Sheffield to Lincoln

[SuperOwl86]

Just looking for some advice we have a group of 4 travelling from Woodhouse to Lincoln and back on 28th of Jan on the 11.55 and returning the next day on the 17.15.

Having a look at fares its £64 all in from Woodhouse but just had a search and it is £40 from Sheffield are we able to join the service later than the start point of the ticket?

 

[telstarbox]

The £40 is for Advance fares both ways which are supposed to be used between the origin and destination stations only.

 

[Paul Kelly]

If you can change your plans to get the 13:55 out and 19:15 return, there are currently at least 4 advances fare available at £5 in each direction, but I'm sure they won't last long. You might be able to get a better price by booking parts of the group separately - booking engines will only give you advances at a certain price if there are enough for the whole group. From trying out various group sizes it looks to me like the currently available advances are:

OUT
1155 1@£5 0@£7 6@£8
1255 0@£5 6@£7
1355 7@£5

RETURN
1715 1@£5 0@£7 6@£8
1915 4@£5 Plenty@£7

If you split your booking into batches accordingly, you should be able to get the best prices. Someone needs to develop a booking engine that does this automatically!

 

[Harpers Tate]

It's an important point as regards "Advance" fares: they MUST only be used at the exact stations named on them; cannot be used to start short or finish short. If such activity is spotted you can be treated as if you have no ticket at all, with all that entails.

 

[SuperOwl86]

Thank you everyone for the input. Think we will just book from Sheffield and jump on a bus/taxi.

Thank you.

 

[yorkie]

It's an important point as regards "Advance" fares: they MUST only be used at the exact stations named on them; cannot be used to start short or finish short. If such activity is spotted you can be treated as if you have no ticket at all, with all that entails.

If so treated, make a complaint and get a refund.

The NRCoT states:

f you start, break or resume your journey at an intermediate station where you are not entitled to do so, 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 start, break or resume your journey at the station
concerned

I'm yet to actually see such an excess fare be issued, however.

A memo was sent out a couple of years (ish) ago instructing staff not to charge such excesses.