FGW Website and Railcard Min Fares/Routing

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

Could someone make sure I'm not going mad and confirm that the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website is selling a ticket that wouldn't be valid.

Cosham to Southampton Central, Any Permitted SDR is ^8.20 without railcard
Same ticket is ^5.40 with 16-25 railcard, subject to ^12 minimum fare before 10am

On the FGW website, I can buy this SDR and get a reservation for trains before 10am with a railcard discount.  As far as I know, this ticket wouldn't be valid on the train.

The website only quotes the lower price for Monday 6th September and Tuesday 7th September ... slightly outside the July and August period!

Same on the East Coast website - says these tickets are valid.  Checked my diary and these aren't bank holidays, so shouldn't be valid.

Is there anything obvious that would make this ticket valid or simply another case of online journey planners quoting for invalid tickets?

Edit: changed the thread title to reflect my later question

[ChrisB]

I've askesd my Fares contact at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) the question....

[Ollie]

Minimum Fare does not apply July and August. So September should be showing correct thing. See what Chris comes back with.

[ChrisB]

The website only quotes the lower price for Monday 6th September and Tuesday 7th September ... slightly outside the July and August period!

[Brucey]

Another (possibly crazy) thing that I've found for the same journey.  Could someone confirm I'm using the Routeing Guide correctly.

Cosham - Southampton Central SDR ^7.40 (SN Only) / ^8.20 (Any Permitted)
Cosham - Eastleigh SDR ^6.60 (Any Permitted)

Cosham is in Portsmouth Group
Eastleigh is a routeing point

Using the Yellow pages, Portsmouth Group to Eastleigh is CW^▸ (Christian Wolmar (rail journalist))+WW only.  CW shows Portsmouth to Southampton whilst WW shows Portsmouth to Eastleigh (direct via Hedge End) AND Southampton to Eastleigh.  (Hope I've followed this bit correctly)

Can I correctly assume that the Eastleigh ticket is valid for a break at Southampton Central (and therefore save ^1.60 on each journey)?  The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website offers the ^6.60 ticket when I put via. SOU, so this must be correct?

[ChrisB]

I've askesd my Fares contact at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) the question....

Partial answer is that it seems to be a programming error with The Trainline site, as NRE^‡(resolve) shows correctly....Been passed to SWT^▸ (South West Trains) as well to investigate. Other instances of the same problem elsewhere on the network have been discovered.

More when I get it.

[paul7575]

Can I correctly assume that the Eastleigh ticket is valid for a break at Southampton Central (and therefore save ^1.60 on each journey)?  The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website offers the ^6.60 ticket when I put via. SOU, so this must be correct?

Remember though you'll have to ask the barrier staff at Southampton to let you in and out, because the barriers won't be programmed for break of journey - this is normal in most places because of the extra programming involved. 

I've had a bit of a debate at Central on a Swanwick to Southampton Parkway ticket, which is a little cheaper than the Central fare.  They first tried the 'should have changed at St Denys' opening gambit, and I replied with the fact there's an easement allowing doubling back via Central for stations on the Netley line...

30262 Customers travelling Southampton Airport Parkway and North thereof to Bitterne and beyond may doubleback between St Denys and Southampton Central. This easement applies both directions.

Paul

[bigdaz]

Is there also an easement if you're travelling to Farnborough North, to double back via North Camp?  NRE^‡(resolve) tried to route me like that the other day but I didn't want to in case it wasn't allowed!

[JayMac]

Can't find an easement that says that in The Rail Routeing Guide. However if National Rail Enquiries or an online ticket retailer gives you an itinerary for a particular ticket then it has to be valid. Always worth printing your itinerary if you have doubts about route validity.

[ChrisB]

However if National Rail Enquiries or an online ticket retailer gives you an itinerary for a particular ticket then it has to be valid.

But beware - they often (in my experience) offer a route, but when you click through for the fares, they don't exist - and hence that particular routing doesn't either!

[JayMac]

You're right ChrisB. That does tend to happen when NRE^‡(resolve) offers a route and fare that seems a bit 'strange' and when you are redirected to a retailer you find said ticket and/or route is not available after all. However I have seen numerous instances when using online retailers directly that offer 'strange' routes and yet the ticket is available, despite no easement being explicity listed in the Rail Routeing Guide. For that reason, that is why I suggested carrying a printed itinerary. Obviously if NRE doesn't concur with the ticket retailer then there's little point in printing off their suggested route and/or fare.