Stockport and Manchester Advances

[neilmc]

My wife is going to London on business soon and her Manchester-based employers have booked her and other staff advance tickets from Piccadilly to Euston (long day - out at 07:00, returning on the 23:00!!)

Now we live in South Manchester so Stockport station is more convenient for us, and if we were normal people who just caught trains occasionally we'd simply board and alight at Stockport.

However, as a member of this forum I'm all too aware of the dubious ways in which TOCs seek to scam additional money from customers so I'm wondering whether someone from Virgin might declare that her advance ticket is invalid for not being used for the exact journey stated, and that she'd be advised to get on and off in Manchester.

Sorry if this sounds paranoid and would be a stupid no-brainer if I'd not read one incident after another of such low tricks being perpetrated.

 

[northwichcat]

Your wife could buy a Stockport-Manchester Return ticket in addition and then you should be covered against anyone saying you've traveled short.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The rules on Advance fares say you can't start or stop short.

Someone made mention of 'guidance' asking staff not to penalise those who do if there is no intent to avoid a fare.

Someone else, more recently, made mention of more 'guidance' telling staff to abide by the terms of the ticket in all cases.

A return from Stockport to Manchester might sway favour (or go unnoticed), but it's not legit unless actually going via Manchester.

 

[Rail Ranger]

I always book Manchester-London advance tickets but often board or alight at Stockport and have never had a problem. But I do arrive at Stockport on a connecting train so don't pass a "barrier" if there is one before boarding the train.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
You could ask the staff in the booking office at Stockport if they are OK with passengers with Manchester-London advances boarding at Stockport.

 

[Merseysider]

It's unlikely to be detected with a Stockport - Manchester return on top of the advances. Fares start at £2.40. Additionally, it can be done in under 10 mins if you decide to abide strictly by the rules.

And you aren't depriving anyone of revenue here.

 

[neilmc]

Bizarrely Manchester Piccadilly advised her that she would have to use the outward portion from Manchester but on the return she'd be OK detraining at Stockport (because there'd be nobody to challenge it at that time of night??).

In the end she didn't go to London and let a colleague use the ticket instead so it was never tested.

 

[Starmill]

A return from Stockport to Manchester might sway favour (or go unnoticed), but it's not legit unless actually going via Manchester.

It is if you show both tickets to the guard and ask if you need to double-back, and they say no.