Brighton>Horsham>Arundel>Brighton -- possible on Day Return ticket?

[Bungaroosh]

Hello,

I'm trying to fathom the Routeing Guide for this journey. I want to travel off-peak on a weekday from:

Brighton to Horsham (via Three Bridges)
Horsham to Arundel
Arundel to Brighton (via Ford/Littlehampton).

I want to travel in an anti-clockwise direction around three sides of a triangle, and I'd rather not have to buy three single tickets at twice the cost of a day return. If I've managed to work it out correctly, it seems the only station on that Arun Valley line that allows routeing to/from Brighton via either Horsham or Ford/Littlehampton is Christ's Hospital.

So would an off-peak day return ticket from Brighton to Christ's Hospital be valid for the three legs of the journey above, including the breaks of journey?

In practical terms I realise a ticket inspection would be pretty unlikely, but of course I'd like to buy a valid ticket!

Many thanks in advance. (Map attached).

 

[bb21]

Yes, a ticket to Christ's Hospital would be permitted via Three Bridges, Littlehampton (no direct service to Horsham, mind), or Ford, although you will be restricted to stoppers between Horsham and Ford.

 

[higthomas]

You are correct. But, do remember that it not clear that you can pass through the destination of your ticket without stopping, so your'e restricted to trains which stop at Christ's hospital.

 

[bb21]

That said, a ticket to Billingshurst is slightly cheaper, and Billingshurst has twice as many trains. Booking engines will allow travel via Three Bridges although Routeing Guide itself does not seem to. Going via Three Bridges is about 1.25 miles longer than via Ford (shortest route).

 

[Bungaroosh]

Thanks!

That said, a ticket to Billingshurst is slightly cheaper, and Billingshurst has twice as many trains. Booking engines will allow travel via Three Bridges although Routeing Guide itself does not seem to. Going via Three Bridges is about 1.25 miles longer than via Ford (shortest route).

Yes, I'd looked at Billingshurst, but this didn't allow travel via Horsham. I'll make sure to get the stopping service from Horsham to Arundel. It's a bit annoying that the routeing guide is extremely precise on this score and allows no leeway.
-------------
Ah, it seems that all trains on a weekday afternoon/teatime from Horsham to Arundel stop at Christ's Hospital anyway!

 

[infobleep]

That said, a ticket to Billingshurst is slightly cheaper, and Billingshurst has twice as many trains. Booking engines will allow travel via Three Bridges although Routeing Guide itself does not seem to. Going via Three Bridges is about 1.25 miles longer than via Ford (shortest route).

Given its only 1.25 miles longer, is it in fact allowed because it's within 3 miles of the shortest route?

 

[bb21]

Given its only 1.25 miles longer, is it in fact allowed because it's within 3 miles of the shortest route?

The wording about the three-mile rule is a bit vague since the last revision, although journey planners still implement a small margin, which is why you can still get itineraries on journey planners via Three Bridges.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, I'd looked at Billingshurst, but this didn't allow travel via Horsham....

It should do. Which ticket booking or journey planning site did you use?

via Three Bridges & Horsham is 37.03 miles.

The shortest route is 35.47, so it's within 3 miles, so no need to even consult the Routeing Guide.

You should be able to get an itinerary outwards via one route, and returning by another, by using trainscanbecheaper.info (using 'Advanced Options'; untick the box to use the same options for the return journey)

 

[paul1609]

You can also travel: a)via Barnham if you so wish, Easement 030141 applies : Passengers travelling via Ford may double back via Barnham this easement applies in both directions.
b) Via Gatwick Airport, Easement 700282 applies: Customers travelling from Arundel, Amberley, Pulborough, Billingshurst, Christs Hospital, Horsham, Littlehaven and Faygate via Crawley to Haywards Heath and beyond may double back between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. This easement applies in both directions.

 

[Bungaroosh]

Blimey, it's complicated! All for a journey wholly within Sussex!
I looked on the Routeing Guide. Brighton to Horsham is only allowed via Three Bridges. Billingshurst (and Arundel) to Brighton only allowed via Ford. The only ticket I could find that would allow a stop in both Horsham and Arundel on a day return ticket was Christ's Hospital. I didn't know about the 3 mile rule. I'm on the train now from Horsham to Arundel and there was a ticket inspection on the train while it was standing at Christ's Hospital station. Cost £8.45 rtn on a Two Together Railcard.

 

[yorkie]

Blimey, it's complicated! All for a journey wholly within Sussex!
I looked on the Routeing Guide.

The shortest route is always permitted (this is enshrined in the Conditions of Travel).

Unfortunately the Conditions of Travel do not also make it clear that routes can be up to 3 miles longer than the shortest route, and still be considered permitted routes, without there necessarily being any mapped routes. But the rule does exist, and booking engines and journey planners will apply it (some more generously so than 3 miles).

Brighton to Horsham is only allowed via Three Bridges. Billingshurst (and Arundel) to Brighton only allowed via Ford.

That may well be the case for the mapped routes, but it is not the case for the overall permitted routes, which include the shortest route(s).

The only ticket I could find that would allow a stop in both Horsham and Arundel on a day return ticket was Christ's Hospital. I didn't know about the 3 mile rule. I'm on the train now from Horsham to Arundel and there was a ticket inspection on the train while it was standing at Christ's Hospital station. Cost £8.45 rtn on a Two Together Railcard.

Yes, a lot of people do not know about this. The 3 mile rule should be enshrined in the NRCoT. I do wish ATOC would implement this, and/or the DfT insist that ATOC implement this. It would make things a lot clearer.

If you are just wanting to plan journeys, there's no need to consult the Routeing Guide, you can just use a ticket booking site.

However if you are interested in any aspect of fares, including routeing, you may wish to consider joining us at one of our free Fares Workshops.

 

[infobleep]

Out of interest, if the within 3 miles of the shortest route isn't in the conditions of travel, what makes it valid, other than booking engines offering it? It is written down in some confidential document not shared with the public?

I do agree it would make sense for it to be in the conditions of travel.