Change of route excess - can just one portion be changed?

[sheff1]

I have found conflicting infornation on the above as to whether half the difference bewteen the fares or the full difference should be charged.

This says half https://www.railforums.co.uk/posts/7037746/

The Excess Fare procedures refer to it being half the difference between the fare paid and the appropriate Return fare for the journey being made.

whereas this older post says full https://www.railforums.co.uk/posts/1185795/

For one portion (Outward or Return) of a Return ticket, the FULL difference is charged.

NRCoT confirms the entitlement to an excess but does not specifically cover the half/full question. Is there any publicly available document which gives the current position ?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@sheff1. Bit confused by what exactly you're asking. When would an Anytime Return ever need to be excessed to an Off Peak Return? Wouldn't the Anytime Return invariably always be more expensive than the equivalent Off Peak Return? Or, are you asking about day return tickets, or maybe certain returns with, or without, routeing restrictions? And do you have a specific journey in mind?

 

[sheff1]

@sheff1. Bit confused by what exactly you're asking. When would an Anytime Return ever need to be excessed to an Off Peak Return? Wouldn't the Anytime Return invariably always be more expensive than the equivalent Off Peak Return?

One example, Sheffield to Swansea (there are many such cases).

Anytime Return (via Shrewsbury) £129
Off Peak Return (not via London) £172

If one were to go out via Shrewsbury and back via Cheltenham would the excess be £43 or £21.50 ? More importantly, is the correct menthod of calculation documented publicly ?

 

[Watershed]

To clarify, the excess is half the difference if you are conducting a change of route excess in one direction only. If that excess happens to also involve changing from an Anytime ticket to an Off-Peak one, that doesn't change the calculation.

Internal industry guidance reflects this method of calculation - however, there is nothing public facing which gives a legal entitlement to a 'half the difference' excess. So you would have to establish that it is an implied term by virtue of the 'custom and practice' of it being calculated this way, which is trickier.

Have you been charged the full difference for such an excess?

 

[sheff1]

To clarify, the excess is half the difference if you are conducting a change of route excess in one direction only. If that excess happens to also involve changing from an Anytime ticket to an Off-Peak one, that doesn't change the calculation.

Internal industry guidance reflects this method of calculation - however, there is nothing public facing which gives a legal entitlement to a 'half the difference' excess. So you would have to establish that it is an implied term by virtue of the 'custom and practice' of it being calculated this way, which is trickier.

Have you been charged the full difference for such an excess?

That is the issue. I hoped there was something I could refer to if required, but anticipated there wouldn't be.

Haven't tried for such an excess yet, but noticed that next month engineering work means the Shrewsbury route is blocked on my planned return date.

 

[Kettledrum]

So, would you be entitled to delay repay on the return ticket anyway because the blockage would entail a long diversion?

 

[Haywain]

I have found conflicting infornation on the above as to whether half the difference bewteen the fares or the full difference should be charged.

If this was just a change of ticket type the full difference would be payable, but for a change of route it is normal practice to charge half the difference. I would note, however, that when this involves a change of ticket tyoe ticket office staff can sometimes get confused and look to charge the full difference.

Haven't tried for such an excess yet, but noticed that next month engineering work means the Shrewsbury route is blocked on my planned return date.

It is worth noting that for this type of excess it is perfectly acceptable to board a train and pay the excess during the course of the journey. Whilst I have limited experience of doing this, I suspect that guards might be more used to issuing such excess fares than ticket office staff.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jun 2025 ==

So, would you be entitled to delay repay on the return ticket anyway because the blockage would entail a long diversion?

You can only plan against your planned itinerary, and as it isn't possible to obtain an itinerary via Shewsbury on the day in question you won't be able to claim against it.

 

[yorkie]

@sheff1. Bit confused by what exactly you're asking. When would an Anytime Return ever need to be excessed to an Off Peak Return? Wouldn't the Anytime Return invariably always be more expensive than the equivalent Off Peak Return? Or, are you asking about day return tickets, or maybe certain returns with, or without, routeing restrictions? And do you have a specific journey in mind?

I understand why you were confused; I was too! However, it has since become clear that the question is regarding a change of route excess; I have therefore amended the thread title to make this clear.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 17:05 ==

One example, Sheffield to Swansea (there are many such cases).

Anytime Return (via Shrewsbury) £129
Off Peak Return (not via London) £172

If one were to go out via Shrewsbury and back via Cheltenham would the excess be £43 or £21.50 ? More importantly, is the correct menthod of calculation documented publicly ?

The excess is half the difference between fares.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 17:06 ==

See:

change of route excess fare (in one direction)

Ignoring the fact most stations refuse to do upgrades correctly: If I have an Anytime Return from Taunton to Basingstoke (route Salisbury) and wish to upgrade the return portion to go via Reading on a Sunday when Super Off Peak is valid, is the upgrade as follows: Taunton to Basingstoke (route...

www.railforums.co.uk

Understanding Excess rules

I wish to travel from Tonbridge to Lymington Pier on a Saturday, then from Portsmouth Harbour back to Tonbridge on the following Sunday. For one Adult and two Children, using an Annual Gold Card. I’m trying to assess my best fare option for a journey that goes via Waterloo on the outbound, but...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[sheff1]

I knew you could excess in one direction to come back on a different route. What I wanted to know was (i) whether this included a change of ticket type as well (specifically from Anytime to Off Peak) (ii) how such an excess should be calculated (iii) whether the correct calculation was in a publicly available official document.

Thanks to Watershed for confirming the answers as yes, half the difference and no.

I have no confidence that Sheffield ticket office would issue such an excess. My experiences of making 'unusual' purchases at a number of different offices in South Wales have been more positive, so if I do travel will probably try there and if unsuccesful take on board Haywain's comment and seek the excess en route.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, Sheffield ticket office may refuse. Some staff make up their own rule that the ticket type has to be the same, which is completely untrue.

There is no penalty/premium for obtaining a change of route excess onboard where there was an opportunity to pay before boarding, so you can't be penalised.