for another time.

Perhaps I should have said, I don't mind breaking rules. My only concern is not getting caught, and even then only cos I don't want to have to pay for another ticket and maybe get a fine.

I now think I have found a solution, please give your opinion on whether I could get "caught". As far as I can see, I would appear to railway staff (even an inspector) to be totally within the rules of the ticket I show them.

Advance single in the 1403 from Luton to St Pancras (just found one for £8).

Advance single 1326 Kettering to Hastings (which stops at Luton at 1403 - same train as above). £15.

(Total £23 instead of £40.)

Thank you again. And I am sorry for being such a naughty girl, Mr Moderator.
 
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bb21

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No, you are not permitted to break your journey in London with an Advance fare, as previously advised.
 

Bletchleyite

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Yes James I looked into the coach fare. I walked with my suitcase once before from Vic coach station to railway station - never again!!!!!

Why? It isn't far. Perhaps you need to take less luggage :)

I looked at the Southern Day Save and it says only valid on Southern trains. That means nothing north of Victoria.

Southern operate as far north as Milton Keynes. You could take the Stagecoach 99 bus across from Luton for about £6-7 or thereabouts.

Perhaps I should have said, I don't mind breaking rules. My only concern is not getting caught, and even then only cos I don't want to have to pay for another ticket and maybe get a fine.

This forum does not exist to advise people on how to commit fraud. If that is the approach you wish to take, I think you will find you have to work it out yourself.

You might also find, because of the number of staff who post here, if you do decide to take that approach, you might find people are tipped off about it.
 

MARIADABROWSKA

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No, joining the train at Luton with an Advance fare from Kettering is not permitted, as previously advised.

You must have misread my message.

My proposal is to purchase an Advance Ticket Luton to St Pancras. for £8.

So now you are saying it's illegal for me to buy a ticket from Luton to St Pancras and use it on the exact train, time and date written on it????
 

bb21

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You must have misread my message.

My proposal is to purchase an Advance Ticket Luton to St Pancras. for £8.

I have amended my post to make it clear that you are not permitted to break your journey in London, as previously advised.

I think this thread has run its course. We are not here to advise on the possibility of being caught if you want to do something that is against the rules. We are here to offer people advice on legitimate methods on reducing fares.

So now you are saying it's illegal for me to buy a ticket from Luton to St Pancras and use it on the exact train, time and date written on it????

That is fine, but you may still run into problems once you had a few hours in London and caught a much later train from there to Hastings.
 
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