markbhaven
Member
- Joined
- 10 Jul 2012
- Messages
- 7
I have for weeks been trying to get clarity from Virgin Trains, on the conditions for break of journey for off peak returns.
I regularly travel from Euston to Manchester with a stop over in Stoke on the return portion to see my elderly parents. I have never had a problem with this.
However, a few weeks back a revenue inspector told me I could only break once and must resume by midday. I told him I thought this only applied on the outbound and not return and he disagreed. I asked him to show me where it said this in the fares manual, NRCOC etc and he said it was "company policy".. but he would let me off.
I decided to get clarity and rang and emailed national rail and virgin. I have since had SEVEN sets of advice. Varying from "Break as often as you like for as long as you like providing you complete by 04.29 the day after ticket expiry" to "You can only break and resume by midday, and only once on either outbound or return".
On each occassion I asked where this information was obtained and no-one has been able to tell me.
I contacted the DFT who told me that OFF PEAK RETURNS were (more or less) replacement tickets for Savers introduced as part of 'fare simplification'. They said that a break of journey on a return portion has ALWAYS been permitted in the NRCOC unless explicitly forbidden in restriction codes, publicised AND communicated at time of purchase.
In fact, they told me they would never agree to restricting the length of a break a journey on a regulated ticket as this would impact on tourism at intermediate stations and also confuse the hell out of customers.
So, who is right? The wording on the national rail enquiries website is confusing (deliberately?).. I know you guys are the experts so can you
1. Tell me what the rule actually is
2. Word this in plain english, so I can suggest to the Chief Execs Office at Virgin (yes, its gone that far) to issue this as clear guidance.
Thanks
Mark
I regularly travel from Euston to Manchester with a stop over in Stoke on the return portion to see my elderly parents. I have never had a problem with this.
However, a few weeks back a revenue inspector told me I could only break once and must resume by midday. I told him I thought this only applied on the outbound and not return and he disagreed. I asked him to show me where it said this in the fares manual, NRCOC etc and he said it was "company policy".. but he would let me off.
I decided to get clarity and rang and emailed national rail and virgin. I have since had SEVEN sets of advice. Varying from "Break as often as you like for as long as you like providing you complete by 04.29 the day after ticket expiry" to "You can only break and resume by midday, and only once on either outbound or return".
On each occassion I asked where this information was obtained and no-one has been able to tell me.
I contacted the DFT who told me that OFF PEAK RETURNS were (more or less) replacement tickets for Savers introduced as part of 'fare simplification'. They said that a break of journey on a return portion has ALWAYS been permitted in the NRCOC unless explicitly forbidden in restriction codes, publicised AND communicated at time of purchase.
In fact, they told me they would never agree to restricting the length of a break a journey on a regulated ticket as this would impact on tourism at intermediate stations and also confuse the hell out of customers.
So, who is right? The wording on the national rail enquiries website is confusing (deliberately?).. I know you guys are the experts so can you
1. Tell me what the rule actually is
2. Word this in plain english, so I can suggest to the Chief Execs Office at Virgin (yes, its gone that far) to issue this as clear guidance.
Thanks
Mark