London to Birmingham International via High Wycombe

[tannedfrog]

The journey planners show that on this ticket I can travel from Marylebone to Moor Street, and then from New Street to Birmingham International.

However the quickest journey would certainly be to change at Banbury.

Going via Moor Street I foresee raised eyebrows/arguments with the Chiltern guard, at Moor Street gateline, at New St gateline and on the Virgin train from New St to Birmingham International.

Would it be correct to justify the route by saying that the fares check allows me to travel using either the Coventry or Birmingham routeing points, because the fare (£27.40 Super Off Peak Single) is the same to Moor Street as to International?

Thanks

 

[yorkie]

You don't use the Super Off Peak Single to compare fares when using the Fares Check Rule (more info in the RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide, Section 3.4.4), however Birmingham Group certainly does pass the fares check in this case. So yes, it's valid either via Coventry or via Birmingham Group.

 

[island]

You won't have any problem at New Street gateline, they'll accept a seat reservation ticket from Doncaster to Durham from two months ago.

Is there a reason you don't just buy Birmingham Stations to avoid the difficulty?

 

[brompton rail]

Birmingham Stations does not include International. Just New Street, Snow Hill, moor Street, Aston and Duddesden

 

[island]

I'm aware of that. Are you planning on going via Birmingham Moor/New Street on your return journey too, or will you be doing it the more orthodox way?

 

[tannedfrog]

I'm aware of that. Are you planning on going via Birmingham Moor/New Street on your return journey too, or will you be doing it the more orthodox way?

Flying from the airport and then back to a different airport, so only a single is required. I want to have a break of journey in Birmingham which I can't do with a ticket to Birmingham Stations, as I would then have to buy a new ticket to the airport. However that is only £2 or £3 so it might just be easier to do that and avoid any argument.

 

[bb21]

Birmingham Stations does not include International. Just New Street, Snow Hill, moor Street, Aston and Duddesden

Does not include Aston or Duddesden.

 

[dvboy]

I'm sure you won't be the first or last person to go from Marylebone to Birmingham Intl via Moor St and New St as there will be times where this is quicker than via Banbury, and it's certainly permitted so you're unlikely to get any hassle at either gate.

 

[tannedfrog]

Thanks for the answers. I note also that for someone wanting an Off Peak Single to go on the quickest train from London to Birmingham International, the ticket costs £47.60, with the Off Peak Return at £48.60.

The Super Off Peak Return via High Wycombe is £27.50. Would it be possible to buy this and excess the outward portion to "any permitted", paying much less than £47.60? If so, could this legitimately be done on the train because of the time it might take at the ticket office?

 

[John @ home]

The Super Off Peak Return via High Wycombe is £27.50. Would it be possible to buy this and excess the outward portion to "any permitted", paying much less than £47.60?

I can see no reason why this would be refused.

If so, could this legitimately be done on the train because of the time it might take at the ticket office?

I would not expect a passenger with a ticket routed "via High Wycombe" to be allowed to pass the barrier at Euston. I would expect the passenger to be sent to a ticket office to obtain the appropriate Excess first, even if this caused the passenger to catch a train later than planned.

 

[LexyBoy]

But if they were already on the train, the excess would be the same- there is no penalty.

 

[bb21]

But if they were on the train, the excess would be the same- there's no penalty.

There is no penalty if they are already on the train, however you are supposed to sort it out before boarding if there are opportunities for you to pay, so gateline staff can legitimately request that you do so, as you do not hold a valid ticket for services departing Euston.

 

[LexyBoy]

Yes, of course- saving time is not a reason not to use the ticket office- was just pointing out for clarity e.g for journeys from other stations.