Advance ticket - leaving at earlier station

[mikeb42]

In the specific example cited by @londonteacher*, isn't the most cost effective safe option to buy a ticket from Rainham to Chatham for about £5?

In what way can it then be claimed that the "correct" fare for the journey hasn't been paid? It clearly has, even if you don't actually waste your time pointlessly doubling back.

In a sane universe, a prosecutor trying to pursue someone through the courts in those circumstances would be mercilessly mocked by the presiding justice and then sent down to the cells overnight to "''ave a word wiv yerself m8". We don't live in a sane universe so there'll probably be a reason why even that is verboten.

*A username suggesting a profession where staying squeaky clean is essential.

Not being in that position, I make no comment on how I might regard these Schrodinger's Ticket scenarios should one arise.

 

[General Zod]

A penalty fare would be the improper disposal. The only redress the railway has is to charge an excess fare up to the appropriate fare which allows break of journey.

I stop short on advances all the time.

Doesnt this cause issues with the barriers at gated stations or with staff manning these stations when you show your ticket ? I'm sure LNER staff would not take kindly to me trying to exit Darlington station with a cheap Advance to Newcastle.

 

[Joe Paxton]

In these days of back office investigations I do think you need to be careful with this sort of approach.

Yes, I acknowedge that. I was really only thinking in terms of doing this as a one-off, and not as a regular thing.

Additionally, buying via a TVM using the 'tickets from another station' facility leaves less of a trail (particularly given what appears to be the sometimes rather clunky trawls of ticketing records by back office investigations).

What are you breaking at Chatham for? Is it an extended period of time or just to get a sandwich from out of the station?

The poster was not looking to break their journey at Chatham, rather they want to 'stop short'.

[...]
I stop short on advances all the time.

In practice for this particular journey I struggle to see there being a problem stopping short at Chatham with an Advance ticket to Rainham. It's the kind of thing many people would do without a second thought.

 

[londonteacher]

It’s not going to be an issue anyway as I am stuck in the ECML disruption currently so will be travelling on different trains than planned on the advance ticket anyway!