Cancellation Shenanigans and Super Off-Peak (SWR) Validilty

[ctom_s]

I have a Super-off peak return from Clapham Junction to Portsmouth for travel tomorrow (Saturday) and tickets have been bought already (how foolish of me to plan ahead)

OG plan was to take the 1227 from Clapham Junction to Woking, and then switch onto the 1255 to Portsmouth. All well and good.

It looks like the 1255 is now cancelled. I looked up the 1225 and it leaves Waterloo at 1200 so the super-off peak restriction would be valid on this but obviously I can't get on at Waterloo since my ticket is from Clapham Junction.

So I was thinking could I:
Take the 1132 from Clapham Junction to Surbiton on Oyster
Take the 1201 from Surbiton to Woking
Take the 1225 from Woking to Portsmouth

My question is mainly around the 1201 because although I'm getting on it after 12 it left Waterloo before then so would be ticket be valid or not on that service?

Does anyone know why the 1255 has been cancelled out of interest?

 

[Benjwri]

How essential is your arrival time? I would suggest the easiest way to do this might just be to get the 12:12 Clapham Junction to Portsmouth Harbour direct Southern service, arriving 18 minutes later than planned at 14:20. If this isn’t possible I would message SWR on X and ask if you can travel on the service before. Hopefully they will be accommodating.

Does anyone know why the 1255 has been cancelled out of interest?

Forecast severe weather according to Journey Check, every other Portsmouth has been cancelled.

 

[ctom_s]

Thankyou fair shout that is a good back-up option. Arrival time isn't essential but given there's potential to get on the train I highlighted within my ticket validity that would get there a fair bit earlier. The leg from Woking to Portsmouth would be within my ticket validity so I don't think I'd need to contact SWR about that the main question is around the Surbiton to Woking part of the journey.

I guess having said that if I could persuade SWR to let me on the 1157 from Clapham Junction to Woking that would solve everything anyway which may be your point.

 

[Benjwri]

Thankyou fair shout that is a good back-up option. Arrival time isn't essential but given there's potential to get on the train I highlighted within my ticket validity that would get there a fair bit earlier. The leg from Woking to Portsmouth would be within my ticket validity so I don't think I'd need to contact SWR about that the main question is around the Surbiton to Woking part of the journey.

I guess having said that if I could persuade SWR to let me on the 1157 from Clapham Junction to Woking that would solve everything anyway which may be your point.

Yes this is what I meant, you might be allowed to use your ticket for your entire journey. Many TOCs now apply a you can use your ticket for two trains before or after rule, but I’m not sure if SWR is one.

 

[ctom_s]

Ok, sure and I they say yes on X, I can just show that to the guard and they'll be fine with that?

I can buy a super-off peak single on the 1201, so I think I'm good validilty wise anyway though obviously it's more hassle + oyster fare.

Edit: Well, no luck there anyway:
Hey Thomas. Unfortunately your ticket wouldn't be valid on services from Clapham Junction before midday. A guard may waive this due to the cancelled service but it would be at their discretion; you would otherwise have to take the 12:27 service and link up with the 13:25. My apologies. ^CW

 

[Iggy12a]

Their own website says in the event of a cancellation you can travel on the preceding train

My Service Has Been Cancelled | South Western Railway

www.southwesternrailway.com

• With an evening out / super-off peak ticket: you can travel on any evening out/ super-off peak service on the same day, or one of the two services immediately before or after the original cancelled service you intended to travel on.

 

[ctom_s]

So the message on X is wrong?

 

[jfollows]

So the message on X is wrong?

Yes.
Nothing unusual in that, I suggest. Railway staff making up the rules instead of bothering to look them up.
Just take a copy of the bit of their own website with you in case of any argument.

 

[ctom_s]

This is correct. However, your first train isn't cancelled, so you would have to stick to the first Super Off-Peak service out of Clapham Junction, which is the 12:27. As mentioned, it's possible that the guard will allow your ticket due to the later cancellation, but it would be discretionary. ^CW

I got this response, facepalm.

 

[Watershed]

They are wrong. There is no point arguing with them as they are stuck in their railway-centric viewpoint.

The 'easement' applies to your entire journey - it would be meaningless otherwise.

 

[ctom_s]

Ok, thanks, I'll get the 1157 then.

As a purely hypothetical question now, my original planned route in the first post would have also have been valid, even without the cancellation easement?

 

[Watershed]

Ok, thanks, I'll get the 1157 then.

As a purely hypothetical question now, my original planned route in the first post would have also have been valid, even without the cancellation easement?

It would be valid because the restriction is on boarding a train before 12:01 - which you wouldn't be doing. The fact that the train left Waterloo at a restricted time doesn't matter; it's about where you board the train (or start using the ticket).

If the restriction was intended to apply to a train throughout its journey, based on its departure time from Waterloo, then the restriction code would have to say so.

NB a departure at exactly 12:00 isn't valid, as per the restriction code's wording:

Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 12:01.

 

[ctom_s]

Ok it went without hitch though my ticket never got checked on the 1157, no idea what the forecast extreme weather was supposed to be though.

 

[Vexed]

Ok it went without hitch though my ticket never got checked on the 1157, no idea what the forecast extreme weather was supposed to be though.

Speed restrictions due to heat meaning running the full service isn't possible as journey times are extended too much.

Only 22c in Portsmouth but it is 28c in London. I don't know where the speed restrictions are.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 14:29 ==

Looking at trains moving about nothings getting delayed too badly so it might be a overreaction or maybe the speed restriction comes in later today - the rails will continue to heat up for a while even as air temperature plateaus this afternoon if there is direct sunlight.

 

[ctom_s]

Ah so it was heat not storms I wasn't sure. I guess that's fair enough but I didn't think the temperature forecast was particularly hot today. Monday on the other hand...