Back to front tickets

[paul 5454]

Hello

I've noticed that if a buy a return ticket from a destination in Surrey to London its more expensive than if i buy the route in reverse e.g. starting in London.

If i'm buying an open return which is valid any time during the day is there anything stopping me buying the cheaper ticket and in effect using it in the incorrect order?

I'd be starting in Surrey, but have a return ticket from London.

Thanks
Paul

 

[pemma]

Technically it's not permitted. Once you start using the return portion, the outward portion becomes invalid. Inspectors are probably more likely to notice an Open Return being used incorrectly than a Day Return.

 

[Tetchytyke]

You cannot use the outbound portion of a ticket after the return portion of a ticket.

If it is a regular commute, what you can do is buy a single to London and then start using the cheaper return tickets.

 

[John @ home]

The use of the outward portion of a return ticket is prohibited if any part of the return portion has already been used.

17. Using a return ticket

A return ticket (including a two-part return ticket) is only valid for the outward journey shown on that ticket if the ticket is completely unused. You may not use the outward part of a return ticket after you have used the return part.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf

This difference in pricing tends to be seen when commuting out of a large city, where travel by car is a more realistic alternative to rail than commuting into the city.

 

[Romilly]

If it is a regular commute, what you can do is buy a single to London and then start using the cheaper return tickets.

But only if they are not DAY return tickets.