Meadowhall-Leeds, XC Valid?

[Iskra]

Hi, probably a daft question but are Meadowhall-Leeds Off Peak Day Returns valid on XC via Sheffield. My ticket doesn’t say Northern Only on it, nor does it say not Valid Via Sheffield. It does say not valid via Doncaster.

Sometimes the fastest journey on this route is by heading to Sheffield first to catch the XC or doing the opposite on the way home.

 

[_toommm_]

As far as I know there’s no official easement, and the double back is more than three miles, so officially no.

Anecdotally, my friend has done this a lot, even though I’ve told her it’s not allowed officially. She’s either not been ticket checked or has a blind eye turned to it. Same with using Leeds to Rotherham via Meadowhall.

 

[Iskra]

But it’s provided as a journey option on journey planners, so what ticket is it valid with?

I’ve also done it several times and never had an issue; I’m just trying to find out the official position.

 

[yorkie]

It's not valid via Sheffield, but it's rarely quicker to go via Sheffield.

Apart from using a combination of tickets, if you only wish to do this in one direction the obvious answer is to buy a return to Sheffield and break your journey at Meadowhall.

The chances of it being quicker via Sheffield in both directions is very slim (what times are you travelling?), so this suggestion will hopefully work for you.

 

[Haywain]

The National Rail journey planner specifically says you need more than one ticket for the journey via Sheffield. As that is regarded as the source for determining the validity of tirckets/routeing, I would say that's pretty clear.

 

[Iskra]

It's not valid via Sheffield, but it's rarely quicker to go via Sheffield.

Apart from using a combination of tickets, if you only wish to do this in one direction the obvious answer is to buy a return to Sheffield and break your journey at Meadowhall.

The chances of it being quicker via Sheffield in both directions is very slim (what times are you travelling?), so this suggestion will hopefully work for you.

Apologies; it may not be faster point to point, but it can be quicker at a certain time in the hour or get you there sooner than waiting for a Northern train: this becomes more common in the evenings when the Northern service drops off. I usually make these journeys on a Saturday or Sunday for the football.

Thanks for the clarification

The National Rail journey planner specifically says you need more than one ticket for the journey via Sheffield. As that is regarded as the source for determining the validity of tirckets/routeing, I would say that's pretty clear.
View attachment 103353

Thanks, I’d not noticed that bit as I bought with Northern this time.

Although you would think they would put Northern only or not valid via Sheffield on the ticket, rather than not valid via Doncaster which wouldn’t gain you anything as a passenger.

 

[yorkie]

It's a bit unfair/harsh because, if Meadowhall was not a Routeing Point in its own right, Sheffield would have passed the fares check.

Apologies; it may not be faster point to point, but it can be quicker at a certain time in the hour or get you there sooner than waiting for a Northern train: this becomes more common in the evenings when the Northern service drops off. I usually make these journeys on a Saturday or Sunday for the football.

Actually I've just realised that for you it doesn't really work as you are travelling from MHS to LDS; in the other direction anyone coming from Leeds can simply buy to Sheffield and always have the flexibility of going via Sheffield, or directly.

 

[kieron]

Same with using Leeds to Rotherham via Meadowhall.

Leeds-Rotherham would be fine via Meadowhall if it wasn't for easement 700130. This says:

Customers travelling from Leeds to Rotherham Central, Swinton or Mexborough in possession of tickets routed 'Not Doncaster', may not travel via Meadowhall. This easement applies in both directions.

If you buy a ticket which doesn't meet the three criteria which are listed there, you may be able to travel via Meadowhall.

Although you would think they would put Northern only or not valid via Sheffield on the ticket, rather than not valid via Doncaster which wouldn’t gain you anything as a passenger.

They put "not via Doncaster" on them because someone else sells tickets which are valid via Doncaster. Neither operator expects people to travel via Sheffield, though.

If going via Doncaster works out for you, there is easement 700507. This says:

Customers travelling from Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar and Chapletown to or via Doncaster may double back between Meadowhall and Sheffield. This easement applies in both directions.

Finding a ticket which would be useful in your circumstances may not be straightforward, though.