Why is NCL - Doncaster more expensive than NCL - Sheffield .. on the same train

[Willie Bee]

As per the title

Looking at prices for August, I note that taking LNER from Newcastle to Doncaster, then going on further to Sheffield is actually cheaper than taking the same LNER to Doncaster only (see images)

Would it be possible to book the cheaper, longer journey and simply get off at Doncaster, to connect with another train ? or indeed if you were travelling to Doncaster only

 

[jfollows]

Not if it’s an advance ticket, which these appear to be.

Stopping short on open tickets is usually fine, off-peak returns often have restrictions barring break of journey on the outward leg, but stopping short on an advance ticket to save money isn’t allowed. In fact, stopping short on an advance ticket for any reason isn’t allowed, but if no money is saved it can be OK. Essentially advance tickets are priced for the market and the flow and further can be cheaper.

In this specific case you might encounter problems at the exit barrier at Doncaster. For stations which don’t have barriers, you might get away with it.

 

[Willie Bee]

Not if it’s an advance ticket, which these appear to be.

Stopping short on open tickets is usually fine, off-peak returns often have restrictions barring break of journey on the outward leg, but stopping short on an advance ticket to save money isn’t allowed. In fact, stopping short on an advance ticket for any reason isn’t allowed, but if no money is saved it can be OK. Essentially advance tickets are priced for the market and the flow and further can be cheaper.

In this specific case you might encounter problems at the exit barrier at Doncaster. For stations which don’t have barriers, you might get away with it.

thanks for your reply

Last year, my wife and I travelled to Doncaster, then on to Manchester, with about 45 minutes between trains. The LNER train actually arrived late, but we still had time to leave the station and walk to the local Sainsbury's to buy some lunch

Searching again for NCL - SHF, but with a longer stopover in Doncaster, still gives a cheaper ticket, although it would mean travelling about an hour later.

 

[Kite159]

In this specific case you might encounter problems at the exit barrier at Doncaster. For stations which don’t have barriers, you might get away with it.

Last time I used Doncaster it didn't have barriers.

Although that's not to say there will be revenue staff floating around ready to pounce on passengers using TPE services whom aim for the front unit etc.

 

[jfollows]

I was responding to your query about “stopping short” on an advance ticket in which you don’t make the full journey but terminate it early en route. That’s problematic. Especially if done to save money in the way you describe.

You’re also not supposed to break your journey en route on an advance ticket, such as your Manchester journey via Doncaster, but usually if you stick to your booked trains then leaving the station to go to the shops isn’t usually a problem.

You can also engineer a longer stopover as you say - again if they’re advance tickets you’re not supposed to break your journey, but it’s not usually a problem. Especially if there are no barriers and staff to navigate!

 

[FixUpLookSharp]

Next to the train station at Doncaster is the Frenchgate Centre which starts above the bus Interchange. Go up the escalator into the Frenchgate Centre and there's a Greggs. That would be my excuse for leaving the station.

The cheaper Sheffield to London Kings Cross ticket will be to compete against the direct EMR service from Sheffield. May get even cheaper if Hull Trains get their open access route from Sheffield through Worksop to London King's Cross given to go ahead.

 

[D6975]

Next to the train station at Doncaster is the Frenchgate Centre which starts above the bus Interchange. Go up the escalator into the Frenchgate Centre and there's a Greggs. That would be my excuse for leaving the station.

The cheaper Sheffield to London Kings Cross ticket will be to compete against the direct EMR service from Sheffield. May get even cheaper if Hull Trains get their open access route from Sheffield through Worksop to London King's Cross given to go ahead.

The journey is Newcastle-Sheffield!

 

[Kite159]

One potential reason is the competition for Newcastle - Sheffield between LNER (to Doncaster & change) & XC. Newcastle - Doncaster no such competition exists as it's mostly all LNER on that flow with maybe the odd XC service (excluding engineering works)

Similar to how sometimes a London - Newcastle advance costs less than a London - Darlington advance for the same train, due to the competition with Lumo.

 

[FixUpLookSharp]

The journey is Newcastle-Sheffield!

My apologies I did read it right, just answered it wrong.