Birmingham to Leeds valid via Manchester

[Stewart]

Does anyone know why a ticket from Birmingham to Leeds is valid via Manchester? I often take advantage of this if travelling north on a Sunday in order to avoid the cramped and slow but direct Cross Country.

In fact with a rapid change at Piccadilly this can even end up a quicker journey than the direct service :roll:

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone know why a ticket from Birmingham to Leeds is valid via Manchester?

Why wouldn't it be?

You go on to give a good reason at the end of your post.

And many people want to visit more than just one place. Car drivers are not denied the opportunity to take different routes and visit different places as part of a round trip, so why should we be?

 

[dvboy]

There is a Wolverhampton-Leeds route Via Manchester ticket that is a lot cheaper than Any Permitted, but there isn't one from Birmingham I believe.

 

[SickyNicky]

If you want to go via Manchester the through ticket is cetainly valid, but you can still save money by splitting tickets as follows (assuming off-peak travel, returning a different day):

Standard Class
£46.50
Saves £9.60 (17.1%)

BIRMINGHAM STNS to STOKE ON TRENT
OFF-PEAK R
Fare £15.90
Route ANY PERMITTED
Restriction (2V)

STOKE ON TRENT to STALYBRIDGE
ANYTIME R
Fare £16.00
Route ANY PERMITTED

STALYBRIDGE to LEEDS
OFF-PEAK R
Fare £14.60
Route ANY PERMITTED
Restriction (2L)