Doesn't have the fare to take the express south (5)
I believe the answer is:
fasts
'doesn't have the fare to take' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'express south' is the wordplay.
'express' becomes 'fast' (I've seen this in another clue).
'south' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'fast'+'s'='FASTS'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fasts that I've seen before include "Abstains from food" , "Goes hungry" , "Times of abstinence" , "Avoids food" , "Goes without food" .)