Can I I buy a train ticket but get on at the next station?

[NCTDN]

Just planning ahead. I want to get the train from a station closest to me but the stop before is the first on the route and is £10 cheaper Can i buy the ticket starting from station one but only get on at station 2?

Yes I have done this before with no issues

Yes

I don't understand why that's cheaper when it's further?!

More people want to travel from the station closest to you, so the railway company can charge more. Simple supply and demand.

Blimey every day is a school day, I never knew this.
Thanks for posting op I will keep an eye on this for future train journeys.

I'd wonder if it let's you through the electric barriers, if the station you're getting on at has them.

Otherwise, go for it.

Yes, so long as you have an open access station, and not one with electronic gates.

Well you can, you're not supposed to but you can.
The barrier won't let you through but if it's open you can or you'll need a friendly guard to let you through.

Technically speaking no, not on every line. Maybe it’s different for different companies though. Anyway the chances of you being caught if it isn’t barriers at the station are minimal. Years ago someone was done for similar on my regular commute - it was cheaper to buy a ticket to the last station but get off a station earlier. The guards on the train selling tickets used to encourage it. Then one day someone got stopped getting off at the earlier station and was in trouble, can’t remember if he got fined or had to pay the difference.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315587/Professor-slapped-155-railway-fine-getting-OFF-train-stop-early.html

“Starting from an intermediate station is not permitted “

bonkers

Technically no but I'm sure you could have some reason as to why you did it (staying at a friend's or something). It's bonkers.

I thought you could break your journey on both outward & return now, so yes?

The railways are ridiculous in this country, we are being let down and ripped off every day.

That's outrageous (being fined for doing it) - so the rail companies are allowed to engage in profit-maximising behaviour but the customers aren't 🤔

I have done this before OP without issue. Not for the sole purpose of saving money on a single journey, but when I've been out for the day walking point to point I buy a return for the furthest station (on the same line), rather than pay over the odds for two single journeys.

It would be nice if the rules had been changed since this (and the other incidents I found when I googled, there’s quite a few).

Yes. No idea why. Used to get a weekly season from the station the next one furthest from the destination and it was £20 a week cheaper, even though it was further.

Def not supposed to.
if the station has electronic barriers then your ticket won’t work.
but otherwise fine and if there are barriers the attendant will likely (not definitely) let you through

I’m looking on the National rail website now and found this about off peak tickets

1. Break of journey

6.1 Break of journey is allowed on the outward and return portions of Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code. 6.2 You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel on Off-Peak tickets unless the ticket restriction for the journey you are making does not allow it. If you intend to start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station, please call 03457 48 49 50 to check if it is available on your specific journey.

I can’t find anything about non off peak.

About advance tickets-

6.1 You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.

Does 6.3 mean it's allowed?

6.2

Yes if it’s an off peak ticket, I think you’re also ok if it’s an anytime ticket. But not if it’s an advanced ticket. 🤷‍♀️

So you're basically forced to stay on the train if you change your mind?! That's not right.

If the station has electric barriers you might not get through or if it’s manned might not be allowed through.
happened to me a few years ago when I travelled just after the Manchester bomb. Decided to get the train from one stop out to avoid the centre and barriers and staff refused to let me through at first.
Barriers are nearly always open at this station now though but still wouldn’t risk it.