If I have a return ticket to Bridge of Orchy from Edinburgh, and on the
way back I end up at Dalmally and want to get a train back from there,
can I excess my ticket?

In other words, if I have an unused RTN Bridge of Orchy to Edinburgh
ticket, can an excess fare be issued from Dalmally?

Does the rule 'Half the difference between the fares' apply? (If so,
the differerence is £0.00)

If that rule doesn't apply, why not? (Perhaps because it's on a
different line?), and if so what rules do apply? Would I have to excess
it from Dalmally to Lower Tyndrum (on the basis that I am covered from
Tyndrum stations?), or do I have to excess it from Crainlarich (on the
basis that is where the lines physically join).

If anyone can answer I would be VERY grateful! Thank you in advance.

"Yorkie"  wrote in message
news:1121882854.354236.116730@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
If I have a return ticket to Bridge of Orchy from Edinburgh, and on the
way back I end up at Dalmally and want to get a train back from there,
can I excess my ticket?

In other words, if I have an unused RTN Bridge of Orchy to Edinburgh
ticket, can an excess fare be issued from Dalmally?

Does the rule 'Half the difference between the fares' apply? (If so,
the differerence is 0.00)

If that rule doesn't apply, why not? (Perhaps because it's on a
different line?), and if so what rules do apply? Would I have to excess
it from Dalmally to Lower Tyndrum (on the basis that I am covered from
Tyndrum stations?), or do I have to excess it from Crainlarich (on the
basis that is where the lines physically join).

If anyone can answer I would be VERY grateful! Thank you in advance.


You would need to buy another single to either Lower Tyndrum or Crianlarich
(which depends on the guard I would imagine).  You cannot do an 'over
distance' XS, as you are not extending the journey, similarly, you cannot do
an 'alt route' excess, as you are not travelling to the same destination via
a different route.

Richard

Richard Smith wrote:

> You would need to buy another single to either Lower Tyndrum or Crianlarich
> (which depends on the guard I would imagine).  You cannot do an 'over
> distance' XS, as you are not extending the journey, similarly, you cannot do
> an 'alt route' excess, as you are not travelling to the same destination via
> a different route.
>
> Richard


Thanks for the reply.

Are there three types of excess? alternate route (between the same
points, presumably), over distance, Plus the other one I know of which
is to upgrade to a different ticket type (e.g. SVR to SOR). But you
can't excess to a station on another line, correct?

So, to clarify, if I had an Edinburgh to Tyndrum Stations ticket I
*could* excess one portion of that to Dalmally? (as I am 'over
distance' in that case) In which case does that work on the 50% of the
difference in fares rule or is there a different rule for determining
that?

Also, on a slightly different point, there is an Easement that states
"Tickets issued between Glasgow/ Edinburgh/ Stirling or Falkirk and
Kyle of Lochalsh may be used in one direction to travel on the 'West
Highland Line' to/ from Mallaig", but would this still apply if we
bought a ticket from further than Edinburgh (say London for example)?
or do we have to re-book at Edinburgh?

Again thanks in advance!

"Yorkie"  wrote in message 
news:1121889957.934159.264030@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

> Richard Smith wrote:
>> You would need to buy another single to either Lower Tyndrum or 
>> Crianlarich
>> (which depends on the guard I would imagine).  You cannot do an 'over
>> distance' XS, as you are not extending the journey, similarly, you cannot 
>> do
>> an 'alt route' excess, as you are not travelling to the same destination 
>> via
>> a different route.
>>
>> Richard
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Are there three types of excess? alternate route (between the same
> points, presumably), over distance, Plus the other one I know of which
> is to upgrade to a different ticket type (e.g. SVR to SOR). But you
> can't excess to a station on another line, correct?
>
> So, to clarify, if I had an Edinburgh to Tyndrum Stations ticket I
> *could* excess one portion of that to Dalmally? (as I am 'over
> distance' in that case) In which case does that work on the 50% of the
> difference in fares rule or is there a different rule for determining
> that?
>
> Also, on a slightly different point, there is an Easement that states
> "Tickets issued between Glasgow/ Edinburgh/ Stirling or Falkirk and
> Kyle of Lochalsh may be used in one direction to travel on the 'West
> Highland Line' to/ from Mallaig", but would this still apply if we
> bought a ticket from further than Edinburgh (say London for example)?
> or do we have to re-book at Edinburgh?
>
> Again thanks in advance!


You could......
buy a return to crianlarich, and over distance XS to bridge of orchy on the 
way out
over distance XS from dalmally on the return.  Perfectly legit, but 
might/will annoy the average booking clerk. And you would get the 50% 
difference rule in both cases.......
There are technically 4 types of XS
1) Over distance
2) Alternate route
3) Type XS (eg SVR - SOR)
4) Std to 1st


b) I'm not familiar with the easement for Kyle/Mallaig, but I would imagine 
that since it specifies Glasgow/Edinburgh/Stirling/Falkirk, that it is 
limited to those points.

Richard

Thanks again, I think I understand it now!

The questions above are theoretical, after we were told we could not do
what we wanted to do but not given a valid reason (nor way round it,
other than to buy hideously expensive singles) by ATOC.

What we *actually* want to do is this:

London to Kingussie (GNER Highland Chieftain), then taxi to Tulloch
(there will be enough of us to make it worthwhile, and not too
expensive), and then Tulloch to London (Caledonian Sleeper).

There doesn't seem to be an easy way of doing this without incurring
huge expense (So we may have to abandon the idea).

But, I do have one possibility, based on the 'over-distance excess' you
mentioned.

We could get a London to Falkirk[1] ticket, and excess the outward
portion to Kingussie (at 50% of the difference), and also excess the
return portion from Tullock (at also 50% of the difference).

The actual price would, therefore be between the London to Tulloch and
London to Kingussie fares.

Is that correct, or am I missing something?

[1] I say Falkirk because that's where the routes diverge.

"Yorkie"  wrote in message
news:1121892294.113174.172840@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Thanks again, I think I understand it now!
>
> The questions above are theoretical, after we were told we could not do
> what we wanted to do but not given a valid reason (nor way round it,
> other than to buy hideously expensive singles) by ATOC.
>
> What we *actually* want to do is this:
>
> London to Kingussie (GNER Highland Chieftain), then taxi to Tulloch
> (there will be enough of us to make it worthwhile, and not too
> expensive), and then Tulloch to London (Caledonian Sleeper).
>
> There doesn't seem to be an easy way of doing this without incurring
> huge expense (So we may have to abandon the idea).
>
> But, I do have one possibility, based on the 'over-distance excess' you
> mentioned.
>
> We could get a London to Falkirk[1] ticket, and excess the outward
> portion to Kingussie (at 50% of the difference), and also excess the
> return portion from Tullock (at also 50% of the difference).
>
> The actual price would, therefore be between the London to Tulloch and
> London to Kingussie fares.
>
> Is that correct, or am I missing something?
>
> [1] I say Falkirk because that's where the routes diverge.
>


You might well be better to try for a GNER offpeak ticket or the like, and a
Scotrail bargain berth if you can find any available.  Otherwise you will
need to buy sleeper supplements and the like too.....
Richard

Richard Smith wrote:


> You might well be better to try for a GNER offpeak ticket or the like, and a
> Scotrail bargain berth if you can find any available.  Otherwise you will
> need to buy sleeper supplements and the like too.....


I'd agree. GNER do cheap Apex singles at quite reasonable prices.

Charlie

Good point, and if GNER's pricing structure was like Virgin's, we would
have considered it.

But we can't afford to do that as we have Railcards, some on a Family
railcard, and the cost is much higher (for us) booking advance purchase
tickets.

These trains are very popular during August so we have no chance of
getting them either, so it has to be walk-on fares.

We are happy to remain seated on the Sleeper.

One final point: when getting an excess fare, does the train need to
call at the point where the ticket is excessed? (e.g. if we have
tickets to Falkirk and excess from there, do they have to call at
Falkirk)?

"Yorkie"  wrote in message 
news:1121974047.657418.146190@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

> Good point, and if GNER's pricing structure was like Virgin's, we would
> have considered it.
>
> But we can't afford to do that as we have Railcards, some on a Family
> railcard, and the cost is much higher (for us) booking advance purchase
> tickets.
>
> These trains are very popular during August so we have no chance of
> getting them either, so it has to be walk-on fares.
>
> We are happy to remain seated on the Sleeper.
>
> One final point: when getting an excess fare, does the train need to
> call at the point where the ticket is excessed? (e.g. if we have
> tickets to Falkirk and excess from there, do they have to call at
> Falkirk)?
>


No. In a word.