Ashchurch to Worcester

[jednick]

I'm travelling from Ashchurch to Worcester on Sunday.

A single is £10, which I think is expensive for the distance. I found out I can get a ticket from Ashchurch to a certain other station for just £5.20. To get to that particular station on a Sunday, I have to change at Worcester Shrub Hill or Foregate Street. The ticket in question isn't an advance purchase ticket, just a standard day single.

Is it definitely OK to buy this ticket, and then break my journey short at Worcester and get my journey for half price? Or, is it cheating the system?

Also, as Ashchurch has no ticket office or ticket machine, am I obligated to buy the ticket online, or is it acceptable that I board the train without a ticket and then buy it on the train?

 

[Haywain]

You want to be very certain the ticket has that validity (I’m not convinced) and, unless you like disputes, you want to be in possession of the ticket before you travel. I can’t see asking for that ticket as you approach Shrub Hill, or as you try to leave the station, being met well.

 

[fishquinn]

I know the fare you mean and from a quick check it's valid via Worcester (and there's no other way to do the journey so also completely reasonable via Worcester). I doubt you'd have any problems with the ticket and buying it on the train is of course fine given the lack of purchasing facilities at Ashchurch.

 

[jednick]

I know the fare you mean and from a quick check it's valid via Worcester (and there's no other way to do the journey so also completely reasonable via Worcester). I doubt you'd have any problems with the ticket and buying it on the train is of course fine given the lack of purchasing facilities at Ashchurch.

Thanks.

Do you think the conductor on the train will know what I'm doing and say something or perhaps know what I'm doing but not say anything? (regarding saving money)

Also, at present I don't see many instances of the conductor moving through the train. Am I supposed to knock on the door of the conductor's cabin, or should I just buy it online beforehand?

 

[fishquinn]

Thanks.

Do you think the conductor on the train will know what I'm doing and say something or perhaps know what I'm doing but not say anything? (regarding saving money)

Also, at present I don't see many instances of the conductor moving through the train. Am I supposed to knock on the door of the conductor's cabin, or should I just buy it online beforehand?

Even if the guard did know what you were doing it doesn't matter because the ticket has no break of journey restrictions so is irrefutably valid: there's plenty of examples on the network of buying a 'longer' ticket for a shorter journey (indeed I use many myself and I'm very rarely even questioned about it).

AFAIK GWR are doing revenue duties again but if this particular guard doesn't walk through the train then just buy at Worcester: there's no need to seek out the guard on board.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Is it definitely OK to buy this ticket, and then break my journey short at Worcester and get my journey for half price? Or, is it cheating the system?

Those two options aren't mutually exclusive! I think the answer to both is yes. It's valid due to the common routeing point rule, but it's up to your conscience whether you feel it's cheating or not.

 

[sonic2009]

I know the fare you mean and from a quick check it's valid via Worcester (and there's no other way to do the journey so also completely reasonable via Worcester). I doubt you'd have any problems with the ticket and buying it on the train is of course fine given the lack of purchasing facilities at Ashchurch.

Said journey could be done via Cheltenham?

 

[Hadders]

I would never purchase a 'loophole' ticket on the train, too many things to go wrong from the member of staff taking offence, reporting it and getting the fare amended to being accused of fare evasion. It really is best not to do anything that might draw attention to it.

I'd purchase online and collect it from a TVM before travel.

 

[geoffk]

An ex-colleague of mine (ex-BR) lives at Tewkesbury and is involved with the local rail user group. He told me that the Ashchurch - Worcester fare is set by XC, even though they do not serve Worcester. Is that correct?

The fares he quoted (maybe 5 years ago) were Ashchurch to Worcester (served only by GW) Off Peak Day Return £9.40. This fare would previously have been set by Central Trains. A similar ticket to Bristol Temple Meads (fare set by GW) was £9.10. Distances are 12 and 51 miles respectively! I know fares are not related to mileage but this seems totally unreasonable.

 

[Haywain]

An ex-colleague of mine (ex-BR) lives at Tewkesbury and is involved with the local rail user group. He told me that the Ashchurch - Worcester fare is set by XC, even though they do not serve Worcester. Is that correct?

This isn’t remotely unusual - there are many cases where the fare is set by a company who do not provide the service.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Fare setter is indeed Cross Country.

Wonder how many other flows there are where the fare setter doesn't operate direct or even intermediate services between the origin and destination.

 

[geoffk]

Fare setter is indeed Cross Country.

Wonder how many other flows there are where the fare setter doesn't operate direct or even intermediate services between the origin and destination.

Thanks. Is there a mechanism for changing the fare setter, in this case to Great Western, or will these anomalies disappear with the post-franchising arrangements (whatever they are!)? Or perhaps GWR could introduce a "Great Western only" ticket!

 

[bb21]

It will cost GWR to apply to change flow ownership (4 figures plus), and there is no guarantee they'd reduce the fare after transfer.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

It will cost GWR to apply to change flow ownership (4 figures plus), and there is no guarantee they'd reduce the fare after transfer.

If that magnitude of figure is correct, and you are more likely than most to know, then that's a significant systemic impediment to any change ever being made.

 

[father_jack]

I could talk all day about this matter but thankfully it's a long time since it was even close to my remit ! Think "GWR only" fares in the area referred to might not be too far away though.

Isn't (or wasn't) Ashchurch a famous splitting point much to XCs disadvantage ?

Finally, because we're going adrift look at who sets this fare and have a think about the services http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=TAU&dest=CDF

 

[Nottingham59]

If it were me, I would get a printout from the National Rail Enquiries and take it with me to show that the journey was valid, especially if I were planning to terminate short at Foregate Street, which would involve a nominal doubling back through Shrub Hill. https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/ASC/WOP/tomorrow/1130/dep