Worle to Truro Sat 30 Apr Advice sought

[whole diary]

[Worle Wonder]

Plan is to leave Worle between 08:00 -08:45 aiming to arrive Truro 12:30ish (back on the 18:24)

From a quick canter  thro the various times /ticket permutations I have worked out the hops from Taunton via Plymouth to Truro but the start of the journey is causing a bit more of challenge.  I was wondering am I able to purchase an off peak Return from Worle to Taunton and travel via Bristol Temple Meads (to connect with the 09:18 service to Taunton) or is there some dreaded restriction in place which might prevent this?   

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

TY

[JayMac]

You won't be able to travel up to Bristol and double back with a Worle-Taunton ticket. You'll need a separate single for that leg.

[Chris from Nailsea]

This may be confusing the issue (or it may be a valid alternative suggestion): 

A a few years ago, a train manager suggested that I could join the train at Nailsea & Backwell with a Bristol Temple Meads to Taunton day return, travel to Bristol, change there onto a fast service down to Taunton, then catch a stopper on the return journey from Taunton to Nailsea & Backwell. That works, apparently, because no part of that journey is covered twice.

He therefore sold me such a ticket, and I wasn't challenged at any stage that day. 

[JayMac]

Two ways to look at that.

The first part of the journey was free. Or it was using the return portion of the ticket before the outward. The National Rail Conditions of Carriage has something to say about the latter:

17. Using a return ticket

A return ticket (including a two-part return ticket) is only valid for the outward journey shown on that ticket if the ticket is completely unused. You may not use the outward part of a return ticket after you have used the return part.

So unfortunately not a valid suggestion.

Unless, as in CfN's case, you have been given permission to do so by rail staff. Train operators and their staff are free to give more extensive rights than those laid out in the Conditions of Carriage, but this is discretionary and shouldn't be presumed to always apply.

[grahame]

This may be confusing the issue (or it may be a valid alternative suggestion): 

A a few years ago, a train manager suggested that I could join the train at Nailsea & Backwell with a Bristol Temple Meads to Taunton day return, travel to Bristol, change there onto a fast service down to Taunton, then catch a stopper on the return journey from Taunton to Nailsea & Backwell. That works, apparently, because no part of that journey is covered twice.

He therefore sold me such a ticket, and I wasn't challenged at any stage that day. 

National Rail conditions of carriage:

The outward part of an Anytime Return ticket is only valid for travel when accompanied by an unused return part of the same ticket.

I read that your Bristol to Taunton leg wasn't valid.   Of course, because you were sold the ticket having discussed your plans with an authorised person, the rule was waived for that journey, as I understand it.

Edit - pipped to the post. Glad the expert and I agree

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for your comments, bignosemac and grahame. 

I was attending a meeting of TravelWatch SouthWest in Taunton, and wanted to join a through service at Bristol Temple Meads for Taunton, to meet with other attendees on the journey. Boarding the local train to Bristol at Nailsea, I actually asked for a single to Bristol, a single from Bristol to Taunton, then a single from Taunton to Nailsea, but the train manager did a bit of 'tappety tap' on his Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) machine and kindly offered me that cheaper alternative.

It was his justification that it worked because I wasn't travelling any part of the journey twice. In view of your comments, it appears he was using his discretion - for which I was (and remain) very grateful. 

[LiskeardRich]

Not strictly valid, but carried out with permission from an authorised person. As long as he backed you up in the event of an RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector, or Retail Price Index, depending on context) showing up.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The first part of the journey was free.

Yes, I reckon that was where the train manager used his 'discretion'.

On the basis that I'd approached him on board between Nailsea and Bristol, asking for that sequence of single tickets, he decided to offer me the first stage free - on the basis that, as mentioned, no part of my journey was being covered more than once.

 

[Worle Wonder]

Thanks for the responses.......

Happy to fork out for a single up to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) if I have too. 

I think I will have a chat with the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) first though.......

Will let you know the outcome!!

[JayMac]

Best way. Don't ask, don't get.

One word of caution though. Worle has TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) so you are supposed to buy your tickets before boarding. Now, if you could start your journey at Weston Milton at 0809...