Train ticket question

Pug · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:16

I have to go to Edinburgh next week and so will be taking the train.

I have a ticket option that leaves from a local station the evening of the night before I need to travel, which continues again the morning I need to go from the main station.

It's a 1st class cheap ticket.

Can I buy it, and ignore the first part of the journey, drive to the main station and take the train from there?

Derek W · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:21

dont see why not. you still have a valid ticket for the journey. Just so happens you dont go to the original station. conversely i had a ticket from Edinburgh to Montrose, I got off at Dundee. No biggy really.

[TW]Fox · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:53

Technically, no, you cannot. You cannot break your journey on an advance ticket and this is effectively what you'd be doing by starting it from a different station.

Practically, though, you are needing to change trains anyway so there is absolutely no way to tell you've not been on the previous train. Your only problem is that if there are ticket barriers at the main station your ticket will probably not allow you through, as it's not valid for a break of journey at that station.

Legally speaking what you are trying to do is invalid. Practically speaking, well thats your call

Is there no similarly cheap ticket from the main station?

ilcp · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:58

Derek W said:
dont see why not. you still have a valid ticket for the journey. Just so happens you dont go to the original station. conversely i had a ticket from Edinburgh to Montrose, I got off at Dundee. No biggy really.

yes but if you got caught they would have fined you for getting off early. (crazy right? but I have read stories in the last couple of years of it happening to people because they got off early!)

scottomus0 · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:58

as above, if there arnt any ticket barriers you'll be fine but if they are your buggered. Unless there is someone standing there and you can blag them!

[TW]Fox · 14 Jul 2012 at 10:58

ilcp said:
yes but if you got caught they would have fined you for getting off early. (crazy right? but I have read stories in the last couple of years of it happening to people because they got off early!)

Depends entirely on the ticket type purchased.

Dunks · 14 Jul 2012 at 11:02

Pretty sure the stations in Edinburgh both have barriers, might pose an issue!

Ahleckz · 14 Jul 2012 at 11:08

I did this all the time when going to Edinburgh, no problems at all. Just flash your ticket to one of the folks at the barriers and they'll wave you straight through.

Amp34 · 14 Jul 2012 at 11:53

ilcp said:
yes but if you got caught they would have fined you for getting off early. (crazy right? but I have read stories in the last couple of years of it happening to people because they got off early!)

As Fox says, would depend on the ticket type. A lot of tickets you can get off the train, go wonder around the town and get back on... With standard returns you can spend a few days in that town and get back on to continue your travel (if it is within the month return)...

(Or at least that is what I've been told at stations a few times and have had no problem doing this).

Tokenbrit · 14 Jul 2012 at 11:55

If there is a ticket barrier at the main station, when you get there just buy the cheapest one way local ticket you can think of to get you through the barrier. After that there is no way of them catching you.

Pug · 14 Jul 2012 at 11:59

all good points, and pretty much what i expected.

Thing is, as this is an overnight layover (gets in at 11pm, train leaves 6AM) i'd have to leave the station.

As it turns out i think i'll skip it anyway; getting into birmingham for 6AM isn't ideal. I'll go from a nearer station std class...

Thanks guys

Seft · 15 Jul 2012 at 08:58

You could always buy any old cheap ticket from Edinburgh to get through the barriers...

Derek W · 15 Jul 2012 at 09:53

ilcp said:
yes but if you got caught they would have fined you for getting off early. (crazy right? but I have read stories in the last couple of years of it happening to people because they got off early!)

Not at all. When i went to get on the train in edinburgh the ticket didn't operate the barrier so showed it to the guard, he waved me through and likewise when i got to Dundee it didn't work on the barrier either so saw one of the rail guys mentioned i got off the train early and he opened a barrier for me

Ahleckz said:
I did this all the time when going to Edinburgh, no problems at all. Just flash your ticket to one of the folks at the barriers and they'll wave you straight through.

^^

HangTime · 15 Jul 2012 at 12:18

Tokenbrit said:
If there is a ticket barrier at the main station, when you get there just buy the cheapest one way local ticket you can think of to get you through the barrier. After that there is no way of them catching you.

Yep if worst comes to the worst have this as a backup strategy, just research up front some local station that is cheap to get to and jump on the machine if required. You can get tickets for as little as £1.50 (maybe less) assuming there are some nearby local stations.