Chiltern query

[Sprinter]

On a Saturday (in two or three weeks time) I will be travelling from Marylebone to Birmingham, bashing some buses on the First Wyvern network before returning from Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Would a SVR London- Birmingham, cover me for the return from Stratford? Or do I need a separate ticket from Stratford to at least Hatton?

Answers please

 

[34D]

Your question is whether a London to Birmingham ticket is valid via Stratford upon Avon.

Adding the via point into a ticket selling site gives the same fares, so yes I'd say it is permitted.

Will let others give an answer referring to the routeing guide though.

 

[kieron]

A super off peak return (routed via High Wycombe) would be cheaper, if you're going from Marylebone anyway.

I don't know off-hand why a web site would list it as being a valid route, but that's what they do.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I don't see that it would be valid via Stratford upon Avon. For one thing, you would be doubling-back between Wilmcote and Stratford upon Avon.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Officially you'd either need a ticket from Stratford to Hatton, Warwick Parkway, Warwick or Leamington (depending on stopping pattern); or a London - Stratford ticket with a Single Alternate Route Excess to "via Birmingham" for the outward.

The "via High Wycombe" ticket to Birmingham isn't valid via Stratford due to the double back between Stratford and Wilmcote; and the "via Banbury" ticket to Stratford isn't valid via Birmingham due to the double back between Moor Street and Tyseley.

 

[34D]

Guys, noted. But I used the VTEC and added the via point and got the same fare.

Comments?

 

[NSEFAN]

Guys, noted. But I used the VTEC and added the via point and got the same fare.

Well if the journey planner says you can do it, then you can do it. It sounds rather dodgy to me though so I would bring a printed copy of the VTEC website to avoid potential conflict with the guard.

 

[67018]

If you're bashing buses, it might be easier to get the bus from Stratford to Warwick. It's quicker than the train too!

 

[Paul Kelly]

STRATFORD U GROUP
Stratford Upon Avon
Stratford-upon-avon Parkway
Wilmcote

As all stations are in a routeing group, I don't think the doubleback there is an issue.

 

[button_boxer]

As all stations are in a routeing group, I don't think the doubleback there is an issue.

Though there's then the question of whether a route that doubles back in a group is valid for starting short or if the doubleback is only allowed for interchange purposes if your journey started outside the group.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Here's how I think booking engines are coming up with Birmingham to London on a "VIA HIGH WYCOMBE" ticket being permitted via Stratford-on-Avon:

1. They attempt to trace a route on map GC, but fail because there is no link between Tyseley and Stratford Group
2. The ticket is routed via High Wycombe, and the journey does actually go via High Wycombe, so they split the journey there, and apply the routeing guide on either side
3. High Wycombe to Marylebone is automatically permitted as it's on a through train
4. Princes Risborough is the destination routeing point for High Wycombe coming from the Birmingham direction
5. Birmingham - Stratford - Princes Risborough can be traced on map RB

Now of course this split via routeing is only supposed to apply when the via point does not lie on any permitted routes, but that is very computationally intensive to determine, so I think booking engines simplify things and apply split via routeing any time a routeing check fails for any reason.

 

[CyrusWuff]

There are also a (somewhat poorly worded) negative easement that may apply:

000103 - Journeys from or via Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon may not go via Leamington Spa. Journeys from or via Birmingham to Leamington Spa may not go via Stratford-upon-Avon. This applies in both directions.

In practice, it'll likely depend on the members of staff you encounter as to what actually happens.