Change of route excess on train

[embers25]

I know this has been asked before but I cant find the answer. In a Penalty Fare area can you choose to travel via the more expensive route and upgrade on the train or must the upgrade be done before boarding. I will be boarding at Poole travelling with a ticket routed Dorchester but may need to instead go via Salisbury if running late and won't have time to go to the booking office. There are off peak return tickets routed both ways and neither are operator specific.

 

[yorkie]

There is no penalty for obtaining such an excess on the train.

 

[embers25]

There is no penalty for obtaining such an excess on the train.

Thanks

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

There is no penalty for obtaining such an excess on the train.

How come all of PF, Byelaw 18 or S5 RoRA aren't applicable - all of them refer to holding a valid ticket or paying "[your] fare". If you travel off-route (requiring an excess), how do you hold a valid ticket? This is a very passenger-friendly interpretation, but it seems open to abuse, e.g. in the case of using an operator-specific ticket (e.g. WMT) on a more expensive service (e.g. VTWC).

 

[Hadders]

Change of Route Excesses are available on geographically routed tickets only, e.g 'via High Wycomb', 'not via London' etc.

An Operator Route Restriction cannot be excessed.

 

[yorkie]

How come all of PF, Byelaw 18 or S5 RoRA aren't applicable - all of them refer to holding a valid ticket or paying "[your] fare". If you travel off-route (requiring an excess), how do you hold a valid ticket? This is a very passenger-friendly interpretation, but it seems open to abuse, e.g. in the case of using an operator-specific ticket (e.g. WMT) on a more expensive service (e.g. VTWC).

NRCoT 13.4

If you make a journey by a route that is not valid you will be liable to pay an excess fare. The price for this will be the difference between the amount paid for the Ticket you hold and the lowest price Ticket available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel by that route

Penalty Fare Rules

an authorised collector must not charge a penalty fare if this would conflict with the rights given to the person by the National Rail Conditions of [Travel]

The internal KnowledgeBase (aka 'The Manual') states that the APPROPRIATE excess should be charged in this case, including Railcard discounts (where applicable). For a return ticket, half the difference can be charged to excess the relevant portion.

None of this applies to an operator-specific ticket, such as WM Trains Only. We are talking about geographical route restrictions.

I see you have a lot of questions in many threads; you are welcome to attend attend a fares workshop (they're free)