Chathill - Barnhill single

[adrock1976]

I have checked online on both Southern and VTEC websites as a dry run for the second half of August (selecting a weekday at the beginning part of August), and by inputting in the origin and destination normally, this displays both the southbound departures from Chathill, with a change at Alnmouth for Alnwick.

When I've inputted "Morpeth" in the via option so as to avoid the evening XC and force me on the VTEC (2000 departure from MPT), the 1911 from CHT disappears, however, the morning departure remains for some strange reason. Also, the 1911 from CHT arrives at MPT at 1947, giving a 13 minute interchange, which I view as reasonable.

Furthermore, I also tried this as a dry run online earlier on in the year, and by stating "Morpeth" in the via field, it displayed the both the morning and the 1911 departures from CHT.

Does anybody know what has caused the 1911 to disappear off the system recently, and how I could force it to show the 1911 departure changing at MPT on to the 2000 Edinburgh service?

In peace

Adam

 

[yorkie]

I think Atos are so busy trying to close down 'loopholes' that they end up invalidating perfectly good itineraries at times.

Just use trainsplit.com

 

[adrock1976]

I think Atos are so busy trying to close down 'loopholes' that they end up invalidating perfectly good itineraries at times.

Just use trainsplit.com

Many thanks. I will try trainsplit nearer the time.

By the way, I've had a look at the easement text on the ATOC website. I've copied below the relevant easements relating to travelling north of Chathill.

000065 Local
Journeys from Chathill, Alnmouth, Acklington, Widdrington, Pegswood, Morpeth,
Cramlington and Manors to Berwick-upon-Tweed and stations in Scotland may double
back from Newcastle on tickets routed "Any Permitted". This easement applies in both
directions.

I don't think this one works anymore, as when I've inputted "Newcastle" in the via field, it returns no results at all.

700123 Circuitous route
Customers travelling from Chathill, Alnmouth, Acklington, Widdrington, Pegswood,
Morpeth and Cramlington to Berwick Upon Tweed and beyond, and in possession of
tickets routed 'DIRECT' may not travel via Newcastle. This easement applies in both
directions.

700216 Circuitous route
Customers travelling from Chathill to or via Berwick Upon Tweed in possession of
tickets routed DIRECT or ANY PERMITTED may not travel via Morpeth. This easement
applies in both directions.

I'm wondering if it is this easement that may be causing the 1911 from Chathill to disappear off the system. There again, it does not really explain how the morning departure still remains. Very puzzling indeed.

In peace

Adam

 

[adrock1976]

I have had a response from VTEC customer service today, which is copied and pasted below.

Dear Mr



Thank you for your correspondence received on 29 May 2015 regarding your journey from Chathill to Barnhill via Morpeth on 18 August.



Regarding the service your enquiry is about, it is a Great Northern managed service. I have look further in to the matter and I have found that Great Northern hasn’t release tickets or any explanation regarding the first leg of your desired journey from Chathill to Morpeth 18 august at 19:10. I can only assume that Network Rail has engineering works around that area.

Over the next 5 years, Network Rail is investing over a billion pounds in the North West of England to deliver improved rail services; speeding up journeys, creating new rail links and improving stations. As part of this investment Network Rail is electrifying one of the busiest routes in the area, the line between Manchester and Preston via Bolton. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused. I have forward your correspondence to their Customer Relation Department. I have attached their main contact details below if you wish to contact them:

03332220125

FREEPOST RLSL-ABEC-BGUU

Northern Rail

Leeds
LS1 4DY



Thank you again for contacting us, I’m sure the team at Northern will be in touch shortly.



Yours sincerely



Customer Relations Advisor

Virgin Trains East Coast

A Great Northern managed service? Have I missed something that the five PTE areas in the North of England desire to run future services on the Great Northern Railway from London Kings Cross to Doncaster and Leeds?

Regarding engineering works, I have not stumbled across any plans for the Chathill or North Eastern Railway metals on 18th August. Furthermore, I am puzzled regarding the paragraph mentioning the North West Electrification, as it is nowhere near the route of my intended journey. Perhaps Northern Rail may be taking me on a magical mystery tour that day?

I will wait and see what response I get from Northern Rail.

In peace

Adam

 

[SickyNicky]

Perhaps Northern Rail may be taking me on a magical mystery tour that day?

It has been known...

 

[yorkie]

East Coast customer service staff are based in Plymouth, and have no real knowledge. Therefore, it would surprise me if they gave you an accurate answer.

I am not in the slightest bit surprised that the poor quality of answer, which is considered quite acceptable in the rail industry.

 

[Tommy1581]

I have had a response from VTEC customer service today, which is copied and pasted below.

Regarding engineering works, I have not stumbled across any plans for the Chathill or North Eastern Railway metals on 18th August. Furthermore, I am puzzled regarding the paragraph mentioning the North West Electrification, as it is nowhere near the route of my intended journey. Perhaps Northern Rail may be taking me on a magical mystery tour that day?

I've just had a flick through the ops timetable for the list of engineering works on the ECML, and there is no works until November/December.

Also, I'll certainly be on the Chathill-Manchester service sometime soon , only if it's Sprinter operated

 

[adrock1976]

I received an email from Northern Rail CS department, confirming the suspicions I had as who the fare setter is for the CHT - BNL flow, highlighted in bold.

Dear Mr

Your e-mail to Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC)was sent to Great Northern in error and they have forwarded to Northern Rail.

However, VTEC are the flow owner of these tickets and therefore, I have referred the query back to them so they can respond to you directly.

Your Question: Chathill (CHT) - Barnhill (BNL) First Class single for Tuesday 18th August I have checked online on the VTEC website as a dry run for the second half of August (selecting a weekday at the beginning part of August), and by inputting in the origin and destination normally, this displays both the southbound departures from Chathill, with a change at Alnmouth for Alnwick. When I've inputted "Morpeth" (MPT) in the via option so as to avoid the evening XC and force me on the VTEC (2000 departure from MPT), the 1911 from CHT disappears, however, the morning departure remains for some strange reason. Also, the 1911 from CHT arrives at MPT at 1947, giving a 13 minute interchange, which I view as reasonable. Furthermore, I also tried this as a dry run online earlier on in the year (around March/April), and by stating "Morpeth" in the via field, it displayed the both the morning and the 1911 departures from CHT. Does anybody know what has caused the 1911 departure from CHT to disappear off the system recently, and how I could force it to show the 1911 departure changing at MPT on to the 2000 Edinburgh service? Yours faithfully adrock1976â€
Yours sincerely






Customer Relations Officer

It seems to be a very poor game of Pass the Parcel

In peace

Adam

 

[yorkie]

I am not surprised Northern passed it back to VTEC.

(My only mild surprise is that they did send it to Northern, and not Great Northern!)

I guess the metaphorical 'parcel' is in Plymouth. The only chance of success is if it's passed onto the head office in York.

Let us know what they say.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....(My only mild surprise is that they did send it to Northern, and not Great Northern!)....

You sure about that?.........

...Your e-mail to Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC)was sent to Great Northern in error and they have forwarded to Northern Rail....

 

[RJ]

Why are TOC customer service departments so reluctant to refer fare queries to their colleagues in the fare management department? If they know they don't know what they're talking about, you'd think they'd have the sense to defer to someone who does?

 

[yorkie]

You sure about that?.........

I must admit I skipped that first sentence.

That's unbelievable. Even by Plymouth standards!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Why are TOC customer service departments so reluctant to refer fare queries to their colleagues in the fare management department? If they know they don't know what they're talking about, you'd think they'd have the sense to defer to someone who does?

I'm not sure, but I have a chuckle when I see people on here say something like 'why post on this forum? Just contact the TOC' as you have a lot more chance of an issue being read by pricing managers on this forum, than by writing to the TOC, in certain cases

 

[clagmonster]

Just looking at the easements for a minute.
000065 can surely never apply, as 700216 prohibits travel via Morpeth, which would be required to double back via Newcastle.
I also notice 700216 only prevents travel via Morpeth on tickets routed 'any permitted' or 'direct'. However, why would doubling back be allowed on any other tickets? Its not within 3 miles of the shortest route and there is no easement to permit it. Am I missing something?