Journeys between Plumpton and Cooksbridge...

[Mcr Warrior]

As not many weekday Southern services call at both Plumpton and Cooksbridge, other than on a Sunday (it's usually one station only with trains non-stopping at the other) and this despite return fares between the two stations being available, could one instead legitimately make a local journey by travelling via Wivelsfield and/or Lewes, and then doubling back?

 

[Class800]

GWR returns an error for this journey. But Trainsplit offers Plumpton to Cooksbridge off-peak return in conjunction with itinerary changing at Lewes

 

[Alex365Dash]

Both LNER and Southern offer itineraries via Lewes. TrainSplit (with split tickets disabled) also offers an itinerary outbound via Wivelsfield and returning via Lewes. Given that any ticket sold with an itinerary is contractually valid with that itinerary, you'd be able to use it with said booked itinerary.

The Routeing Guide allows travel between two stations that are classed as local journeys (i.e. have routeing points in common) by travelling on a direct train to the routeing point then travelling on a direct train to the destination, provided it doesn't call at any stations in between that would result in doubling back. The common routeing points for Plumpton and Cooksbridge are both Wivelsfield and Lewes - travelling via Lewes is shorter than via Wivelsfield (8.25 miles to 10.25 miles), so travelling via Lewes is therefore valid as per the Routeing Guide as long as your train to/from Lewes doesn't stop at the other station you're trying to get to.

Travelling via Wivelsfield would be valid if you purchased a ticket with an itinerary changing at Wivelsfield.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Similar situation with Glynde and Berwick

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Similar situation with Glynde and Berwick

Indeed, although you wouldn't then still be having to interchange at Wivelsfield.

 

[Starmill]

As far as I can see, Plumpton and Cooksbridge have two common routing points: Lewes and Wivelsfield.

The Routing Guide Instructions say in this circumstance that:

Some origins and destinations have more than one common routeing point. The permitted route is the shortest of the alternatives.

The instructions however say that it's only the shortest route that's permitted in this case. But it's also worth noting that the Routing Guide in Detail contradicts the Instructions and says that you can travel via the common routing point provided that you use two direct trains to and from it. I can see no relevant easements but my search may not be exhaustive.

So who on earth knows what you do.

 

[zwk500]

on a slight tangent, as Lewes to Wivlesfield and vice versa is permitted via Brighton do those easements permit Plumpton to Cooksbridge via Wivlesfield, Brighton and Lewes?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So who on earth knows what you do.

Walk it (it's maybe 3 miles), or only ever travel on a Sunday?

 

[Starmill]

Walk it (it's maybe 3 miles), or only ever travel on a Sunday?

Presumably only people for whom these aren't options would ever have been looking to use the railway anyway.