"We have been unable to find a valid fare...

[sharpener]

... Please re-plan your journey". What does this actually mean?

I am planning a journey from LIV to CBG on Feb 16 leaving at 1630. National Rail planner shows an option d. 1643 with changes at Crewe, Stoke and Nuneaton a. 2108. This looks better than leaving earlier and arriving later following an hour's wait at New Street. But I cannot book it as no fare is available.

What is this about?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably (I've not checked) it isn't a permitted route. If you put it in Trainsplit (or the Forum's version) it'll come up with a suitable combination of tickets for the journey without a fee (as it has no basis on which to calculate one).

 

[ainsworth74]

Presumably (I've not checked) it isn't a permitted route. If you put it in Trainsplit (or the Forum's version) it'll come up with a suitable combination of tickets for the journey without a fee (as it has no basis on which to calculate one).

I think it's permitted route but the 1643 is showing as "Sold Out" so I reckon that Avanti are up to their usual tricks of blocking trains from sale by marking them as reservation compulsory.

The Forum ticketing site does find plenty of other options though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think it's permitted route but the 1643 is showing as "Sold Out" so I reckon that Avanti are up to their usual tricks of blocking trains from sale by marking them as reservation compulsory.

The Forum ticketing site does find plenty of other options though.

Or to get a through fare put in some extra change time to force Liverpool-Crewe (if that's the issue) to use the WMT service instead, which has no such nonsense, then take the Avanti service anyway.

 

[ainsworth74]

Or to get a through fare put in some extra change time to force Liverpool-Crewe (if that's the issue) to use the WMT service instead, which has no such nonsense, then take the Avanti service anyway.

Oh yeah ways and means to force it but it's nonsense like this that makes ticketing look impenetrable and silly (rather than the things that actually make it impenetrable and silly )!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh yeah ways and means to force it but it's nonsense like this that makes ticketing look impenetrable and silly (rather than the things that actually make it impenetrable and silly )!

Particularly given that Avanti are pratting with quotas to make specific short distance journeys and tickets show sold out when there's actually a seat available. They really need a kick for doing that.

 

[Hophead]

Liverpool v Wolves ko 14:00 on Sunday 16th Feb. They may be expecting an inflow of passengers to Lime Street (presume that's "LIV") from Anfield around 4:30?

 

[tumbledown]

There's also RailwayData .

 

[sharpener]

It's a permitted route I think. But in the light of this disruption message which appears

Major:Industrial action to affect Avanti West Coast today and on some Sundays until 25 May. For journey details, please check the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner nearer to the time of travel.Read more about this service update

it seems to me that Avanti West Coast don't want the custom on the first and third legs of the journey bc of their ongoing dispute, ? in case it puts an obligation on them to make alternative arrangements if their trains don't run.

 

[Bletchleyite]

it seems to me that Avanti West Coast don't want the custom on the first and third legs of the journey bc of their ongoing dispute, ? in case it puts an obligation on them to make alternative arrangements if their trains don't run.

They aren't quite being that extreme, but they have blocked sales until they confirm what they will run on the day.

If you want a walk up fare, though, you can usually engineer getting it by fiddling with the itinerary to put you on WMT, Northern and/or TfW services, or a combination thereof. Or if near a WMT station go and buy one from the TVM, which aren't of the planner type but will issue for other days.

 

[sharpener]

Was a philosphical question really. Have now bought offpeak return from XCountry, £73.05, one change at New St in both directions, seems very reasonable. Also seems to be valid via Leeds or York and Peterborough amongst other alternatives if I am delayed.