pcm_
Member
Hallo. A bit of background: from September I will be needing to commute from Sandal & Agbrigg (SNA) to Huddersfield (HUD), every week day, I am wanting to buy a season ticket - probably annual - and probably put it on a smart card. I am wanting to know what the permitted routes are.
I bought an 'Any permitted route' ticket from the NT, TMV at Sandal, with my 16-17 Saver-Railcard. I changed at Leeds, and there was a delay on the next train towards Huddersfield. The bridge-link Starbucks was (for some reason) closed, so I went to the gate line, to go out to the Starbucks on the concourse, and the ticket barrier let me straight through, with my SNA to HUD ticket. I got a coffee, and went straight back through the gate line, without a problem. On the other side were a couple of 'Revenue Protection Officers.' I am not sure which TOC they were with - I can’t quite remember.
The RP told me he didn't think it would be a permitted route, via Leeds, even though my ticket had worked - but told me he wasn't entirely sure, and they didn't have a way to check for a permitted route, but that I should really get a train from SNA to Wakefield Westgate (WKF) - 2tph - and either get a train - 1tph/walk to Wakefield Kirkgate (WKK), an get another train from WKK to HUD - again 1tph - and that taking a Northern train from SNA to LDS, and changing for a TPE service, direct to HUD, would not be a permitted route.
In someways, I can see how this would make sense, trying to minimise the large crowds of commuters at LDS station, by making the routings avoid them, where possible, an the RP told me he wasn't entirely sure, but I should use his (much slower route) instead. However, when I looked at the train times on the National Rail app, and put SNA to HUD in, all trains were via Leeds.
So, it's fair to say, I'm at a bit of a loss.
My other, lesser query, is that I have a TPE smart card, that I applied for - for free - and the FAQ page on the TPE website says
My 2 Questions:
I bought an 'Any permitted route' ticket from the NT, TMV at Sandal, with my 16-17 Saver-Railcard. I changed at Leeds, and there was a delay on the next train towards Huddersfield. The bridge-link Starbucks was (for some reason) closed, so I went to the gate line, to go out to the Starbucks on the concourse, and the ticket barrier let me straight through, with my SNA to HUD ticket. I got a coffee, and went straight back through the gate line, without a problem. On the other side were a couple of 'Revenue Protection Officers.' I am not sure which TOC they were with - I can’t quite remember.
The RP told me he didn't think it would be a permitted route, via Leeds, even though my ticket had worked - but told me he wasn't entirely sure, and they didn't have a way to check for a permitted route, but that I should really get a train from SNA to Wakefield Westgate (WKF) - 2tph - and either get a train - 1tph/walk to Wakefield Kirkgate (WKK), an get another train from WKK to HUD - again 1tph - and that taking a Northern train from SNA to LDS, and changing for a TPE service, direct to HUD, would not be a permitted route.
In someways, I can see how this would make sense, trying to minimise the large crowds of commuters at LDS station, by making the routings avoid them, where possible, an the RP told me he wasn't entirely sure, but I should use his (much slower route) instead. However, when I looked at the train times on the National Rail app, and put SNA to HUD in, all trains were via Leeds.
So, it's fair to say, I'm at a bit of a loss.
My other, lesser query, is that I have a TPE smart card, that I applied for - for free - and the FAQ page on the TPE website says
Does this mean it has to be an alternative route, i.e. that you can use a TPE service, or another service, but it has to be in part valid for a TPE route, and if so, should I just use a NT smart card, if I will only use NT because of routing restrictions, or would just an annual paper season be easier.Can I use my Smart card on other Train Operators’ services?
"Yes, your Smart card can be used on any operator’s service, if it contains a valid ticket for the journey you are making."
My 2 Questions:
- How can you find the exact permitted routing of tickets, if they aren't explicitly stated.
- What are the inter-TOC-usability restrictions when using smart cards.