How to find permitted route

I have gone on to this site: http://data.atoc.org/routeing-guide

How do I find if my ticket is valid via a particular station? The site is too confusing.

My route is Norwich to Stansted (not valid for London Terminals)

I too would like an easy guide to routing but the routing guide isn't it. Someone will link you to threads on here about routing, it is fiendishly complicated with lots of rules that need resources (like mileage) to check properly. The simple answer is to get an itinerary out of the Nation Rail site and take a printout with you. It isn't infallible but I think there is an agreement that if the site offers you an itinerary for your ticket then it will be accepted. Permitted routes change from time to time.

Ages ago when I was doing a long trip regularly I asked at a station if a route was permitted. After a bit of rummaging the chap said that he thought it was but that I'd have arguments on the train. I went back by my usual route.

People on here are very kind and helpful if you actually ask about a journey.

Owen said:

I have gone on to this site: http://data.atoc.org/routeing-guide

How do I find if my ticket is valid via a particular station? The site is too confusing.

My route is Norwich to Stansted (not valid for London Terminals)

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Put your search into a booking site and see if it will offer you the journey on one ticket.

Owen said:

I have gone on to this site: http://data.atoc.org/routeing-guide

How do I find if my ticket is valid via a particular station? The site is too confusing.

My route is Norwich to Stansted (not valid for London Terminals)

Click to expand...

The railways don't like it when customers ask this question, because it's an indicator that you may be trying to extract extra value out of your ticket which is deemed to be something of a cardinal sin.

If you want a complete list of routes your ticket is valid on, you have to work with that site. But to do so to a reasonable degree, you need to have a detailed knowledge of railway geography, various documents of a very technical nature and access to a list of fares - extracting them from National Rail Enquiries for this purpose isn't designed to be easy so you might need to find another source.

According to the Conditions of Travel, staff are supposed to give you this information if you ask when buying the ticket. Give this a try and let us know how it goes! Alternatively someone on here might be happy to find out for you. Or follow Yorkie's advice if you have a specific route in mind - you might have to fight with the Journey Planners though as the options you can put in are limited.

a_c_skinner said:

It isn't infallible but I think there is an agreement that if the site offers you an itinerary for your ticket then it will be accepted.....

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Yes there is:
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/time...055-599874957.1556551123#Routeing information

When you book your journey online, any ticket offered in connection with the timetable or itinerary produced by the journey planner will be accepted as a permitted route.

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That said, this is enshrined in contract and consumer laws anyway, so does not change the legal position, but it is good that it is made clear on NRE.

The Routeing Guide really isn't intended for the average consumer, but if anyone wishes to learn about it, we do run free fares workshops. We have one place remaining in Gloucester this Sunday, but anyone who is interested in attending one elsewhere is welcome to reply to the thread and let us know where would be convenient for you, so we know where to hold the next ones: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/fares-workshops.141406/page-4#post-3985651

The routing does come up as a ticketing option.

I was just wary that a ticketing officer would find it odd that I went that way.

Owen said:

The routing does come up as a ticketing option.

I was just wary that a ticketing officer would find it odd that I went that way.

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In which case simply produce your itinerary.

What?

Owen said:

What?

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If anyone questions the route, show the itinerary which you have alluded to and found.

I've got two problems with the routing guide. I think I know how it works (thanks to people on here) but there are a lot of arcane rules around the edges and I'm never sure I've got it right. My other problem is what the ticket clerk in Southwick said - a permitted route but expect an argument on the train!

RJ said:

According to the Conditions of Travel, staff are supposed to give you this information if you ask when buying the ticket.

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Some staff are just as confused by the routeing guide as the average layman and end up giving you the wrong information.