Using advance ticket after booked departure time

[handsomelife]

Hi,
Just a hypothetical question here really, I was curious earlier...

Say I booked an advance ticket from Guildford to Leeds via KGX and overslept, how late can I use my ticket to travel from Guildford to KGX? Obviously I'm only allowed on that booked train between KGX and LDS but can I only use my ticket from Guildford before the booked time of departure at KGX (that's the latest you can x/s an advance ticket right?)

Basically if I'm booked on the 09:00 or whatever from KGX, can I jump on a train up to waterloo at 13:00 with my ticket? I don't see how it would be the SWT guard's place to tell me I can't travel?

Thanks

 

[island]

I don't think you would be allowed to take a train that makes it physically impossible to get on your booked train, because break of journey (including finishing short) isn't allowed on Advances.

As to whether you can amend your ticket at Guildford at 0850, I can't say.

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

Is it within the rules for a train manager to use discretion and allow a ticket to be used on a later train than the booked one? If so then one could (hypothetically) argue that the ticket holder be allowed to get to (in this case) Kings Cross in order to make one's case.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

You can change the ticket upto the departure time of the first RESERVED train, upon payment of the appropriate excess and admin fee.

Officially, I don't see how you could use the non-reservable part on a train which can't connect with the reserved train, but the guard would have to check the reservation to know if it was a reasonable train or not (bear in mind that the advance is not valid without a reservation, even if it is for a different train).

 

[handsomelife]

I don't think you would be allowed to take a train that makes it physically impossible to get on your booked train, because break of journey (including finishing short) isn't allowed on Advances.

This is what I thought, I just wondered what the official ruling is.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Is it within the rules for a train manager to use discretion and allow a ticket to be used on a later train than the booked one? If so then one could (hypothetically) argue that the ticket holder be allowed to get to (in this case) Kings Cross in order to make one's case.

Well, the train manager ultimately has the final say, and in times of disruption they can allow it. If the passenger was at fault, I wouldn't expect it to happen very often, if at all.

 

[island]

Is it within the rules for a train manager to use discretion and allow a ticket to be used on a later train than the booked one? If so then one could (hypothetically) argue that the ticket holder be allowed to get to (in this case) Kings Cross in order to make one's case.

I suppose if you could make an arguable case to the SWT guard on the way in... [hint: there are penalty fares in your future if you do]

 

[MarkyMarkD]

I don't think you would be allowed to take a train that makes it physically impossible to get on your booked train, because break of journey (including finishing short) isn't allowed on Advances.

As to whether you can amend your ticket at Guildford at 0850, I can't say.

Surely you can. But not after 0900.

 

[TicketMan]

This is what I thought, I just wondered what the official ruling is.

The 'official ruling' is in the terms and conditions, available here, or in a handy card format from your local station.

Thusly:

Changing the time or date of travel
Changes to time or date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new one must be purchased. You will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when you request a change.
Changes to tickets cannot be made on-board the train. If you board a train without a ticket and reservation for that service, a new ticket must be purchased. Depending on the Train Company you are travelling with, you may be liable to a Penalty Fare if you board the train with an invalid ticket.

Therefore, no, the Guard/TM/Conductor/etc has NO discretion to allow travel at other than the booked time, although of course some may opt for the easy life...

 

[MarkyMarkD]

An advance ticket doesn't actually have "reserved trains" printed "on the ticket" at all, and so the wording is not very watertight.

But I suppose the fact that ticket says "only valid with reservations" makes the two effectively one ticket.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

They also say "issued as [X] coupons" on them

 

[dcd]

because break of journey (including finishing short) isn't allowed on Advances.

how is it known if you finish early?
I can get an advance ticket on 7th September from Southampton Central to Cromer routed through Waterloo on the 11:00 for £21
but a single to just Waterloo is £32.50 on the same train.


Who will know if I walk off at Waterloo and just do not complete the journey and will they care, and can they do anything about it.

 

[island]

There are many restrictions and regulations on National Rail tickets that are unenforceable, either legally, practically, or both, and this is one of them!