Start at later station?

Hello,

I live in Sandy and for the first time have to make a number of overnight trips to London. These will only be once or twice a week so I assume not frequent enough to justify a season ticket.

The overnight part is causing me difficulty as it will mean getting two singles which is much more expensive. For some reason it seems that if I get my tickets from the next station up (Huntingdon) I can buy a return ticket with a return portion that is valid for use the following day.

If this is correct so far, am I allowed to by the longer Huntingdon ticket and just use it to and from Sandy? This all does seem a bit mad!

Sorry if this isn't the right place for questions like this.

Unless I’m mistaken there does appear to be an ‘SVR’ (an off peak return allowing you to return anytime within a month) from Sandy to London Terminals. It’s an any permitted ticket priced at £34.30

Are you looking at a different type of ticket? Perhaps you need to be there early in the morning.

For reference you would certainly be permitted to use the Huntingdon if that does make more sense to you.

You can purchase an Off Peak Return from Sandy to London Terminals. The return portion is valid for up to a month.

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=SDY&dest=1072&rte=1000&tkt=SVR

Note that this is a return to Kings Cross/St Pancras/Moorgate. It is not a Travelcard, you cannot get Travelcard a valid for return on another day (from Sandy or any other station) so I’m wondering if that’s part of the confusion.

It could be it. Or it could be the lack of an Anytime Return from Sandy if they’ve searched early morning. I missed that at first when I had a quick look.

It may be worth looking at Carnet tickets as this can be good value if you make semi regular trips but not enough to warrant a season ticket.

Good point about the lack of an Anytime Return. For the benefit of the OP Anytime Returns are generally not available on shorter journeys because of the risk of misuse because the outward portion is valid for 5 days and the return for a month. There is a risk that because it is not easy to check tickets on shorter journeys passengers would use them as a de facto season ticket.

One other point worth pointing out is that if your travels involve weekend travel then there are good value weekend only Super Off Peak day tickets from Sandy to London.

I don’t know if you have a Railcard but it might be worth considering a Network Railcard depending on the time of your travel.