Chester to Ellesmere Port via Helsby

[Sox]

For reasons of rail exploration of an infrequent passenger service, I'm looking to go to from Chester to Ellesmere Port via Helsby.

The chap in the ticket office said "not permitted", whereas the guard on the Chester to Manchester train said "permitted".

Who was right and how can I present definitive proof if challenged by revenue protection?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Will the NRE Journey Planner give you that route? If so it's Permitted.

If not, just buy a single to Helsby and another back.

 

[Merseysider]

It's valid.

Furthermore, it's less than half a mile longer than the shortest route (12.65 v 12.25) and a quicker route than waiting for the next Hooton train.

What ticket office? Chester?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

One way of avoiding the problem (if there is one) is to buy a Cheshire Day Ranger.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/promotions/Cheshire_Day_Ranger.pdf
But LM will let me buy an Anytime Return for £4.25, the same as the fare via Hooton, so you can do the circular trip.

 

[185]

One way of avoiding the problem (if there is one) is to buy a Cheshire Day Ranger.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/promotions/Cheshire_Day_Ranger.pdf

Should point out the price on that will be significantly, perhaps many times more expensive than ordinary fares.

One Chester > E Port ticket that wouldn't be valid via Helsby is (obviously) the All Areas Saveaway. (Valid Merseyrail to Eport or Chester, beyond county boundary).

 

[Sox]

Cheers for responses, the ticket office was at Chester but I felt the guy was shooting from the hip in his reply.

The guard seemed more knowledgeable and was familiar with the odd working times of the Helsby to Ellesmere Port trains (which seem semi-parliamentary).

Interesting response re Cheshire Day Ranger as it will also get you to Piccadilly (possibly integrated as part of a wider exploration opportunity to mitigate cost). Although the ranger validity commencement time precludes the morning set of the odd ELP-HSB workings.

Ref Bletch's response, the NRE Journey Planner gives (weekday):

dep CTR 14:47, arr HSB 14:56
dep HSB 14:56, arr ELP 15:28

Is this considered court admissible evidence of a permitted route?

...and how would I cross reference Jake's mileage rule to something definitive.

 

[Bletchleyite]

dep CTR 14:47, arr HSB 14:56
dep HSB 14:56, arr ELP 15:28

Is this considered court admissible evidence of a permitted route?

If it gives it as one ticket I'd say yes. It does tell you to split tickets if it isn't, so watch out for that.

I assume it isn't the 0 minute connection shown and that's a typo!

 

[Merseysider]

Yes, the Ellesmere Port leaves Helsby at 1517.

If you can get National Rail or a train company's website to show the route as valid then it won't even get as far as court, provided you've saved it for future reference.

 

[vjm1975]

As long you are are not using the Merseyrail Area G daysaver at £3.80, normal Day Saver or Saveaway ticket to travel that route then Chester to Ellesmere Port via Helsby is fine.
I could guess that the ticket office staff at Chester thought the route wasn't valid as they tend to sell the Area G Day Saver ticket as a matter of course when requesting single or returns to Ellesmere Port.

I have used this route in the past, normally the 06:19 to Helsby, as it gets me in to Chester before Merseyrail does at that time, and gives me more leeway for my onward connection. (Have to wait at Hooton for 18 minutes at this time of morning). Had my ticket checked on both train to Helsby and ATW train to Chester with no issues.

I have also had itineraries on advance tickets which involve a change at Chester, and have given Ellesmere Port to Chester via Helsby as the route to take