Acceptable route - Glasgow Queen Street to Exhibition Centre?

[PaulLothian]

I am mildly confused by this, partly through trying to sort out contradictory advice! I discovered that the Routing Guide had acquired an Easement stating:

700224
Customers travelling from Glasgow Stations to Exhibition Centre (Glasgow) may not travel via Partick. This easement applies in both directions.

The journey in question is travelling through Glasgow to Exhibition Centre, nowdays using split tickets at Queen Street to take advantage of my concession travel from West Lothian. I have been told that the acceptable route is to use the bus link between Glasgow Queen Street and Central, but am not sure that this is enforceable where there is an rail link; I believe the rail distance is less than three miles longer. I have also been advised that travelling via Partick is quite acceptable, even by rail staff who had no idea what ticket(s) I held!

I used the route via Partick for years without problems. During the day, it is often quicker to use the bus link, but in the evening, it reduces in frequency, as I discovered to my disadvantage in the cold and wet of last night.

So...

Does this easement apply to journeys through Glasgow, as opposed to those commencing in the city?

Am I right to think that using split ticketing would have no consequences on this?

Thanks

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The easement applies to journeys starting in Glasgow, there is no mention of journeys going via Glasgow.

However, routeings apply to tickets, not journeys, 'journey' has no definition here.

Journey planners assume a journey is from the origin to the destination, as printed on the ticket(s), and as, currently, the Routeing Guide states you have to consult a journey planner to check routeings, I rather suspect you'll have a hard time providing a routeing that shows, for certain, that you can travel via Partick on one ticket.

Staff probably tell you it is fine because (a) many have probably never heard of The Routeing Guide, (b) even if they have, they haven't got all day to look through it for easements, and (c) the railway companies never tell staff when easements are being put in or taken out (in actual fact, they don't even tell staff it has changed).

A further point to note is what effect 'negative easements' have on "routes no more then three miles longer than the shortest route". The shortest route and direct trains are protected from easements by being in the NRCoC, other routes are not. This forum has some 'disagreement' about what constitutes 'the shortest route'.

Additionally, what is permitted in theory and what is permitted in practice are not always the same.

 

[adrock1976]

A workaround would be to purchase a ticket from Ashfield to Exhibition Centre. I have checked on the East Coast website and it shows that it is acceptable to go via Queen Street and Partick (starting/ending short at Queen Street).

In peace
Adam

 

[kieron]

Another workaround is to buy a longer distance ticket such as Uphall-Holytown. This is valid via Partick on map GO and on NRE, and is covered by the National Entitlement Card discount.

You are allowed to stop short at Exhibition Centre on a full price ticket, and I believe the same is true of a discounted one.

You can find something similar starting from your preferred starting station.

 

[Aictos]

There's a bus link between Queen Street and Central

 

[PaulLothian]

There's a bus link between Queen Street and Central

There certainly is, but timings don't always work out, especially in evening!

Thanks for all the responses. I believe Keiron's idea about stopping short is right - the National Rail info on the West Lothian Concessionary Scheme states: Availability - Applies to Anytime Day and Off-Peak Day Return tickets only.

Break of journey is allowed on the outward portion of Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code and in all cases on the return portion of Off-Peak return tickets.

West Lothian concessions include Cambuslang, which keeps the fare comparable with the journey using the inter-station bus link.

I'll let you know what challenges I get next time I try it!

Thanks again.

 

[Aictos]

There certainly is, but timings don't always work out, especially in evening!

Which bus is it may I ask?

 

[AndrewR232]

Which bus is it may I ask?

First Glasgow service 398.

 

[PaulLothian]

Which bus is it may I ask?

Full details and link to timetable near foot of this page: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/trainconnections

 

[reb0118]

It's quicker to walk. I do it in about 5 - 6 mins even on a bad gout day.

Re. the West Lothian concession fares. It is my understanding that they are not valid beyond Glasgow so that would preclude Partick. Flat rate concession fares from Linlithgow to stations in Lanarkshire must be routed via Edinburgh/Haymarket. Contact West Lothian Council for further details as they decide on the validity of the scheme. ScotRail just operate it to their specifications.

 

[PaulLothian]

...
Re. the West Lothian concession fares. It is my understanding that they are not valid beyond Glasgow so that would preclude Partick. Flat rate concession fares from Linlithgow to stations in Lanarkshire must be routed via Edinburgh/Haymarket. Contact West Lothian Council for further details as they decide on the validity of the scheme. ScotRail just operate it to their specifications.

Thanks; yes, you are quite right. I should have gone back to the source document to recheck!

However, routeings apply to tickets, not journeys, 'journey' has no definition here.

Journey planners assume a journey is from the origin to the destination, as printed on the ticket(s), and as, currently, the Routeing Guide states you have to consult a journey planner to check routeings, I rather suspect you'll have a hard time providing a routeing that shows, for certain, that you can travel via Partick on one ticket.

National Rail Enquiries offers tickets via Partick from outside Glasgow. (Interestingly, in the case of Bishopbriggs, it states that "You need to buy more than one ticket for this journey", but only gives a single ticket price for the trip.)

I do wonder why the "not via Partick" easement is in place? To reduce revenue loss from travellers to Partick? To reduce pressure on Partick station or core city centre routes?

Anyway, for my minimum cost option, I shall just need to walk or use the bus link!

Thanks again.

 

[David Goddard]

If at Queen Street and wanting Exhibition Centre, then you may as well use the No 100 bus - departs from George Square every thirty minutes and costs £3.00 return taking just fifteen minutes. Calls at Central on the was as well.
The bus stops right outside the entrance to the SECC near the Armadillo.
Last bus back is just after 17:00. The operating times are linked to the opening hours of the Riverside Museum (the 100s ultimate destination)