When your rail rover is affected by engineering....

[CaptainHaddock]

Just a quickie here. Planning to get a Coasts and Peaks Rover this weekend and was heading down to Shrewsbury, but have since discovered the Crewe-Shrewsbury line is shut and trains are being diverted via Stafford and Wolverhampton.

Unfortunately the section between Stafford and Telford via Wolverhampton isn't within the rover validity area, so my question is, will my rover still be valid, considering there is no other way to get to Shrewsbury from Stockport this Saturday?

Assuming it is valid, would I be able to change trains at Wolverhampton, as the Wolverhampton-Stockport via WCML route is much faster than going via Crewe?

 

[raildude]

I don't think it will be valid. If a Rail Replacement bus is operating you'll have to get that.

 

[D6975]

If there's a bus, you'll have to get the bus. If trains booked to do Crewe-Salop are being diverted via Wolves, then you are valid on these services. I very much doubt that that is the case though.

 

[gazthomas]

I doubt it will be quicker than the rail replacement bus, but as you were thinking of going via Wolverhampton maybe this isn't an issue?

 

[CaptainHaddock]

If there's a bus, you'll have to get the bus. If trains booked to do Crewe-Salop are being diverted via Wolves, then you are valid on these services. I very much doubt that that is the case though.

That's the tricky thing; the Crewe-Salop stopped is replaced by a 2 hourly bus but the fast trains - ie the Manchester to South Wales services, are diverted via Stafford and Wolverhampton, though are showing in the journey planners as running non-stop between Crewe and Salop. I only know what the diversionary route is due to a mate with access to TOPS at work.

 

[embers25]

The diverted fasts should be valid as would the buses BUT even if the trains stopped at Wolverhampton (which I think they bypass on a curve) or Stafford you would not be able to get off on your ticket as it covers you for the diversion but not for non-diverted trains

 

[142094]

I don't think it will be valid. If a Rail Replacement bus is operating you'll have to get that.

I'm sure someone will be along to point out that this is incorrect.

The same question was asked about a Manchester Piccadilly - Bolton ticket when the line was shut and trains went outside the GMPTE area. The ticket they had was valid, as it should be here. Many passengers wouldn't know if the train did or did not leave the area before getting to the destination - unless you have a decent railway geography knowledge or the promotional leaflet shows each line in the area (which most do not).