The super offpeak return from Manchester to London on TfW and LMR only has a niche following, as a walk-up ticket at only £23.95 (with railcard). The restrictions include "Not valid on trains timed to depart Manchester Piccadilly after 04:29 or before 10:30..." Since the last timetable change, a TfW service is scheduled leave Manchester at 10.30 instead of 10.31. I would have thought a 1030 train was not "before 10.30". But the unpublished restrictions state "NOT VALID TO DEPART MANCHESTER PICCADILLY 0430 - 1030", and booking sites now don't offer this train and ticket combination.
How should the restriction be interpreted? And is this change, effectively making the first available train an hour later, deliberate?
How should the restriction be interpreted? And is this change, effectively making the first available train an hour later, deliberate?