Further to this thread, I was going from York - Selby today, but missed the direct (and cheaper) train, so instead decided to go via South Milford. I asked for a York - Selby return but not direct, and was told I would have to buy seperate tickets. Then I asked for a York - South Milford return (and bought a South Milford - Selby return on the train.
Get a
return to South Milford, you can then use the return portion from South Milford to Selby and break your journey there.
At York booking office I asked if this was valid via Leeds. Woman behind the counter said no.
She said no without looking it up? Perhaps you could ask her if she is familiar with the Routeing Guide.
On the train to Micklefield I asked the conductor if it was valid via Leeds. He said no.
Again, without looking it up?
I also asked him if there was an easement, he said no.
Ask if he's heard of group stations.
On return from Selby, the Selby - Leeds train was late, so I asked the conductor if I could go to Leeds and change there, he said that should be OK.
That's correct.
It turned out that the Leeds - York stopper was also late arriving at Micklefield, so I could have caught it, but I wasn't to know if it had already left.
It's valid to go into Leeds, you are not compelled to change at Micklefield. And it takes time to change at Micklefield! Have you seen the recent topic about this?
No ticket check between Leeds and York so didn't have a problem there.
I've never been questioned on a South Milford ticket via Leeds, and if I was then I'd ask them if they have heard of the Routeing Guide and to look it up because it is valid. If they cannot confirm that it is
their problem, in the same way that if someone on Oyster travelling on a train in London with a valid Travelcard or PAYG loaded, and encounters a guard/RPI without a Oyster reader it's the inspector's problem and they have to assume it is valid if they cannot prove otherwise.
Basically I have two questions:
1) Is the condition/easement only for one way?
2) Can I get a direct train to/from Leeds to/from York instead of a stopping train?
Cheers.
See
this topic .
National Routeing Guide said:
GROUP STATIONS
Some stations are grouped together to improve interchange between trains
by offering customers access to a wider choice of train services and station
facilities. A customer may travel via any station in such a group, including
doubling back, provided that the group is on one of the permitted routes
between their origin and destination stations. This extended availability is for
interchange purposes only and does not apply where the origin or destination
stations are part of a group.
Leeds Group consists of Leeds, Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth & Micklefield.
Double backing between Micklefield and Leeds is permitted on any ticket that permits travel via Micklefield.
If anyone claims to know if a route is valid without looking it up in the Routeing Guide, then they are either very knowledgeable and familiar with it, have looked that exact journey up recently (the RG does change frequently), or alternatively they're just blagging it, trying to fob you off! More than likely the latter, as the general public would usually be easily fobbed off, not having a clue about the RG. It's quite scandalous really. That's why it's so important to
know your rights. If you do not know your rights,
some staff will fob you off, lie to you and erode your rights.
Don't let them!
I got confused with the Leeds - Morecambe ( ex York - Blackpool North) via Blackburn and Burnley MR ( stopping at both stations) before continuing onto to Preston where you changed for Lancaster for the Morecambe connection. The direct train takes an alternative route stopping at neither Blackburn / Burnley..