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Swindon-Cholsey via Reading?

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GWRjake

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Would this be a valid route, or can one only change at Didcot Parkway? NRE is suggesting that it is but I want to be sure. Thanks in advance! :)
 
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LexyBoy

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Yes, it is permitted by easement 700137.

Bizarrely, Swindon-Tilehurst does not benefit from such an easement, despite this being much less of a detour and the journey often being quicker via Reading, whereas Swindon-Cholsey rarely if ever is.
 

Paul Kelly

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Bizarrely, Swindon-Tilehurst does not benefit from such an easement, despite this being much less of a detour and the journey often being quicker via Reading, whereas Swindon-Cholsey rarely if ever is.
I don't think an easement is needed for Tilehurst, as Reading passes the fares check as a destination routeing point for a Swindon to Tilehurst journey, and there is no issue with doubling back from Reading to Tilehurst because it's not part of the main mapped segment of the journey. Of course it's possible that there could be other destinations beyond Swindon for which Reading doesn't pass the fares check - maybe quite unlikely though as Tilehurst and Reading are usually clustered together for long distance fares.
 

GWRjake

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Thanks then guys. Whilst the journey will indeed take me longer the timings that way are more convenient for me, hence the query.
 

LexyBoy

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I don't think an easement is needed for Tilehurst, as Reading passes the fares check as a destination routeing point for a Swindon to Tilehurst journey, and there is no issue with doubling back from Reading to Tilehurst because it's not part of the main mapped segment of the journey. Of course it's possible that there could be other destinations beyond Swindon for which Reading doesn't pass the fares check - maybe quite unlikely though as Tilehurst and Reading are usually clustered together for long distance fares.

Double back applies to the whole journey doesn't it, not just the leg between routeing points? From page F4:
Any routeing point can be used, provided it does not:
[...]
- make the journey double back through the origin or destination station unless the fare permits (for example Ealing Broadway to Swindon via London).

On the other hand, NRE is allowing it though, which I don't think it used to.

Thanks then guys. Whilst the journey will indeed take me longer the timings that way are more convenient for me, hence the query.

No problem. As you might imagine, a lot of journeys using this ticket involve starting/stopping short...
 

Paul Kelly

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Double back applies to the whole journey doesn't it, not just the leg between routeing points? From page F4:


On the other hand, NRE is allowing it though, which I don't think it used to.
Routeing Guide in Detail said:
Any routeing point can be used, provided it does not:
[...]
- make the journey double back through the origin or destination station unless the fare permits (for example Ealing Broadway to Swindon via London).

That does certainly seem to preclude it. But on the other hand Section A says:
Routeing Guide Instructions said:
STEP 5
Permitted routes
[...]
If one station is a routeing point and the other one is a related station, the permitted route is the shortest route to the routeing point plus the permitted routes between routeing points.

If both are related stations, use the shortest distance to the first routeing point, followed by the permitted routes between the routeing points, then finally the shortest route from the final routeing point.

Where there are local journey easements, these may permit use of a longer route to and from the routeing points.

STEP 7
Identify the route to which the code(s) refers using the maps

Each code refers to a map. If a single code is indicated the route is via any route on that map from the first routeing point to the final routeing point without doubling back (passing through the same station twice on a single journey).

Where a routeing specifies that a combination of Maps be used e.g) ER+PN+BD, the route is via any route on that map from the first routeing point to intercept point(s) for the next map without doubling back, then via any route within that map without doubling back. This is repeated until the final map is reached then via any route within that map until the final
routeing point is reached.

This seems to suggest that the doubleback rule only applies to the mapped route and is independent of the route taken to and from the origin/destination routeing point. This is what the instructions on interpreting the routeing guide that are supplied to booking engine providers say, and is also consistent with historic reasonable route principles where a short doubleback to a major station was allowed at the start of a long journey provided the fares from the origin station and major station were the same (modern translation: the routeing point passes the fares check!).

I've been won over to this interpretation now, but I used to think that the whole journey counted for double back purposes...
 

LexyBoy

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The NRG being unclear and contradictory? Shurely shome mishtake!

Thanks for that, it is certainly a good argument. Personally I wouldn't want to argue the toss should there be nothing else to indicate a route is valid, but I agree with the reasoning.
 

button_boxer

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But then the definition of doubling back in that paragraph is with respect to the journey, not with respect to any particular leg of it.

Each code refers to a map. If a single code is indicated the route is via any route on that map from the first routeing point to the final routeing point without doubling back (passing through the same station twice on a single journey).
 

bnm

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Ahh, Cholsey.

One of my favourite ticketed destinations. Must visit it someday. :p
 
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