Standard Single validity if bought in advance

[PKB]

I am starting a new job, and will probably car pool. If I have to stay late, I could take the train home (Shotts line, no changes needed).

I have a bunch of Tesco vouchers to convert to RedSpottedHanky discount tickets. I am hoping I could buy a few Advance Singles for my trip and keep them in my wallet. If I do this can I just use them for any trip, or do they have to be for a particular date? If my plan will work, how long will an unused Standard Single stay valid for?

 

[tony_mac]

I am not sure what you mean by 'Advance' and 'Standard', but I'll have a go.....

'Advance' is the name of a ticket-type and is only valid on a specific train.

Other ticket types are Off-peak and Anytime.

Off-peak Single tickets are valid for one day; Anytime Day Single tickets are valid for one day, and Anytime Single tickets are valid for two days (but are usually not available for short journeys).
You must specify a date to buy any of them.

(Tickets that used to be called Standard are now called Anytime)

 

[Mojo]

Scotrail offer Flexipass tickets on a limited number of routes. See their website for more details.

 

[PKB]

Scotrail offer Flexipass tickets on a limited number of routes. See their website for more details.

Flexipass isn't available on this route, but thanks for the suggestion.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I am not sure what you mean by 'Advance' and 'Standard', but I'll have a go.....

'Advance' is the name of a ticket-type and is only valid on a specific train.

Other ticket types are Off-peak and Anytime.

Off-peak Single tickets are valid for one day; Anytime Day Single tickets are valid for one day, and Anytime Single tickets are valid for two days (but are usually not available for short journeys).
You must specify a date to buy any of them.

(Tickets that used to be called Standard are now called Anytime)

So if I understand you correctly, I have to specify the date I want to travel when I purchase an Anytime Day single, which means I can't use RedSpottedHanky to buy the Anytime ticket ahead of time since I don't know what day I will need to travel (and there is no TVM at my station).

 

[yorkie]

If your local line is the Shotts line, then unless you are making a longer journey that involces this line as a connecting service, you will be buying Off Peak or Anytime tickets, not Advance tickets.

There are 3 'categories' of ticket, as listed above by tony_mac (although there also some promotional tickets that don't appear to fit into any category!), within each category there are different types. And even then, tickets that are of the same type may have different restrictions for particular flows. It is best that you state the journeys that you want to do, and what your requirements are, before we can give advice.

Bear in mind that refunds incur a £10 admin fee.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So if I understand you correctly, I have to specify the date I want to travel when I purchase an Anytime Day single, which means I can't use RedSpottedHanky to buy the Anytime ticket ahead of time since I don't know what day I will need to travel (and there is no TVM at my station).

Correct, if you do not know the day then an Anytime Day is not suitable.

If I knew I wanted to do a York - Sheffield return one day within a 5 day period, I could buy an Anytime Return (not Anytime Day Return) and provided I travelled within the period of validity, then that would be fine. However if I was returning the same day I would have paid a premium for an Anytime rather than an Anytime Day that I would not have needed to pay compared to buying the ticket on the day.

 

[PKB]

If your local line is the Shotts line, then unless you are making a longer journey that involces this line as a connecting service, you will be buying Off Peak or Anytime tickets, not Advance tickets.

There are 3 'categories' of ticket, as listed above by tony_mac (although there also some promotional tickets that don't appear to fit into any category!), within each category there are different types. And even then, tickets that are of the same type may have different restrictions for particular flows. It is best that you state the journeys that you want to do, and what your requirements are, before we can give advice.

Bear in mind that refunds incur a £10 admin fee.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Correct, if you do not know the day then an Anytime Day is not suitable.

If I knew I wanted to do a York - Sheffield return one day within a 5 day period, I could buy an Anytime Return (not Anytime Day Return) and provided I travelled within the period of validity, then that would be fine. However if I was returning the same day I would have paid a premium for an Anytime rather than an Anytime Day that I would not have needed to pay compared to buying the ticket on the day.

Journey would be between Kirknewton to work in Bellshill (I could start at Livingston South, but I would have to take the car, not cycle).

Thanks for that, unfortunately I just checked, and the only options RedSpottedHanky gives me for return fares are Off-Peak Day return and Anytime Day Return, no Anytime Return.
There is a ticket office at Bellshill (no TVM per the website), so I could possibly book a ticket from Redspottedhanky at work if I have to stay late and pick it up at the ticket office on my way home. Any idea how far in advance to book for pickup (Respottedhanky says 2 hrs for TVM collection).

It all seems like a faff, but with points tripling (and the Tesco vouchers for free) there is a huge saving to made on tickets with Redspottedhanky.

Thanks again.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, the only fares available are the Off Peak Day Return (£9.60 - Valid at or after 0915) and Anytime Day Return (£12.00). As for how long it takes, I've known people collect tickets in about 15 minutes, however if they say 2 hours then that's clearly not guaranteed. But unless the system is down for maintenance or running slowly, it should be fairly prompt I'd have thought.

 

[SS4]

Journey would be between Kirknewton to work in Bellshill (I could start at Livingston South, but I would have to take the car, not cycle).

Thanks for that, unfortunately I just checked, and the only options RedSpottedHanky gives me for return fares are Off-Peak Day return and Anytime Day Return, no Anytime Return.
There is a ticket office at Bellshill (no TVM per the website), so I could possibly book a ticket from Redspottedhanky at work if I have to stay late and pick it up at the ticket office on my way home. Any idea how far in advance to book for pickup (Respottedhanky says 2 hrs for TVM collection).

It all seems like a faff, but with points tripling (and the Tesco vouchers for free) there is a huge saving to made on tickets with Redspottedhanky.

Thanks again.

2 hours officially for TVM collection but I've picked them up after 35 minutes before.

 

[tony_mac]

I've had some available within 5 minutes, but in one case not available 30+ minutes later.

 

[barrykas]

It varies...Tickets purchased on WebTIS powered sites tend to be available to collect immediately, whereas those bought from Trainline powered sites tend to take at least an hour, usually two, and sometimes up to four.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[causton]

Indeed, it depends on how late you will be staying at work - if you can get to RSH on a work PC (or on your mobile) - set up your journey as a favourite journey beforehand - then a couple of hours before you leave, book it, officially 2 hours wait but if you're staying a bit less, try and pick it up, if no (doubt it, RSH are usually quite quick) go grab a beverage, come back

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....There is a ticket office at Bellshill (no TVM per the website), so I could possibly book a ticket from Redspottedhanky at work if I have to stay late and pick it up at the ticket office on my way home....

You can pick up tickets at Bellshill ticket office when it is open.

 

[michael769]

You can pick up tickets at Bellshill ticket office when it is open.

Ticket office closes at 2004 on weekdays.

 

[PKB]

Thanks for all the help, looks like picking a RSH ticket up at ticket office may work as long as I don't have to stay too late.

By the by, what DOES happen to a prebooked Anytime Single if not picked up on the day from a TVM or TicketOffice, can it be picked up another time (and then will be valid on THAT day), get refunded automatically, or just expire?

 

[island]

Thanks for all the help, looks like picking a RSH ticket up at ticket office may work as long as I don't have to stay too late.

By the by, what DOES happen to a prebooked Anytime Single if not picked up on the day from a TVM or TicketOffice, can it be picked up another time (and then will be valid on THAT day), get refunded automatically, or just expire?

It just expires, unless you booked it with Southern, in which case you can get it refunded manually. The exception is Heathrow Express tickets, which will be valid on the day they are picked up and the next two days.

 

[34D]

It just expires

Does it still print off?

 

[yorkie]

Does it still print off?

Yes it does.