Reading to Henley-on-Thames return validity

[Catkin]

Perhaps a stupid question but in a couple of weeks I will be travelling from Reading to Henley-on-Thames, then walking to Marlow and (the same day) getting the train back to Reading from Marlow.

Would an off peak day return Reading to Henley on Thames cover the Marlow portion. It says it is 'any route permitted' so my reading of that is that the ticket would cover Marlow to Reading? Is this correct?

 

[island]

No. You would need a new single ticket from Marlow to Maidenhead.

 

[greatkingrat]

You can't use a Reading - Henley ticket at Marlow as Marlow is further from Reading than Henley. However you can use a Reading - Marlow ticket at Henley. There is an easement allowing tickets to points on the Henley/Marlow/Windsor branches to be interchangable as long as you buy a ticket to the furthest point.

 

[PermitToTravel]

"ANY PERMITTED" does not mean that you are permitted to take any route, but that you may take any "permitted route"

 

[30907]

No. You would need a new single ticket from Marlow to Maidenhead.

Twyford, surely? (Being pedantic - in fact the easement referred to by Greatkingrat is almost certainly the better bet)

 

[Catkin]

You can't use a Reading - Henley ticket at Marlow as Marlow is further from Reading than Henley. However you can use a Reading - Marlow ticket at Henley. There is an easement allowing tickets to points on the Henley/Marlow/Windsor branches to be interchangable as long as you buy a ticket to the furthest point.

Thanks - very interesting. Out of interest where does one find these easements?

 

[bb21]

There is no easement. There is an interavailability agreement. Sorry to be pedantic but this is important in this particular case.

You need to purchase the ticket to "the furthest point", and this interavailability agreement applies to Off-Peak Day Return fares only, although which one classes as "the furthest point" between Marlow and Henley-on-Thames is not defined. In the absence of that, I would think that the more expensive ticket should suffice, hence my opinion is that a Reading Stations - Marlow Off-Peak Day Return @ £8.40 should be valid for travel out to Henley-on-Thames and back from Marlow (after 0845 Mondays to Fridays and any time at weekends).

 

[davetheguard]

You can't use a Reading - Henley ticket at Marlow as Marlow is further from Reading than Henley. However you can use a Reading - Marlow ticket at Henley. There is an easement allowing tickets to points on the Henley/Marlow/Windsor branches to be interchangable as long as you buy a ticket to the furthest point.

This easement was first introduced back in Thames Trains days (mid 90s?) with the specific idea of helping people who want to walk the Thames Path.

So yes, buy a return ticket from Reading to Marlow and it will also be accepted between Twyford & Henley on either the outward or return part of your trip.

 

[clagmonster]

There is a PDF downloadable in the 'Fares & Ticketing Guide' section of the forum. A link to the PDF is here: http://railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=17027&d=1389457305

 

[Greenback]

I agree that a Reading - Marlow return should be purchased to cover the journeys being made.