Long Eaton - Sheffield via Derby during blockade

[Skymonster]

I need to go to Sheffield from Long Eaton later this week (offpeak day return), which is normally possible via Nottingham or Derby. However, at present there are no through trains (which woul normal be EMT) and at present NRE will not give me a return fare via Derby. I presume that this is because of the blockade north of the city and - if using Cross Country for the Derby-Sheffied leg - it involves a double-back between Derby and Long Eaton?

If so, seems a bit unfair that I could ordinarily use EMT LGE-DBY and then AXC DBY-SHF, and yet at present I can't use that same Cross Country service even though there is one at the same time, making the same stops, as would normally be the case if the direct route north from Derby was open...

 

[causton]

I could not see any reasonable person taking issue with that route during the engineering works, even if the computer technically says it is invalid... I am sure the train manager won't take a second look at it - I could see no more logical way of going!

 

[Silverdale]

Perhaps this is yet another instance of easements for the Derby station works not being implemented properly in the booking engines?

That there are no direct train services should neither be here nor there. Now that trains are running either side of Derby, the ticket should be valid to travel on those trains via that route, as indeed it should have been when the RRBs were in operation.

 

[Skymonster]

I agree with yo Silverdale - and I hope you are right causton as I think I'm going to try it. Thanks for your help both.

 

[robbeech]

With the risk of a ‘me too’ post. I agree that it’s perfectly reasonable and no sensible guard is going to even question this.