National Routeing Guide update

[Haywain]

That's not correct.

You might think that but I don't have so much faith in the DfT.

 

[Watershed]

The DfT probably told SWR to sort out the problem, which they appear to have done. Don't be surprised that the DfT don't necessarily have the expertise to give clearer instructions.

Indeed. They've "fixed" it by making it invalid at all times.

Be careful what you wish for!

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Indeed. They've "fixed" it by making it invalid at all times.

Be careful what you wish for!

Will be restored after Christmas and New Year, I'm fairly confident!

 

[kieron]

It’s also odd that it only became available in recent memory, I’m fairly sure that long list that was online, that aimed to show all the relevant London Teminals for individual stations didn’t include Portsmouth Stations to Paddington.

Yes, the route code was added just over 4 years ago "to provide permissions into London Paddington".

 

[swt_passenger]

Yes, the route code was added just over 4 years ago "to provide permissions into London Paddington".

Thanks for finding that out, makes you wonder if the people at the TOCs ever check the history…

 

[infobleep]

Thanks for finding that out, makes you wonder if the people at the TOCs ever check the history…

If it is something they didn't want, one would then question why was it added?

 

[Iggy12a]

​

Permitted Route changes:​

London Group (G01) to Portsmouth Group (G23) lose BL+BB​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Reading.

​

Playing with the National Rail app, I asked for a journey this coming Monday, from Fareham to Paddington via Reading, going out off peak, and then coming back after 19:00 the following day. It finds an off peak fare of £45.60 with a restriction code of US.
Given Fareham is only associated with the Portsmouth group, why is this route found to be valid?

 

[kieron]

The National Rail app may have identified the route you found as being the shortest route from London Paddington to Fareham, or as something fairly close to it.

Their web site says the same, but it gives a different result if you ask to (say) go from London to Woolston via Reading but not Southampton Airport*, which is about 15 miles longer than the shortest route even if you avoid Salisbury.

* You may need to delete any nationalrail.co.uk cookies you have for this link to open correctly.

 

[Haywain]

The National Rail app may have identified the route you found as being the shortest route from London Paddington to Fareham, or as something fairly close to it.

Their web site says the same, but it gives a different result if you ask to (say) go from London to Woolston via Reading but not Southampton Airport*, which is about 15 miles longer than the shortest route even if you avoid Salisbury.

* You may need to delete any nationalrail.co.uk cookies you have for this link to open correctly.

Or the underlying booking engine may not have taken the update yet.

 

[kieron]

No; NRE is pretty consistent at updating things overnight. If it considered it to be a mapped route now, it would allow it for journeys to other stations associated with Portsmouth Group, rather than just Fareham and Swanwick.

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The following post was made on 23 Dec 2021. Sadly, Xenforo does not preserve this information.

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Some more changes were made to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 15 Dec 2021 (368) to 22 Dec 2021 (369).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

​

700978 (Map) During engineering diversions via Newport (South Wales) between 27 and 31 December 2021, and Sundays 09 - 30 January 2022,this map easement will help certain journey planners find itineraries for journeys that include travel via Gloucester, Newport (South Wales) and Bristol Parkway. It applies in both directions​

This is a "map" version of easement 700976, needed because Newport (in particular) isn't listed on most of the maps used for affected journeys. It means that nre.co.uk now shows a Derby-Exeter Central journey as being valid on a diverted train.

Station link changes:​

Newport (South Wales) (NWP)-Pye Corner (PYE) from 4.26 to 2.90.​

Pye Corner (PYE)-Rogerstone (ROR) from 1.50 to 1.46.​

This is a large change for Newport-Pye Corner, but the new figure seems accurate. I wonder if they had previously assumed passenger trains diddn't use the line through Gaer Tunnel?

With regard to routeing, this change means nre.co.uk now shows a Crosskeys-Cardiff ticket as being valid via Newport.

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published in the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 22 Dec 2021 (369) to 26 Jan 2022 (370).

Station Association changes:

Portway Parkway (PRI) is now associated with Bristol Group (G05).
Reading Green Park (RGP) is now associated with Basingstoke (BSK) and Reading Group (G24).
Reston (RSN) is now associated with Edinburgh Group (G11) and Newcastle (NCL).

Non-NFM64 station changes:

Reston (RSN) now uses NFM64 fares for Berwick-Upon-Tweed (BWK) (25/01/2022-)
Reading Green Park (RGP) now uses NFM64 fares for Reading West (RDW) (01/04/2022-)
Portway Parkway (PRI) now uses NFM64 fares for Shirehampton (SHH) (01/03/2022-)​

These stations aren't open yet, so this associates them with routeing points, and gives them the fares from an adjacent station.

Reading West is part of Reading group, so the change means that Reading group will be a valid routeing point for tickets between Reading Green Park and most other stations. This excludes stations associated with Basingstoke or Reading, where different rules apply, and possibly the few stations which don't have NFM64 fares to Reading West.

Easement changes:

Removed:
700965 (Map) During engineering works closing the line between Sheffield and Manchester on Saturday 08 January 2022, and Sundays 09 - 23 January 2022, Trans Pennine Express services will be diverted via Swinton, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Stalybridge and Guide Bridge. This map easement will provide temporary permitted routes for journeys between or via Sheffield and Manchester that travel via Moorthorpe and Guide Bridge.

700966 (Doubleback) During engineering works closing the line between Sheffield and Manchester on Saturday 08 January 2022, and Sundays 09 - 23 January 2022, Trans Pennine Express services will be diverted via Swinton, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Stalybridge and Guide Bridge. This doubleback easement will allow doubling back through Swinton for journeys between or via Sheffield and Manchester that travel via Moorthorpe and Guide Bridge.

700967 (Map) During the Trans Pennine Express Club 55 promotion that will operate until 11 January 2022, customers with Club 55 FIRST and CLUB 55 STD tickets will be able to use the products for journeys via Manchester that normally are not permitted. For example York to Carlisle.

700977 (Map) During engineering works on the 27 and 28 December 2021, customers travelling via the West London Line or starting from stations between Clapham Junction and Surbiton, travelling to destinations beyond Brockenhurst to Weymouth may travel via Effingham Junction and Havant. This map easement applies in both directions.​

These are temporary easements, and the dates have all passed.

Station link changes:
Avonmouth (AVN) to Portway Parkway (PRI) now has a distance of 0.84.
Portway Parkway (PRI) to Shirehampton (SHH) now has a distance of 0.56.

Berwick-Upon-Tweed (BWK) to Dunbar (DUN) has changed from 28.45 to 28.40.
Berwick-Upon-Tweed (BWK) to Reston (RSN) now has a distance of 11.03.
Dunbar (DUN) to Reston (RSN) now has a distance of 17.37.

Mortimer (MOR) to Reading Green Park (RGP) now has a distance of 4.24.
Reading Green Park (RGP) to Reading West (RDW) now has a distance of 1.91.​

These add Portway Parkway, Reading Green Park and Reston to the distance table web sites use, but retains the links between the stations on either side.

28.40 miles for Berwick-Dunbar matches the sectional appendix (route SC147). The timetable files gives a distance of 28.25 miles.

Leominster (LEO)-Ludlow (LUD) has changed from 12.59 to 10.92.​

This now matches the sectional appendix (route GW730).

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The following post was made on 31 Jan 2022. Sadly, Xenforo does not preserve this information.

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Some changes were published in the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 26 Jan 2022 (370) to 31 Jan 2022 (371).

Easement changes:

Removed:

700971 (Map) During weekend engineering works 8th/9th, 15th/16th, 22nd/23rd, 29th/30th January 2022 when the route between Didcot and Swindon is blocked. Customers from/via Didcot may travel via Reading and Pewsey to reach Bath Spa and beyond to Bristol and South Wales. This map easement will apply in both directions

700974 (Fare route) During engineering work disruption on the weekends of the 8/9, 15/16, 22/23 and 29/30 January 2022. Fares priced on routes (00810) NOT VIA READING and (00847 VIA SWINDON from or via Didcot Parkway to Bristol and beyond are valid via Reading. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700976 (Doubleback) During engineering work diversions between 27 and 31 December 2021 and Sundays 09 and 30 January 2022 Cross Country services will travel via Newport (South Wales) passing Severn Tunnel Junction twice. This doubleback easement will permit the doubleback and operate in both directions.

700978 (Map) During engineering diversions via Newport (South Wales) between 27 and 31 December 2021, and Sundays 09 - 30 January 2022,this map easement will help certain journey planners find itineraries for journeys that include travel via Gloucester, Newport (South Wales) and Bristol Parkway. It applies in both directions​

These all only had an effect until yesterday.

Location changes:

Gain: nlc=0471 crs=PIA uic=70 county=00 (19/01/2022-)​

This adds Pill (between Bristol and Portishead) to one of the tables it will need to be in before they can sell tickets there.

 

[kieron]

Some more easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 31 Jan 2022 (371) to 03 Feb 2022 (372).

Easement changes:

Added:
700976 (Local) Customers travelling from Pilning to Gloucester may travel via Severn Tunnel Junction. This positive Local easement will apply in both directions
contain GCR, do not go from to or via CDU CNM CWM NWP PWY SHU, go from PIL & go via CDT CPW LYD STJ
contain GCR, do not go from to or via CDU CNM CWM NWP PWY SHU, go to PIL & go via CDT CPW LYD STJ

Stations:
Caldicot (CDT)
Cam & Dursley (CDU)
Cheltenham Spa (CNM)
Chepstow (CPW)
Cwmbran (CWM)
Gloucester (GCR)
Lydney (LYD)
Newport (South Wales) (NWP)
Pilning (PIL)
Patchway (PWY)
Stonehouse (SHU)
Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ)​

Pilning is served by two trains a week, both of which stop at Severn Tunnel Junction before it, and Patchway after. The text version of this easement covers journeys from Pilning. The version web sites use does not, as it excludes any journey via Patchway.

Both versions cover journeys to Pilning via the shortest route. nre.co.uk (for one) did not previously show it as a valid route, and still doesn't for (say) a Cheltenham-Pilning journey.

700977 (Local) Customers travelling from Gloucester to Yate may do so via Cheltenham Spa. This positive Local easement will apply in both directions.
contain GCR, do not go from to or via ASC BPW LYD PSH SHU, go to YAE & go via CDU CNM
contain GCR, do not go from to or via ASC BPW LYD PSH SHU, go from YAE & go via CDU CNM

Stations:
Ashchurch (ASC)
Bristol Parkway (BPW)
Cam & Dursley (CDU)
Cheltenham Spa (CNM)
Gloucester (GCR)
Lydney (LYD)
Pershore (PSH)
Stonehouse (SHU)
Yate (YAE)​

I'm not exactly sure why this easement was created, but it hasn't affected a search I did on nre.co.uk. I wonder if it needs to specifically allow the double back through Gloucester.

 

[adrock1976]

Some more easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 31 Jan 2022 (371) to 03 Feb 2022 (372).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

700976 (Local) Customers travelling from Pilning to Gloucester may travel via Severn Tunnel Junction. This positive Local easement will apply in both directions​

contain GCR, do not go from to or via CDU CNM CWM NWP PWY SHU, go from PIL & go via CDT CPW LYD STJ ​

contain GCR, do not go from to or via CDU CNM CWM NWP PWY SHU, go to PIL & go via CDT CPW LYD STJ​

​

Stations:​

Caldicot (CDT)​

Cam & Dursley (CDU)​

Cheltenham Spa (CNM)​

Chepstow (CPW)​

Cwmbran (CWM)​

Gloucester (GCR)​

Lydney (LYD)​

Newport (South Wales) (NWP)​

Pilning (PIL)​

Patchway (PWY)​

Stonehouse (SHU)​

Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ)​

Pilning is served by two trains a week, both of which stop at Severn Tunnel Junction before it, and Patchway after. The text version of this easement covers journeys from Pilning. The version web sites use does not, as it excludes any journey via Patchway.

Both versions cover journeys to Pilning via the shortest route. nre.co.uk (for one) did not previously show it as a valid route, and still doesn't for (say) a Cheltenham-Pilning journey.

700977 (Local) Customers travelling from Gloucester to Yate may do so via Cheltenham Spa. This positive Local easement will apply in both directions.​

contain GCR, do not go from to or via ASC BPW LYD PSH SHU, go to YAE & go via CDU CNM ​

contain GCR, do not go from to or via ASC BPW LYD PSH SHU, go from YAE & go via CDU CNM ​

​

Stations:​

Ashchurch (ASC)​

Bristol Parkway (BPW)​

Cam & Dursley (CDU)​

Cheltenham Spa (CNM)​

Gloucester (GCR)​

Lydney (LYD)​

Pershore (PSH)​

Stonehouse (SHU)​

Yate (YAE)​

I'm not exactly sure why this easement was created, but it hasn't affected a search I did on nre.co.uk. I wonder if it needs to specifically allow the double back through Gloucester.

Regarding Gloucester - Yate, being as most trains from Cheltenham to Bristol that calls at Yate reverses at Gloucester, I am unsure if it is Horton Road Junction that was causing the problems as it passes through there twice?

 

[kieron]

Some temporary easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 03 Feb 2022 (372) to 16 Feb 2022 (373).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

700978 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 12 and 13 March 2022, 19 and 20 March 2022, tickets priced on routes (00494) AP NEWBURY and (00630) VIA NEWBURY, will be valid for travel via Melksham and Swindon , but not via Castle Cary, Salisbury or Bath Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

The line between Newbury and Westbury is closed then, so this is intended to relieves some of the demand for rail replacement buses.

The data for this easement is a little different, though. It refers to Swale (SWL) rather than Swindon (SWI), and to route "(00630) via Beckenham Junction" rather than "(00063) via Newbury". This means that nre.co.uk (as an example) is not affected by it.

700979 (Fare route) During engineering works from 15 to 19 April 2022 and Sunday 24 April , tickets on routes (00433) AP EVESHAM, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM from Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway and to destinations beyond will be valid for travel via Stroud or Cam & Dursley. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

There are no trains between Worcester and Moreton-in-Marsh over the Easter weekend.

This easement doesn't affect railcard discounts. In particular, a discounted Network Railcard or Gold Card is valid on the rail replacement bus, but not on any of the diversions.

700980 (Fare route) During engineering works with Rail Replacement services operating between Banbury and Didcot Parkway on Sundays 03, 10 and 24 April 2022. Tickets priced on routes (00405) AP Oxford, (00617) GUILDFORD OXFORD and (00825 VIA OXFORD, will be valid on Rail Replacement Bus services that do not call at Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

There are some buses scheduled to go non-stop between Banbury and Didcot, so this enables some tickets to be used on them. It doesn't affect "via Stafford & Oxford" tickets.

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New post

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Regarding Gloucester - Yate, being as most trains from Cheltenham to Bristol that calls at Yate reverses at Gloucester, I am unsure if it is Horton Road Junction that was causing the problems as it passes through there twice?

According to the timetable I checked, every passenger train which calls at Yate also calls as Gloucester. There could have been changes, though. Do you know if any trains called at Cheltenham and Yate but not Gloucester?

 

[ABB125]

According to the timetable I checked, every passenger train which calls at Yate also calls as Gloucester. There could have been changes, though. Do you know if any trains called at Cheltenham and Yate but not Gloucester?

The only trains which call at Yate are (unless it's changed recently) the hourly (various-)Bristol-Gloucester(-Worcester every two hours) services operated by GWR. Any which call at Cheltenham also call at Gloucester.

 

[embers25]

Some temporary easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 03 Feb 2022 (372) to 16 Feb 2022 (373).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

700978 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 12 and 13 March 2022, 19 and 20 March 2022, tickets priced on routes (00494) AP NEWBURY and (00630) VIA NEWBURY, will be valid for travel via Melksham and Swindon , but not via Castle Cary, Salisbury or Bath Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

The line between Newbury and Westbury is closed then, so this is intended to relieves some of the demand for rail replacement buses.

The data for this easement is a little different, though. It refers to Swale (SWL) rather than Swindon (SWI), and to route "(00630) via Beckenham Junction" rather than "(00063) via Newbury". This means that nre.co.uk (as an example) is not affected by it.

700979 (Fare route) During engineering works from 15 to 19 April 2022 and Sunday 24 April , tickets on routes (00433) AP EVESHAM, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM from Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway and to destinations beyond will be valid for travel via Stroud or Cam & Dursley. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

There are no trains between Worcester and Moreton-in-Marsh over the Easter weekend.

This easement doesn't affect railcard discounts. In particular, a discounted Network Railcard or Gold Card is valid on the rail replacement bus, but not on any of the diversions.

700980 (Fare route) During engineering works with Rail Replacement services operating between Banbury and Didcot Parkway on Sundays 03, 10 and 24 April 2022. Tickets priced on routes (00405) AP Oxford, (00617) GUILDFORD OXFORD and (00825 VIA OXFORD, will be valid on Rail Replacement Bus services that do not call at Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

There are some buses scheduled to go non-stop between Banbury and Didcot, so this enables some tickets to be used on them. It doesn't affect "via Stafford & Oxford" tickets.

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New post

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According to the timetable I checked, every passenger train which calls at Yate also calls as Gloucester. There could have been changes, though. Do you know if any trains called at Cheltenham and Yate but not Gloucester?

If Newbury-Westbury is closed a train from Exeter would go via Castle Cary en route to Westbury and Melksham so not sure how an Exeter route AP Newbuty ticket will be valid via Castle Cary (there must be some) as surely they are not forcing people to go via Bristol?

 

[kieron]

Some easements were changed in the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 16 Feb 2022 (373) to 18 Feb 2022 (374).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):​

700331 (Doubleback) Customers travelling from or via Cheltenham Spa to Barnt Green, Alvechurch or Redditch may double back via University (Birmingham). This doubleback easement applies in both directions.​

700444 (Doubleback) Customers travelling from or via Bromsgrove to Alvechurch and Redditch in posession of tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00171) VIA CHELTENHAM, (00439) XC & CONNECTIONS, (00817) VIA BRISTOL may double back between Barnt Green and Birmingham New Street. This easement applies in both directions.​

The route for Redditch-Gloucester tickets changed from "any permitted" to "via Cheltenham" in 2019, so this easement now covers them again.

The easement itself exists to accommodate the fact that Barnt Green only has 1 southbound train an hour, and that only goes as far as Bromsgrove. Tickets to Bromsgrove itself all have a route of "not via University or Birmingham", so aren't affected by it.

The data for the easement covers (00479) AP TFW LM + CONN tickets, although the text doesn't mention it.

700978 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 12 and 13 March 2022, 19 and 20 March 2022, tickets priced on routes (00494) AP NEWBURY and (00630) (00063) VIA NEWBURY, will be valid for travel via Melksham and Swindon , but not via Castle Cary, Salisbury or Bath Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

This corrects a route code, and a location in the data.

700979 (Fare route) During engineering works from 15 to 19 18 April 2022 and Sunday 24 April , tickets on routes (00433) AP EVESHAM, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM from Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway and to destinations beyond will be valid for travel via Stroud or Cam & Dursley. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

This no longer covers the Tuesday after Easter. The amended timetable is scheduled to have finished then.

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New post

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If Newbury-Westbury is closed a train from Exeter would go via Castle Cary en route to Westbury and Melksham so not sure how an Exeter route AP Newbuty ticket will be valid via Castle Cary (there must be some) as surely they are not forcing people to go via Bristol?

(00494) AP Newbury is only used for trains to/from a few stations around Westbury, with none west of Bruton. Exeter-Reading advance tickets use other route codes such as (00414) AP Swindon/Newbury.

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The following post was made of 24 February 2022.

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A couple of changes were made to the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 18 Feb 2022 (374) to 24 Feb 2022 (375).​

​

Permitted Route changes:​

​

Ramsgate Group (G68) to Sevenoaks (SEV) gain KA+RA​

Ramsgate Group (G68) to Tonbridge (TON) gain KA+RA​

These journeys now have mapped routes via Dover.

 

[kieron]

A few easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 24 Feb 2022 (375) to 25 Feb 2022 (376).

Easement changes:

Added:

700981 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to or via London Marylebone may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This routeing point easement applies in both directions.

700982 (Fare route) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to or via London Marylebone on tickets priced on (00264) VIA CHALFONT & LATIMER may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

700983 (Local) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to London Marylebone may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This local easement applies in both directions.​

The "via Chalfond & Latimer" route is used for tickets between stations north of Amersham on the line to Aylesbury on the one hand, and London, Ealing Broadway, Heathrow, Stratford International and various zonal locations on the other.

These easements permit you to travel via High Wycombe using tickets to the stations between Amersham and Aylesbury. They don't cover Aylesbury or Aylesbury Vale Parkway, but there are usually other suitable tickets from those stations.

One oddity is that the easements above (taken from data.atoc.org) has no date restrictions, but they are restricted to Tuesday and Thursday of this week in the data web sites use for them. This means that you can go via High Wycombe with a "via Chalfont & Latimer" ticket on Wednesday, say, but you shouldn't expect to be offered an itinerary for it.

 

[MikeWh]

but they are restricted to Tuesday and Thursday of this week in the data web sites use for them.

That'll be connected with the tube strikes which may knock out the direct route via Harrow-on-the-Hill.

 

[CyrusWuff]

That'll be connected with the tube strikes which may knock out the direct route via Harrow-on-the-Hill.

No "may" about it. Chiltern are only going to be running Great Missenden - Aylesbury Vale Parkway (and a handful of Great Missenden - Aylesbury - Princes Risborough) shuttles on the Met, and not serving South Ruislip, on the 1st and 3rd.

 

[kieron]

Some easements were removed from the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 25 Feb 2022 (376) to 03 Mar 2022 (377).

Easement changes:

Removed:

700981 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to or via London Marylebone may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This routeing point easement applies in both directions.

700982 (Fare route) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to or via London Marylebone on tickets priced on (00264) VIA CHALFONT & LATIMER may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

700983 (Local) Customers travelling from Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville to London Marylebone may travel via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. This local easement applies in both directions.​

This deletes Chiltern's temporary easements for this week.

The planners on Industry web sites and the like are updated overnight, so they'll still include the easements for the rest of today.

 

[kieron]

Some easements for next month were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday. Sorry for the delay in reporting these.

Changes from 03 Mar 2022 (377) to 09 Mar 2022 (378).

Easement changes:​

There are engineering works over the Easter weekend (15-18 April) which affect the West Coast Mainline south of Milton Keynes, and its Bedford and St Albans branches.

Only some of the buses have been added to the schedule at the moment, so I don't know how well these easements will work once everything has been arranged. For example, there are no trains from Tring on the Friday, but the first bus of the day leaves at 22:20.

Added:
700981 (Map) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. This map easement will allow journey planners to show itineraries using rail replacement services and onward train journeys from Kettering and Bedford to London St Pancras International. It will apply in both directions.​

This creates two extra map links. One includes the routeing points between Bedford and London St Pancras, as well as Milton Keynes (but not Bletchley). The other includes everything between Kettering and London, as well as Rugby. It doesn't include Leicester, so doesn't permit travel by train alone.

700982 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. Customers with tickets priced on (00452) AWC & CONNECTIONS and (00403) AP CARLISLE travelling to or via London Euston may travel via Bedford. This fare route easement applies in both directions​

The "AP Carlisle" route is unused, but the "AWC & Connections" one is a common Avanti route for advance tickets. The nre.co.uk Booking Horizons page states that Avanti's "Reservations are closed on 15-18 April and 2 May", so it may never be possible to buy an advance ticket with this route on these dates.

An easement would be needed if it is, though, as web sites ordinarily bar any journey via Bedford for "AWC & Connections" tickets.

700983 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. Customers travelling to or via London Euston with tickets priced on routes (00043) AVANTI TRAINS ONLY, (00060) AVANTI & TPE ONLY and (00117) AVANTI & NTH ONLY may travel on connecting rail services to London St Pancras from Kettering or Bedford operated by East Midlands Railway and Thameslink Railway. This Fare Route easement applies in both directions.​

This easement allows use of EMR and Thameslink trains, but not of LNR ones between Bletchley and Bedford.

For what it's worth, "Avanti Trains only" is used for a few flexible fares such as Milton Keynes-London and Edinburgh-London. "Avanti & TPE only" is used for some London-Yorkshire advance fares, which may be "closed" as mentioned above. "Avanti & Northern only" ticket are used for Manchester-Edinburgh journeys, so don't benefit from this easement.

 

[kieron]

Some changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 09 Mar 2022 (378) to 23 Mar 2022 (379).

Permitted Route changes:
Birmingham Group (G02) to Halifax Group (G39) gain BM+GM​

This journey now has mapped routes via Warrington (either via Birchwood or Newton-le-Willows).

Doncaster (DON) to Troon Group (G81) gain EC+YG+AG​

This journey now has mapped routes:
via Leeds and Edinburgh; and
ones via Shotts which don't go through Lockerbie.

Easement changes:

Added:

700984 (Circuitous Route) To overcome some journey planners mis-reporting permitted routes, this circuitous route easement will prevent journeys from Weybridge and Byfleet & New Haw to or via Surbiton showing valid via Woking. The easement applies in both directions​

This means that you can't travel via both Woking and Surbiton, so that (for example) a Byfleet & New Haw-London return no longer permits you to change to a faster train in Woking.

 

[kieron]

Some changes to easements in the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 23 Mar 2022 (379) to 30 Mar 2022 (380).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

​

700985 (Fare route) During engineering work diversions on Saturday 30 April 2022 and Sunday 01 May 2022, tickets priced on fare route (00099) NOT VIA DARLINGTON, will be valid for travel on trains travelling via Darlington.​

The Redcar-Manchester trains are all scheduled to go through Darlington on that day, so this easement means a "not via Darlington" ticket can still be used. There's no rail replacement bus in the timetable for Yarm at the moment, so I don't know whether or not there will be any alternative to going through Doncaster on the day.

700986 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 16/17 and 23/24 July 2022 journeys from Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill to destinations beyond Swindon priced on routes (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00433) AP EVESHAM will be valid for travel via Stroud or CAM and Dursley. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

I don't know what disruption is expected then, so I don't know if it matters that this easement won't help someone with (say) a Bromsgrove-Oxford Parkway ticket.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):​

700981 (Map) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. This map easement will allow journey planners to show itineraries using rail replacement services and onward train journeys from Kettering and Bedford to London St Pancras International. And from Bedford between 30 April and 02 May 2022. It will apply in both directions.​

This change adds extra dates. The data for the new dates doesn't mention Kettering, but advance tickets are still available then using the Kettering-Rugby buses.

700982 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022, and the 30 April to 02 May 2022. Customers with tickets priced on (00452) AWC & CONNECTIONS and (00403) AP CARLISLE travelling to or via London Euston may travel via Bedford. This fare route easement applies in both directions​

This also has extra dates.

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The following post was made of 7 April 2022.

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Some changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 30 Mar 2022 (380) to 06 Apr 2022 (381).​

​

Station Association changes:​

Marsh Barton (MBT) is now associated with Exeter Group (G12).​

​

Non-NFM64 station changes:​

Marsh Barton (MBT) now uses NFM64 fares for Exeter St. Thomas (EXT) (06/04/2022-)​

​

Station link changes:​

Exeter St. Thomas (EXT) to Marsh Barton (MBT) now has a distance of 1.35.​

Exeter St. Thomas (EXT) to Starcross (SCS) no longer has a distance of 7.63.​

Marsh Barton (MBT) to Starcross (SCS) now has a distance of 6.28.​

This means that Exeter Group will always pass the fare check for journeys from or to Marsh Barton, and web sites can now calculate distances from it. The station isn't open yet, so there are no tickets to make use of this.

Permitted Route changes:​

Glasgow Group (G13) to Kirkcaldy Group (G51) gain GA+IP+IE​

This journey now has some mapped routes via Perth.

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

​

700987 (Routeing Point) To overcome NFM64 Fares Checking, this routeing point easement will allow journeys from Ashtead priced on (00700) NOT VIA LONDON to Plumpton, Cooksbridge, Lewes and via Lewes to be valid via Clapham Junction and Epsom. It will apply in both directions.​

This means that an Ashtead-Cooksbridge journey with a "not via London" ticket is valid with a single change at Clapham Junction. Because of the way the fare check works, an "any permitted" ticket was already valid on this route.

I notice that a Leatherhead-Cooksbridge journey is also valid via Clapham Junction, but (on nre.co.uk, at least) only if you go through Wimbledon, and not Sutton. The current timetable means that it's usually faster to use one route in one direction, and the other going the other way.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):​

​

030046 (Routeing Point) Journeys from Totnes, Paignton, Torquay, Torre, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, and Starcross and Marsh Barton to stations north of Tiverton Parkway may travel via Exeter St Davids. This easement applies in both directions.​

This adds Marsh Barton to the easement. This shouldn't be needed for any journeys, though.

700173 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling from or via Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, and Starcross and Marsh Barton to Exeter St Thomas may not travel via Exeter St David's. This easement applies until the 15 December 2019 and will operate in both directions.​

This adds Marsh Barton to the easement.

700732 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling to Teignmouth, Tiverton Parkway, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Starcross and Marsh Barton from Cheltenham Spa may travel via Taunton. This routeing point easement overrides fares checking and applies in both directions​

Oddly, the data for this easement already contained Tiverton Parkway, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Starcross. The text simply didn't mention this. Marsh Barton is new to both.

I'm still not sure what this easement is meant to do, though.

 

[kieron]

Some changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 06 Apr 2022 (381) to 13 Apr 2022 (382).

Easement changes:

Removed:

700978 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 12 and 13 March 2022, 19 and 20 March 2022, tickets priced on routes (00494) AP NEWBURY and (00063) VIA NEWBURY, will be valid for travel via Melksham and Swindon , but not via Castle Cary, Salisbury or Bath Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

The dates have passed.

The data for two easements has also changed.

Easement 700451 (SOUTHERN)
Customers travelling from, to or via Mitcham Junction to destinations beyond Balham in possession of tickets routed "Not via London" may double back between Balham, Wandsworth Common and Clapham Junction. This easement applies in both directions.
+ve double back easement (05/11/2013-)
contain BAL WSW, double back at CLJ, go from MIJ & go via CLJ with route SW RAILWAY ONLY (00442) SWR & CONNECTION (00444) NOT VIA LONDON (00700)
contain BAL WSW, double back at CLJ & go via CLJ MIJ with route SW RAILWAY ONLY (00442) SWR & CONNECTION (00444) NOT VIA LONDON (00700)
contain BAL SRC WSW, double back at CLJ, go to MIJ & go via CLJ with route SW RAILWAY ONLY (00442) SWR & CONNECTION (00444) NOT VIA LONDON (00700)

Balham (BAL)
Clapham Junction (CLJ)
Mitcham Junction (MIJ)
Streatham Common (SRC)
Wandsworth Common (WSW)​

I don't know what effect this change has. Unlike Balham, Wandsworth Common isn't a "mandatory timing point". This means that web sites would always allow you to double back through the station so long as at least one of the trains you catch passes through non-stop. It is consistent with the other rules now, though.

Easement 700885 (GWR)
From 15 December 2019 customers travelling from Lawrence Hill, Filton Abbeywood, Stapleton Road and via Stapleton Road to Bristol Parkway or via Bristol Parkway may doubleback at Bristol Temple Meads. This doubleback easement will apply in both directions.
+ve double back easement (15/12/2019-)
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go from FIT LWH SRD & go to BPW
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go from BPW & go to LWH SRD
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go from BPW, go to BPW & go via SRD
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go to BPW & go via SRD
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go from FIT LWH SRD & go via BPW
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI, go to FIT LWH SRD & go via BPW
contain FIT LWH SRD, double back at BRI & go via BPW SRD

Stations:
Bristol Parkway (BPW)
Bristol Temple Meads (BRI)
Filton Abbey Wood (FIT)
GWR
Lawrence Hill (LWH)
Stapleton Road (SRD)​

The amended rule used to apply only to tickets from and to Bristol Parkway (and so did nothing). It now means that (say) a Bristol Parkway-Newport ticket is valid via Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published in the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 13 Apr 2022 (382) to 04 May 2022 (383).

Permitted Route changes:
London Group (G01) to Weybridge Group (G82) gain WX+SU​

This journey now has mapped routes via Kingston.

London Group (G01) to Willesden Junction (WIJ) gain EC+OV​

This journey now has mapped routes via Highbury & Islington.

Easement changes:

Removed:

700979 (Fare route) During engineering works from 15 to 18 April 2022 and Sunday 24 April , tickets on routes (00433) AP EVESHAM, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM from Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway and to destinations beyond will be valid for travel via Stroud or Cam & Dursley. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

700980 (Fare route) During engineering works with Rail Replacement services operating between Banbury and Didcot Parkway on Sundays 03, 10 and 24 April 2022. Tickets priced on routes (00405) AP Oxford, (00617) GUILDFORD OXFORD and (00825 VIA OXFORD, will be valid on Rail Replacement Bus services that do not call at Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

700981 (Map) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. This map easement will allow journey planners to show itineraries using rail replacement services and onward train journeys from Kettering and Bedford to London St Pancras International. And from Bedford between 30 April and 02 May 2022. It will apply in both directions.

700982 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022, and the 30 April to 02 May 2022. Customers with tickets priced on (00452) AWC & CONNECTIONS and (00403) AP CARLISLE travelling to or via London Euston may travel via Bedford. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700983 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures south of Milton Keynes from 15 April 2022 to 18 April 2022. Customers travelling to or via London Euston with tickets priced on routes (00043) AVANTI TRAINS ONLY, (00060) AVANTI & TPE ONLY and (00117) AVANTI & NTH ONLY may travel on connecting rail services to London St Pancras from Kettering or Bedford operated by East Midlands Railway and Thameslink Railway. This Fare Route easement applies in both directions.

700985 (Fare route) During engineering work diversions on Saturday 30 April 2022 and Sunday 01 May 2022, tickets priced on fare route (00099) NOT VIA DARLINGTON, will be valid for travel on trains travelling via Darlington.​

These are all temporary easements for which the dates have all passed.

Added:

700988 (Map) During engineering work closures of the Severn Tunnel between Friday 01 July 2022 and Sunsday 10 July 2022, this map easement will allow journeys via Gloucester that are not normally permitted. The easement works in both directions.​

Reading that, I wondered if they meant journeys like London St Pancras to Willesden Junction via Gloucester. The data only adds Bristol, Gloucester and Newport to the set of routeing points a journey can go through without them being included on a map, so I don't expect web sites to be quite that generous.

 

[MKB]

When the West Coast Mainline is closed for engineering south of Rugby, why are there no easements to allow Nuneaton-London travel via Leicester? Last weekend I had to buy two separate, and much more expensive, tickets for a much longer journey. Seems unreasonable.

 

[Haywain]

When the West Coast Mainline is closed for engineering south of Rugby, why are there no easements to allow Nuneaton-London travel via Leicester? Last weekend I had to buy two separate, and much more expensive, tickets for a much longer journey. Seems unreasonable.

Probably because there is a very limited amount of space on trains between Nuneaton and Leicester, and it is more effective to bus people across to other Midland Main Line stations for trains with more spare capacity. And you didn't have to pay more, you chose to.

 

[MKB]

Probably because there is a very limited amount of space on trains between Nuneaton and Leicester, and it is more effective to bus people across to other Midland Main Line stations for trains with more spare capacity. And you didn't have to pay more, you chose to.

Given that I was in London on Bank Holiday Monday at 21:30 and needed to get home to Nuneaton, what cheaper choice did I have?

 

[Watershed]

When the West Coast Mainline is closed for engineering south of Rugby, why are there no easements to allow Nuneaton-London travel via Leicester? Last weekend I had to buy two separate, and much more expensive, tickets for a much longer journey. Seems unreasonable.

There were easements in place allowing Avanti Advance ticket holders to travel via Bedford. In many cases these were being sold on itineraries where the only Avanti leg was the replacement bus between Rugby and Kettering, or between Milton Keynes and Bedford.

That said, if you did not want to use this bus, I am sure there would also have been other tickets which would have enabled you to travel via Leicester without needing to split and/or for less than what you paid.