Lichfield - Cannock: Permitted Route / Break of Journey Query

[Realfish]

I'm planning a short journey this weekend, from Lichfield to Cannock (Single Day / Anytime) with breaks of Journey at New Street - where there is a change of train (German Market) and Bescot Stadium (Football). All would seem OK - on the journey planner the route is permitted as are any number of breaks of journey.

However, I've now been told that a break of journey at Bescot means that it is not a permitted route - I take it that is because a usual Lichfield to Bescot journey requires a change at Aston (therefore doubling back from Birmingham?) and because trains using the route to Cannock via New Street do not stop at Bescot. This might be mostly true - but they do on football Saturdays. The 'not permitted' advice therefore seems incorrect - not least because the journey could be broken again at Tame Bridge to connect to an Aston to Bescot service.

If it were me travelling alone, I would have no hesitation in making the journey and arguing the point if there was an issue, but I'll have others with me and don't wish for them to be confronted by some strange quirk of the planner and rules that we see on here from time to time, however illogical.

I'd be grateful for the thoughts of the experts.

 

[Watershed]

You are absolutely fine to break your journey at New Street and Bescot Stadium, for the reasons you say - both stations are on one of the permitted routes from Lichfield to Cannock. The calling patterns that trains normally have are irrelevant - it is purely about the routes you actually travel on.

Doubling back between Aston and New Street is only permitted for interchange purposes (so you couldn't undertake the double-back after having broken your journey at New Street) but you can avoid doubling back by either taking one of the Rugeley services with an additional football call at Bescot, or changing at Tame Bridge Parkway onto a Walsall stopper. Having broken your journey at Bescot Stadium you can resume it and continue to Walsall.

Incidentally it is slghtly cheaper to buy the ticket from Lichfield Trent Valley rather than Lichfield City. You can, of course, start the journey at Lichfield City if you prefer.

Alternatively, for an extra 20p you could buy an nNetwork daytripper Adult Plus ticket. This costs £11.20 and is valid for unlimited travel on the chosen day, on trains across the West Midlands PTE area (which covers Blake Street to Bloxwich North) and with the Plus version this extends to various nearby stations including Rugeley and Lichfield TV. It is also valid on buses and trams, in case that helps.

There is also a group version (albeit not for the Plus version) costing £14.30 which is valid for up to 2 adults and 4 children aged 0-15 (but note that it requires a minimum of 1 child per group ticket). But as you'd then need an additional single from Lichfield to Blake Street (£4) and Bloxwich North to Cannock (£3.10 or £2.90 if in the evening) this wouldn't be worthwhile unless you have lots of children in the group.

 

[redreni]

If you don't want to be confronted with people in positions of minor officialdom making up rules and telling you you can't do perfectly reasonable things, definitely don't go to a football match!

 

[Realfish]

You are absolutely fine to break your journey at New Street and Bescot Stadium, for the reasons you say - both stations are on one of the permitted routes from Lichfield to Cannock. The calling patterns that trains normally have are irrelevant - it is purely about the routes you actually travel on.

Many thanks Watershed, I needed to double check having been surprised with the booking office advice. In fairness he may not have encountered many people off to Walsall !!!!
Thanks also for the additional fares information.

...definitely don't go to a football match!

It's a point.

 

[Lost property]

Any reason you have to start from Litchfield and not Rugeley taking you directly to Cannock ?

 

[Realfish]

Any reason you have to start from Litchfield and not Rugeley taking you directly to Cannock ?

Yes, the round trip (I live near LIC and we will be picked up in Cannock) included a trip to Brum and a football match.

That said, it's an interesting question. With some negotiating with Mrs R, I suppose the day could possibly start and end in Cannock with a straightforward return to BHM and a break of journey at Bescot, on the way back.