If I ask for a ticket from Elephant & Castle to Brighton, via Loughborough Junction (ie. instead of going via Blackfriars) I'm offered
this off peak return.
Trainsplit offers a number of itinerary routes, including the one I expected, via Streatham:
However, despite me specifying that I want a route via Loughborough Junction ("pass, stop or change at"), it also offers me this, via Denmark Hill & Clapham:
This route is fine for me but I was surprised to see it offered, because it doesn't pass through Loughborough Junction station platforms. It does actually pass through what used to be Loughborough Junction platforms, but ones (they are on the curve towards Denmark Hill) that were closed 100 years ago!
So does the route planner still count this as passing through "Loughborough Junction"?
But what I don't understand is why, if I specify "stop or change at" (instead of "pass, stop or change at") Loughborough Junction, it gives me various split ticket options that are more expensive than the Off Peak Return which as far as I can see would still be valid. It suggests that stopping at Loughborough Junction is not allowed on that ticket but I don't see any unusual restrictions on break of journey.
(By the way Trainsplit and BRFares seem to disagree on whether the restriction code is 4J or 4B)