Questions about leaving at other station which is the same ticket fare

[UniMouse]

Hello everyone, I have the following questions about the same ticket fare problem when travelling back to Manchester stations.

The situation:
I usually travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime street per week. I always pay tickets with Railcard applied which is £14.85 (Anytime Day Return).

I sometime asked the ticket office at Liverpool Lime street station to change/extend my ticket to Victoria/Piccadily/Manchester(Any).
Only 2 times that a staff in ticket office or a train coductor on the train was willing to change and print a new ticket to Victoria/Manchester(Any).

The remain times are the ticket office refuse to print a new ticket and said I can go through the ticket barrier at Victoria/Piccadily station because the ticket fare is same as going to Eccles/via some station to Eccles.

Recently, the train staff in Manchester stations sometime refused to let me out because the ticket destination is "Eccles (Manchester)". I have told them about what the Ticket Office at Liverpool Lime street station said and somehow let me go through but warned me to change my ticket destination to "Manchester(Any)".

The problem is, I see there is a train from Eccels to Victoria and then to Liverpool Lime Street in the morning but no same train route for evening. And sometime I wanted to break my journey at any Manchester stations that don't excess my ticket fare. Also, there has no option for "Manchester (Any)" for start or end destination of my anytime day return ticket.

Questions:

1. The Break of Journey should be applied at my return journey?
2. The Ticket Office SHOULD issue a new ticket upon request even no excessive payment needs to be paid? (The Ticket Office said I don't need to pay any)
3. As stated before, the Ticket Office staff SAID I can go through any Manchester station. Then, why the staff in Manchester doesn't allow me to do that and warn me?
4. As Question 3 said, will I be in trouble even I am being mislead by the Ticket Office?
5. If I have to travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street and then return to "Manchester (Any)" at later time, what should I do?

I only have the above questions in mind for the moment.
As I am new to the UK and I am not sure the how the English words in the rules can be the same but yet different meaning. I hope I understand them correctly. Thank you.

Edit: Supplementary info

 

[wellhouse]

It seems you have been given misleading information.

In future, since the tickets are the same price, you may find it most convenient for flexibility to always purchase a ticket from Manchester to Liverpool, as that will also be valid starting or stopping short at Eccles.

For full flexibility, just be sure that the ticket is 'Any Permitted', as there are some cheaper fares valid only on Northern or TPE. A Northern Only ticket is valid for both Eccles and Manchester, but not on fast TPE or EMR trains from Liverpool to Manchester.

 

[Watershed]

The Break of Journey should be applied at my return journey?

Sorry, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this. Break of journey is permitted on all walk-up tickets (i.e. Off-Peak or Anytime) between Eccles/Manchester Stations and Liverpool Stations.

The Ticket Office SHOULD issue a new ticket upon request even no excessive payment needs to be paid? (The Ticket Office said I don't need to pay any)

There is, unfortunately, no contractual entitlement to an overdistance excess (this is a type of excess which allows you to extend a ticket to a station further along the line). Some ticket offices may be willing to issue you an overdistance excess, but it is effectively at their discretion.

If the fares are the same (this is known as a "zero fare excess"), then perhaps surprisingly, this makes it less likely that you will be issued with an overdistance excess - as there is a perception by many staff that issuing zero fare excesses will lead to their managers asking more questions than if they issue an excess which costs money.

As stated before, the Ticket Office staff SAID I can go through any Manchester station.

The ticket office is, in this instance, actually correct - an Eccles to Liverpool ticket is valid via Manchester. The fact that the fare is the same as that to/from Eccles does not inherently mean that this is permitted; there are other similar journeys where a 'double back' like this would not be permitted. But in this case it is allowed.

Then, why the staff in Manchester doesn't allow me to do that and warn me?

Because they haven't been properly trained on how to determine ticket validity. They have probably never even heard of the Routeing Guide, which is the document which details how you determine what are known as 'permitted routes' (note how your ticket will say it is valid via "any permitted route").

They just go off the logic that Manchester is further from Liverpool than Eccles, and so "surely this can't be valid". That's not how permitted routes work, but it's the basis on which these sorts of staff work.

As Question 3 said, will I be in trouble even I am being mislead by the Ticket Office?

Unfortunately, it's entirely possible for you to - wrongly - be warned or penalised, even though you are in the right here.

If I have to travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street and then return to "Manchester (Any)" at later time, what should I do?

If on your way from Eccles to Liverpool you are happy to avoid Manchester, and don't want to return to Eccles later in the day, then the pragmatic choice would have to be to buy a ticket from Manchester Stations to Liverpool Stations. This is valid to "start late" at Eccles (i.e. you are not using the validity between Manchester and Eccles), and later to return to Manchester.

A ticket from Eccles to Liverpool Stations would be valid to go from Eccles to Liverpool either direct or via Manchester (in either direction). However, as mentioned above, most barrier staff are not sufficiently trained to know that this is the case, and so they may cause you hassle if on your return journey you try to use this kind of ticket via Manchester.

 

[UniMouse]

Thank you for your advises and explanations.

Sorry, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this. Break of journey is permitted on all walk-up tickets (i.e. Off-Peak or Anytime) between Eccles/Manchester Stations and Liverpool Stations.

Sorry that I haven't explained enough as I am still annoyed by the different train staffs' explanations previously.

Let's say BoJ is permitted for my Anytime Day Return Ticket.

If the following BoJ is:

1. ECC-MCV-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE to MCV, no Northern train back to ECC), I can leave at MCV at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV (same as above), I can leave at MCV at return?
3. ECC-LIV and LIV-MAN-ECC, I can leave at MAN at return?

If the I extend the journey with no excessive payment as Ticket Office said and no re-printed ticket:

1. ECC-LIV and LIV-ECC (Northern, doesn't leave at ECC), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at Manchester stations like DGT/MAN at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at MCV at return?

In future, since the tickets are the same price, you may find it most convenient for flexibility to always purchase a ticket from Manchester to Liverpool, as that will also be valid starting or stopping short at Eccles.

If on your way from Eccles to Liverpool you are happy to avoid Manchester, and don't want to return to Eccles later in the day, then the pragmatic choice would have to be to buy a ticket from Manchester Stations to Liverpool Stations. This is valid to "start late" at Eccles (i.e. you are not using the validity between Manchester and Eccles), and later to return to Manchester.

A ticket from Eccles to Liverpool Stations would be valid to go from Eccles to Liverpool either direct or via Manchester (in either direction). However, as mentioned above, most barrier staff are not sufficiently trained to know that this is the case, and so they may cause you hassle if on your return journey you try to use this kind of ticket via Manchester.

If I sometime travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street (Northern) and then back to Victoria (TPE) with Anytime Day Return Ticket, which station start/end should I select?

As I know, there is no train from Victoria will stop at Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street in the morning except from Manchester Piccadilly.
Also, there is no train from Liverpool Lime Street will stop at Eccles to Victoria either.

I am very confused right now if I needed to go to Victoria like that...

I am thinking when I was going to Piccadilly won't cause issue to leave station as there is a route back to/pass Eccles (eg [EMR/Northern] Liverpool Lime Street - [Northern] Piccadilly - Eccles )

Or I should buy an Advance Ticket between Eccles and Liverpool Lime Street only and then pay for the excessive amount at Liverpool station to any Manchester stations?

Just other information, I usually buy Anytime Day Return Ticket if the separated ticket prices of Northern (ECC-LIV) Advance Single (If exists sometime) and Mersey Rail Day Return Ticket are expensive than "All-in-one" Anytime Day Return Ticket.

Because they haven't been properly trained on how to determine ticket validity. They have probably never even heard of the Routeing Guide, which is the document which details how you determine what are known as 'permitted routes' (note how your ticket will say it is valid via "any permitted route").

They just go off the logic that Manchester is further from Liverpool than Eccles, and so "surely this can't be valid". That's not how permitted routes work, but it's the basis on which these sorts of staff work.

If it is the case, should I send complaint to whom for this sort of matters?
I have argued for second time recently with the same staff(s) in Victoria station and I think this needs to be addressed. Some of the other staff just let me pass mostly or just ask me question before they let me pass.

Edit: Typo

 

[wellhouse]

If you browse this section of The Forum, you will quickly realise that;

1. The Fares regime on the UK Rail Network is sufficiently complex that it is challenging for both passengers and staff to fully understand.
2. In some cases Train Operating Companies not only fail to fully and correctly train their staff and contractors, but actually incorrectly instruct them to reject valid tickets.
3. Even if a passenger holds a valid ticket, once one member of staff declares it invalid, other staff, including supervisors, very often support the initial (incorrect) position rather than check the possibility of an error.
3. Several factors can determine the validity of a ticket for a given journey, or the flexibility for variations such as starting or stopping short or breaking a journey.
4. For a fuller understanding, you can consult the Forum Fares and Ticketing Guide here; https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railuk-fares-ticketing-guide.153/
5. To further complicate things, there is a host of Easements and Negative Easements, which provide for exceptions to the normal rules regarding permitted routes.

Regarding your particular situation travelling between Liverpool and Eccles;

Let's say BoJ is permitted for my Anytime Day Return Ticket.

If the following BoJ is:

1. ECC-MCV-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE to MCV, no Northern train back to ECC), then I can leave at MCV at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MAN-ECC, then I can leave at MAN at return?

If the I extend the journey with no excessive payment as Ticket Office said and no re-printed ticket:

1. ECC-LIV and LIV-ECC (Northern, doesn't leave at ECC), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at Manchester stations like DGT/MAN at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at MCV at return

As Watershed advised, a Liverpool Eccles Anytime Day Return Ticket is valid via Manchester. If you book your ticket via the Northern app, and under 'Advanced Search Options' select 'via Manchester Victoria', it will offer you itineraries changing at Victoria and Oxford Road to return to Eccles. However, it is not valid if you travel from Liverpool to Manchester via Eccles, as this constitutes 'Doubling Back' which is normally forbidden. You are permitted to break your journey as many times as you wish (within the period of validity of the ticket) at stops between Liverpool and Eccles. You are also permitted to Start or Stop Short at any station between Liverpool and Eccles, including any of the Manchester Stations on your route.

If I sometime travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street (Northern) and then back to Victoria (TPE) with Anytime Day Return Ticket, which station start/end should I select?

I suggest Manchester and Liverpool; whichever station you select, your ticket will actually be issued to Liverpool Lime Street from Manchester Stations, which include Deansgate, Piccadilly, Oxford Road, and Victoria. This ticket is valid to Start Short at Eccles, and you can be confident that it will be accepted at the Manchester Stations. It will also be valid from Liverpool to Manchester on trains via Eccles

Or I should buy an Advance Ticket between Eccles and Liverpool Lime Street only and then pay for the excessive amount at Liverpool station to any Manchester stations?

Advance Tickets are available only as singles, and are valid only on the specified train; you therefore have no flexiblity regarding time or route. If you travel from Eccles to Liverpool on an Advance Ticket, you need a further single ticket to travel from Liverpool to Manchester (which could be an Advance should you need no flexibility)

Just other information, I usually buy Anytime Day Return Ticket if the separated ticket prices of Northern (ECC-LIV) Advance Single (If exists sometime) and Mersey Rail Day Return Ticket are expensive than "All-in-one" Anytime Day Return Ticket.

Availability and price of Advance tickets fluctuates with demand, and what is offered changes as the date of travel approaches. It is not unusual to find that the best value combination of tickets for a given journey can be different depending on when you are travelling, and how far ahead you can book.

If it is the case, should I send complaint to whom for this sort of matters?
I have argued for second time recently with the same staff(s) in Victoria station and I think this needs to be addressed. Some of the other staff just let me pass mostly or just ask me question before they let me pass.

Edit: Typo

You can certainly write to Northern Customer Services. If you make a dummy booking on the Northern App showing an itinerary from Liverpool to Eccles via Manchester, you can include a screen grab to confirm the validity. You could also use this to show to barrier staff should you be challenged again.

Customer Promise

Northern | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

www.northernrailway.co.uk

 

[Watershed]

1. ECC-MCV-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE to MCV, no Northern train back to ECC), I can leave at MCV at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV (same as above), I can leave at MCV at return?
3. ECC-LIV and LIV-MAN-ECC, I can leave at MAN at return?

In all of these scenarios, you are entitled to leave the station at MAN/MCV etc. if you hold an ECC-LIV Anytime Day Return.

If the I extend the journey with no excessive payment as Ticket Office said and no re-printed ticket:

1. ECC-LIV and LIV-ECC (Northern, doesn't leave at ECC), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at Manchester stations like DGT/MAN at return?
2. ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV (TPE), then I cannot leave (by rules?by train staff explaination?) at MCV at return?

If you have an ECC-LIV Anytime Day Return, this is valid via any of the Manchester stations, and so you can travel via them, as well as leave the station.

If I sometime travel from Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street (Northern) and then back to Victoria (TPE) with Anytime Day Return Ticket, which station start/end should I select?

As I know, there is no train from Victoria will stop at Eccles to Liverpool Lime Street in the morning except from Manchester Piccadilly.
Also, there is no train from Liverpool Lime Street will stop at Eccles to Victoria either.

I am very confused right now if I needed to go to Victoria like that...

The fact that there are only a handful of direct services between Eccles and Victoria doesn't limit your right to travel via, or leave the station at, Victoria. Victoria is in the Manchester Group and an ECC-LIV ticket is valid to be used via Manchester on both the outward and return journeys.

However, as mentioned before, most barrier staff don't understand how permitted routes work. Most will just wave you through but as you've experienced, a minority will wrongly insist that your ECC-LIV ticket isn't valid via Manchester.

To avoid this hassle, if all you want to do is ECC-LIV in the morning, then LIV-MCV in the evening, I would suggest the most pragmatic option is to buy a Manchester Stations to Liverpool Stations ticket. This should be one of the options if you search from any of the Manchester Stations (MCV, MCO, MAN, DGT) to any of the Liverpool Stations (LIV, LVC, MRF, LVJ).

Or I should buy an Advance Ticket between Eccles and Liverpool Lime Street only and then pay for the excessive amount at Liverpool station to any Manchester stations?

Advance tickets are singles, so an ECC-LIV Advance would expire once you arrive at LIV and can't then be excessed into a return.

You may find that the cheapest option for your overall travel is to buy an ECC-LIV Advance followed by a LIV-MCV/MAN Advance. But that depends on the price for the particular trains and days you want to travel on - Advance tickets vary in price (unlike Off-Peak/Anytime tickets, which are always the same price).

Just other information, I usually buy Anytime Day Return Ticket if the separated ticket prices of Northern (ECC-LIV) Advance Single (If exists sometime) and Mersey Rail Day Return Ticket are expensive than "All-in-one" Anytime Day Return Ticket.

You mention a Merseyrail ticket - what is the full extent of your journey? Do you take a Merseyrail train after you arrive at LIV? This may affect which ticket(s) it's best for you to buy.

If it is the case, should I send complaint to whom for this sort of matters?
I have argued for second time recently with the same staff(s) in Victoria station and I think this needs to be addressed. Some of the other staff just let me pass mostly or just ask me question before they let me pass.

To the company that employs the gateline staff - in the case of Victoria, this is Northern. Unfortunately, the frontline customer service staff who deal with complaints probably also don't understand permitted routes very well, so they may claim the barrier staff were in the wrong. It's a topic that the rail industry deems too niche to give many people training on.

 

[UniMouse]

Thank you very much Wellhouse and Watershed for the detailed explanations. I am very impressed that so many things behind the scenes that causes so many inconvenient problems in the front.

I suggest Manchester and Liverpool; whichever station you select, your ticket will actually be issued to Liverpool Lime Street from Manchester Stations, which include Deansgate, Piccadilly, Oxford Road, and Victoria. This ticket is valid to Start Short at Eccles, and you can be confident that it will be accepted at the Manchester Stations. It will also be valid from Liverpool to Manchester on trains via Eccles

The fact that there are only a handful of direct services between Eccles and Victoria doesn't limit your right to travel via, or leave the station at, Victoria. Victoria is in the Manchester Group and an ECC-LIV ticket is valid to be used via Manchester on both the outward and return journeys.

However, as mentioned before, most barrier staff don't understand how permitted routes work. Most will just wave you through but as you've experienced, a minority will wrongly insist that your ECC-LIV ticket isn't valid via Manchester.

To avoid this hassle, if all you want to do is ECC-LIV in the morning, then LIV-MCV in the evening, I would suggest the most pragmatic option is to buy a Manchester Stations to Liverpool Stations ticket. This should be one of the options if you search from any of the Manchester Stations (MCV, MCO, MAN, DGT) to any of the Liverpool Stations (LIV, LVC, MRF, LVJ).

Based all the information that you have provided, I will try to buy the other combinations between Liverpool and Manchester stations.

1. (Anytime Day Return) MCV-LIV, boarding at ECC, return and leave at MCV
2. (Anytime Day Return) MAN-LIV, boarding at ECC, return and leave at MAN
3. (Advance Single) ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV/LIV-MAN/LIV-DGT etc.

The combinations I have tried:

1. (Anytime Day Return) ECC-LIV, can leave at MAN/DGT without problem, but being blocked two times at MCV

You mention a Merseyrail ticket - what is the full extent of your journey? Do you take a Merseyrail train after you arrive at LIV? This may affect which ticket(s) it's best for you to buy.

Yes, I always have other journey with Merseyrail. Mostly travelling between Liverpool Central/Lime Street station and other north stations within Zone C1 (or Zone C, I am not sure as I will go further north sometime but not out of Zone C).

In this case, if the combination of "Advance Single" (ECC-LIV) and Merseyrail "Anytime Return Tickets" ticket is cheaper than "Anytime Day Return" (ECC-LIV), I will go for the first one. Unless I need time flexibility or extending my journey back to MCV/MAN.

For the previous 3 weeks, there is no such "Advance Single" ticket I can buy for both directions (ECC-LIV) so I have to pay more for "Anytime Day Return". Also, "Anytime Day Return" ticket included Merseyrail "Anytime Return Tickets" and that's why I buy this type of ticket so often if "Advance Single" ticket is missing.

Other than that, I have decided to return to MAN/MCV instead of wasting time travelling normal train back from LIV to ECC since it is the same ticket price. So I did it at MAN/MCV/DGT.

Furthermore, I have asked Ticket Office and it is allowed to do this. Thus, I think I haven't done anything wrong unless my understanding is incorrect.

On the other hand, is there any routing map website like in National Enquiry one (web browser can load up the page and map but no lines/routes are displaying on the map)?

Anyway, thank you all again for all the information and explanations. I will write a reply in here if anything goes up tomorrow.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presume it's not permissible, on a Liverpool Stns to Eccles (Manchester) ticket, on a service that actually calls/stops at Eccles, to continue onwards to a Manchester station (Victoria or Deansgate or wherever) and to alight and endeavour to "break of journey" there?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presume it's not permissible, on a Liverpool Stns to Eccles (Manchester) ticket, on a service that actually calls/stops at Eccles, to continue onwards to a Manchester station (Victoria or Deansgate or wherever) and to alight and endeavour to "break of journey" there?

Unless the ticket is explicitly routed Manchester, no. And TBH it's even a bit tenuous then and likely to result in arguments.

 

[Watershed]

Based all the information that you have provided, I will try to buy the other combinations between Liverpool and Manchester stations.

1. (Anytime Day Return) MCV-LIV, boarding at ECC, return and leave at MCV
2. (Anytime Day Return) MAN-LIV, boarding at ECC, return and leave at MAN
3. (Advance Single) ECC-LIV and LIV-MCV/LIV-MAN/LIV-DGT etc.

Yes, I think that's the most pragmatic decision here. I'm assuming you will return from MCV/MAN to ECC through other means, such as the Metrolink or bus, as a MCV/MAN-LIV return ticket would expire once you arrive at MCV/MAN on your return journey, and wouldn't be valid to later continue on to ECC.

Also just be aware that as well as the "Any Permitted" tickets which are valid on all operators, there are slightly cheaper tickets that are routed "Northern only". As the name suggests, these are only valid on Northern services, and not on other operators such as TPE, EMR or TfW etc.

Personally speaking, since Northern only runs stopping services between Manchester and Liverpool, I don't think the small (~20%) saving is worthwhile in exchange for the loss of flexibility and the increased journey time. But that's obviously something you have to decide for yourself.

Yes, I always have other journey with Merseyrail. Mostly travelling between Liverpool Central/Lime Street station and other north stations within Zone C1 (or Zone C, I am not sure as I will go further north sometime but not out of Zone C).

In this case you are almost certainly best off buying your ticket from Manchester Stations to the relevant Merseyrail station that you'll be travelling to. It's the same price as buying a ticket to LIV.

Unfortunately you can't buy a return ticket that's valid to all stations in Zone C1 - you have to pick one branch that you want the ticket to be valid to (e.g. Bootle Oriel Road, Aintree or Kirkby).

Furthermore, I have asked Ticket Office and it is allowed to do this. Thus, I think I haven't done anything wrong unless my understanding is incorrect.

Unfortunately, the fact that you haven't done anything wrong doesn't matter to some of the incompetent gateline staff you've encountered. They have a flawed concept of how ticket validity works, and all the explanations in the world ("the ticket office said", "the website I bought my ticket through shows" etc.) won't change that.

On the other hand, is there any routing map website like in National Enquiry one (web browser can load up the page and map but no lines/routes are displaying on the map)?

Not publicly available, no. The "where is my ticket valid" tool on NRE has been broken for a long time, and in any event has never really been comprehensive.

 

[UniMouse]

Thank you Watershed for your detailed explaination.

Personally speaking, since Northern only runs stopping services between Manchester and Liverpool, I don't think the small (~20%) saving is worthwhile in exchange for the loss of flexibility and the increased journey time. But that's obviously something you have to decide for yourself.

Yes, I can feel that.

After all the troubles to buy two tickets separately in different Ticket Offices, it only save me around a pound or less with increased travelling time.

I would rather go straight back to the Manchester city centre and take bus/tram back to my home instead.

Also, as I remember there was Advance Ticket (Northern Only) which totally cost £7.9 for both ECC-LIV directions on March 2023. For now, it will totally cost around £11 for the same one.

Now it becomes more persuasive to buy Anytime Day Return instead of Advance Ticket...

 

[Watershed]

Thank you Watershed for your detailed explaination.



Yes, I can feel that.

After all the troubles to buy two tickets separately in different Ticket Offices, it only save me around a pound or less with increased travelling time.

I would rather go straight back to the Manchester city centre and take bus/tram back to my home instead.

Also, as I remember there was Advance Ticket (Northern Only) which totally cost £7.9 for both ECC-LIV directions on March 2023. For now, it will totally cost around £11 for the same one.

Now it becomes more persuasive to buy Anytime Day Return instead of Advance Ticket...

No problem! Unfortunately the cost of Advance tickets is entirely unregulated and so you can't really rely on them remaining cheap. They can be hiked in price, or withdrawn/not released, at any time.

Also, your username suggests you may be attending university. If you're aged 16-25 or 26-30 you can get a 16-25 or 26-30 Railcard, respectively - these would get you 34% off most fares. There is a minimum fare of £12 if travelling before 10am Mon-Fri, but this doesn't apply to Advance tickets, or to the 16-25 Railcard during the months of July and August.

You can also get a 16-25 Railcard, even if you are aged 26 or above, if you are studying for at least 15 hours a week - see this FAQ on mature student eligibility. As there's no minimum fare during July and August, it may be worth getting a 16-25 Railcard even if you are eligible for a 26-30 Railcard. You can also get the 16-25 Railcard in physical form (a plastic card) as well as through the (sometimes unreliable) Railcard app, whereas the 26-30 Railcard is only available through the app.

 

[plugwash]

a plastic card

Unless things have changed recently the plastic cards with integrated photos are only used for railcards bought online and sent out by post with the ones issued at stations being issued on cardboard stock with a seperate photocard.

Again unless things have changed recently i'm pretty sure the 16-25 railcard for "mature students" can only be issued at stations.

 

[UniMouse]

Sorry for late reply. I am too busy with office works recently.

Also, your username suggests you may be attending university. If you're aged 16-25 or 26-30 you can get a 16-25 or 26-30 Railcard, respectively - these would get you 34% off most fares. There is a minimum fare of £12 if travelling before 10am Mon-Fri, but this doesn't apply to Advance tickets, or to the 16-25 Railcard during the months of July and August.

I have a 26-30 Railcard for buying 34% off from those tickets.

I am travelling between Liverpool and Manchester for the office as I am still learning driving recently.

Let's back to the ticket topic

For the first day, I didn't buy any tickets from Northern app and have asked the Ticket Office in Eccles. The staff issued "Manchester" Anytime Day Return tickets for both starting and ending station. Everything works fine when exiting from Manchester Victoria.

For the second day, I bought the same Anytime Day Return ticket but the destination is starting and ending at Manchester Victoria from Northern app.
I have asked the Ticket Office staff and he told me to get the tickets from the Ticket Machine first. Then, I handled my printed 4 tickets with "Manchester" for both starting and ending station to the staff and asked if I can travel from Eccles instead of Manchester Victoria. He said "Yes" as it is a Anytime Day Return ticket.

For now, no more embarrassments with the gate barrier staffs in Manchester Victoria.

 

[Watershed]

Sorry for late reply. I am too busy with office works recently.

No problem!

I have a 26-30 Railcard for buying 34% off from those tickets.

Ok - as mentioned, if you're studying for at least 15 hours a week you're eligible for the 16-25 Railcard, which is slightly more generous. But it might not be worth your while paying an extra £30/year to replace a Railcard you already have - it depends on the kinds of journeys you make.

I am travelling between Liverpool and Manchester for the office as I am still learning driving recently.

Unfortunately, the poor train service has led to many people taking up driving. I can't say I blame you!

Let's back to the ticket topic

For the first day, I didn't buy any tickets from Northern app and have asked the Ticket Office in Eccles. The staff issued "Manchester" Anytime Day Return tickets for both starting and ending station. Everything works fine when exiting from Manchester Victoria.

For the second day, I bought the same Anytime Day Return ticket but the destination is starting and ending at Manchester Victoria from Northern app.
I have asked the Ticket Office staff and he told me to get the tickets from the Ticket Machine first. Then, I handled my printed 4 tickets with "Manchester" for both starting and ending station to the staff and asked if I can travel from Eccles instead of Manchester Victoria. He said "Yes" as it is a Anytime Day Return ticket.

For now, no more embarrassments with the gate barrier staffs in Manchester Victoria.

Sometimes it's easier just to go for the pragmatic option rather than to fight until the cows come home. Glad to hear you've managed to find a solution. If you're ever interested in finding out more about how permitted routes work, how to find good value fares or would simply be interested in joining like-minded individuals, you're welcome to join a forum event