Time restrictions on Red Funnel ferry with Network Railcard

[floehopper]

I have an Off-Peak Return from London Waterloo to West Cowes via Southampton & the RedJet passenger ferry which I purchased using my Network Railcard.

Can anyone tell me how early I'm permitted to travel on my return journey? i.e. does the 10am restriction apply to the ferry from West Cowes as well as to the train from Southampton, or just to the train?

Many thanks.

 

[Brucey]

The time restrictions on your railcard apply equally to the ferry service.

(I believe Wightlink have an easement that allows Network railcards to be used earlier. No such easement exists for Red Funnel.)

 

[Lrd]

Our off-peak starts from 0915 on the Vehicle ferry, fairly sure the Red Jet is the same. Will just check.

 

[yorkie]

Can anyone tell me how early I'm permitted to travel on my return journey? i.e. does the 10am restriction apply to the ferry from West Cowes as well as to the train from Southampton, or just to the train?

I've found it as Cowes West Rdjet to London Terminals, is that the origin on your ticket?

Regarding the ticket restrictions...

The 10am restriction refers to "Trains arriving at or later than: London Terminals 10:00", a ferry does not arrive into London Terminals and isn't a train, and I can't see anything in the restriction text that restricts the ferry you can catch.

As for the Railcard...

"You can buy Network Railcard discounted tickets for travel any time on weekends and public holidays or from 10.00 Monday to Friday. You may be able to start your journey a little earlier than 10.00, see Easements for details or check at your local station."

I can't see an easement for this ferry, but I do not know if the restriction would be enforced. I suggest you explain what ticket you have to the ferry company and ask what time you can travel.

 

[Lrd]

Further to my post. The Off-Peak time from West Cowes is 0915 on a weekday and any time on the weekend if you are returning to Southampton. There is no time restriction from East Cowes on the vehicle ferry during the week.

This is for our own tickets though, not sure about combined rail/ferry tickets.

P.S. I work for Red Funnel, if you have any other questions then please ask!

 

[yorkie]

Further to my post. The Off-Peak time from West Cowes is 0915 on a weekday and any time on the weekend if you are returning to Southampton. There is no time restriction from East Cowes on the vehicle ferry during the week.

This is for our own tickets though, not sure about combined rail/ferry tickets.

P.S. I work for Red Funnel, if you have any other questions then please ask!

I would expect any restriction on the ferry for this journey to be included in the restriction text of the through ticket.

The restrictions on a ticket from A to B are of no concern to a customer with a ticket from A to C, what matters is the restriction for the ticket the customer holds.

However the question here really is: are Red Funnel imposing the 10am Railcard restriction or not? My guess would be probably not, but if I was the OP I would write a letter to Red Funnel simply stating that I have an Off Peak Return from Cowes West to London with a Network Railcard, what is the first ferry your company will allow me to catch?

 

[Lrd]

However the question here really is: are Red Funnel imposing the 10am Railcard restriction or not? My guess would be probably not, but if I was the OP I would write a letter to Red Funnel simply stating that I have an Off Peak Return from Cowes West to London with a Network Railcard, what is the first ferry your company will allow me to catch?

More than guaranteed going to say after 0915 on a weekday. Will probably just see the Off Peak part and disregard the Railcard. If you were to catch the vehicle ferry back (using the Red Jet ticket) then I'm sure you will be allowed on before 0915.

 

[floehopper]

Thanks for all the replies. If I want to travel on the RedJet passenger ferry (which I do) it sounds as if I must travel after 0915 i.e. on the 0945. Since this will mean I don't get to Southampton Central train station until approx 1030, I think the Network Railcard restriction becomes irrelevant.

I am however more generally intrigued as to whether the Network Railcard time restriction is on trains departing before 1000, or on trains arriving at London Terminals before 1000, as suggested above.

 

[Brucey]

I am however more generally intrigued as to whether the Network Railcard time restriction is on trains departing before 1000, or on trains arriving at London Terminals before 1000, as suggested above.

The railcard restriction is trains timed to depart after 1000. The off-peak restriction (for your specific ticket) is trains arriving at London Terminals before 1000 on the return portion.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks for all the replies. If I want to travel on the RedJet passenger ferry (which I do) it sounds as if I must travel after 0915 i.e. on the 0945.

I'm not so sure. Have you carried out my suggestion of writing to the company along the lines that I recommended above?

Since this will mean I don't get to Southampton Central train station until approx 1030, I think the Network Railcard restriction becomes irrelevant.

Quite possibly, but it is unclear whether the restriction is intended to apply to rail only, or whether it is intended to reply to ferries. I doubt the ferry company would be aware of such a restriction, to be honest, but I'd check.

I am however more generally intrigued as to whether the Network Railcard time restriction is on trains departing before 1000, or on trains arriving at London Terminals before 1000, as suggested above.

The Network Railcard restriction is on departures from 1000. This over-rides the ticket restriction, which is based on the arrival time.

In other words, the ticket itself (ignoring the Railcard discount) would be valid much earlier, it is only because it is Network Railcard discounted that you cannot catch a train until 1000. However the ferry company is unlikely to be aware of or care about the railcard restriction which is probably not intended to apply to ferries (there are easements on Island Line allowing trains quite early to connect with ferries that connect with trains after 1000!)