National Routeing Guide update

[A Challenge]

I see my dodgy ticket still hasn't been removed, even after having it reported twice now

They obviously don't mind or it wasn't actually reported

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published yesterday (Thursday).

Permitted Route changes:

Bath Spa (BTH) to Liverpool Group (G18) gain BL+BV​

This journey now has mapped routes via Stroud. Previously, someone who wished to travel via Cheltenham on a Bath-Liverpool ticket would have had to have gone through Bristol.

Smethwick Group (G63) to Worcester Group (G35) gain CE WM lose HB+WM WM+HB
Worcester Group (G35) to Smethwick Group (G63) gain CE WM lose HB+WM WM+HB​

This now has a mapped route via Stourbridge.

Easement changes:

Removed:

700795 (Map) During engineering workings between 22/07/2018 and 02/10/2018 trains will be diverted between Burton and Chesterfield via Langley Mill. This map easement allows travel between Tamworth and Chesterfield without passing through Derby.

700798 (Map) During engineering works between 22/07/2018 and 07/10/2018 trains will be diverted via Langley Mills.This map easement allows travel between Loughborough and Chesterfield without passing through Derby.

700799 (Map) During engineering works between Tamworth and Nottingham, trains will be diverted This map easement allows travel between Tamworth and Nottingham without passing through Derby.

700805 (Map) Due to engineering works Cross Country Services will be diverted via Newport (South Wales) and Chepstow between the 15 September and 12 October 2018. This map easement will create temporary permitted routes via Newport (South Wales) for connecting destinations that use a journey leg using these diverted Cross Country services. It will operate in both directions.

700806 (Doubleback) Due to engineering works between 15 September and 12 October 2018, Cross Country services are diverted via Newport (South Wales) . This doubleback easement will allow journey planners to accept journeys passing Severn Tunnel Junction twice, and will operate in both directions.​

These were all easements for engineering works. Other than 700799, they all had an end date, and those dates have now passed.

Added:

700816 (Circuitous Route) Tickets from Long Eaton to Sheffield are not valid via East Midlands Parkway. This negative circuitous route easement applies in both directions.​

Easement 700102 prevents journey from Sheffield to Nottingham and beyond via East Midlands Parkway. Engineering works in Derby led to a few trains going betwween East Midlands Parkway and Chesterfield without passing through Derby or Nottingham.

This easement may be an attempt to control this.

700817 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling to or via London Paddington from Bicester Village, on tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED, may travel via Oxford. This routeing point easement overrides fares checking and operates in both directions.​

I'm not sure off-hand what this easement is intended to help with. Bicester-London is valid via Oxford anyway if you don't have a "via High Wycombe" ticket or something, so I'm not sure what the intended purpose of this easement is.

This easement doesn't have any effect on (say) Windsor & Eton Central-Bicester Village tickets, as they have route 01000 (sometimes rendered as ANY - PERMITTED), but those are valid via Oxford anyway.

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published this afternoon.

Changes from 181018 (231) to 181031 (232).

Permitted Route changes:
Motherwell Group (G67) to Wilmslow Group (G69) gain GV+NN+LY MG+NR​

This journey now has mapped routes via:
Bolton and Stockport;
Atherton and Stockport; and
Eccles and Stockport.

Easement changes:​

The affected easements are all temporary ones for various line closures.

Added:

700818 (Map) During engineering works on 09/12/2018 and 16/12/2018, Customers travelling from and via Gloucester to and via Bristol Temple Meads may travel via Newport S.Wales. This map easement applies in both directions.​

The line between Bristol and Gloucester is closed then, so Crosscountry are going via Newport.

700819 (Local) Between 27th October 2018 and 18th November 2018, customers may travel between Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Stations via via Newport South Wales. This local easement applies in both directions.​

The line north from Bristol Temple Meads is closed at the moment, so trains to Severn Tunnel Junction are diverted to Bristol Parkway and GWR have only scheduled one train an hour to stop there. This easement helps fill in the gaps this leaves.

700820 (Map) On 1st Jan 2019, there is an engineering blockade between Wolverhampton and Stafford. Cross Country services will not be calling at Wolverhampton, and instead will be diverting from Birmingham New Street via Nuneaton to Stafford and onward to Manchester. This map easement will apply in both directions​

There are no Crosscountry diversions shown at the moment, so I can't check how this works with the diverted trains. nationalrail.co.uk didn't show Birmingham-Stafford via Nuneaton as a valid route when I checked it, though.

700821 (Fare route) During engineering works 27 October 2018 to 18 November 2018. Plus the weekends of the 24/25 November 2018 and 01/02 December 2018, journeys on Cross Country services using tickets priced on fare route (00817) VIA BRISTOL may travel via Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Kemble and Stroud and Cheltenham Spa. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

I can't quite work out if this is meant to allow travel via any of those stations individually, via a route taking in all of them, or something else. These stations are all on a possible route from Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham avoiding the direct line, anyway.

700823 (Doubleback) On Sundays 09 and 16 December 2018, due to engineering work diversions, Cross Country services will travel via Newport (South wales) and will pass Severn tunnel Junction twice. This double back easement will apply on these dates and work in both directions.​

This was probably added to ensure that easement 700818 actually made tickets via Newport valid, but easement 700232 should already do that.

700824 (Map) Due to engineering works Cross Country services on the 10 and 11 November 2018 will be diverted between Basingstoke and Southampton via Romsey. This map easement will apply in both directions.​

That is to say, they're being diverted via the outskirts of Salisbury, rather than via Chandler's Ford.

700825 (Fare route) Due to engineering work diversions, until the 18 November 2018, tickets on route (00831) VIA BATH SPA will be valid on journeys via Swindon. this fare route easement applies in both directions.​

This is, I suppose, also to avoid catching a bus through Bristol for the "via Bath Spa" tickets where this would otherwise be needed. Not all "via Bath Spa" tickets are used to travel through Bristol, of course.

Changed (added text is in red):
700788 (Map) Due to engineering work diversions via Cosham, affecting journeys from and via Southampton to destinations using journey legs on Cross Country services on the weekends 01/02, 08/09, 15/16, and Saturday 22 September 2018, and Sundays the 21 October 2018 and 04 and 25 November 2018. This map easement will allow journey planners to see journeys via Cosham and Havant, and applies in both directions.

700811 (Map) Due to engineering works, Cross Country services on Sundays 21 October 2018 and the 04 and 25 November 2018 will be diverted via Ash and North Camp. this map easement will allow connecting services to be shown in journey planners.​

These easements are now valid on this coming Sunday.

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published on Wednesday.

Changes from 181031 (232) to 181107 (233).

Permitted Route changes:

Stalybridge (SYB) to Worksop (WRK) gain MR+PR+SH lose MA+SH​

No effect.

Chesterfield (CHD) to Manchester Group (G20) gain AM lose PR
Chesterfield (CHD) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain AM lose PR​

These journeys no longer has mapped routes via Wigan.

Guide Bridge (GUI) to Lincoln Central (LCN) lose MH+EM MR+MH+EM MR+PS+ER MR+PS+JL MR+TP+EE MR+WK+EE MR+WY+EE
Lincoln Central (LCN) to Stalybridge (SYB) lose EE+TP EE+WK EE+WY EM+MH EM+MH+MR ER+PS+GM ER+PS+MR JL+PS+GM JL+PS+MR SH+MS+MR​

These journeys no longer have mapped routes:
via Chesterfield;
via Doncaster; or
via Newark.

Halifax Group (G39) to Lincoln Central (LCN) gain DP+GG lose GU+JL WK+EE WK+ER WK+ER+SH WK+SH WY+EE WY+ER WY+ER+SH​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Grantham;
via Hatfield & Stainforth;
via South Milford;
via Bradford and Sheffield;
via Leeds and the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Barnsley;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Swinton;
routes via Leeds and Church Fenton, except ones via Ulleskelf; or
routes via Mirfield and the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster, except ones via Newark.
It now has mapped routes:
via Harrogate;
via Ulleskelf;
via Bradford and Mirfield;
via Streethouse, Leeds and Mirfield;
ones via Leeds and Mirfield which don't go through Pontefract; and
ones via Mirfield, Leeds and Fitzwilliam which don't go through Moorthorpe.

Halifax Group (G39) to Retford (RET) gain DH+NH DP+GT TP+NH lose GU SY+SH WK+GL WK+SH WY+GL​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Brigg;
via Lincoln;
via Meadowhall; or
via Swinton.
It now has mapped routes:
via Goole;
via Harrogate;
via Selby;
via Ulleskelf;
and via both Leeds and Mirfield, in either direction.

Halifax Group (G39) to Worksop (WRK) gain DH+NH GU+MY+SH lose GU+SH SY+SH WK+GL WK+SH WY+GL​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Brigg;
via Leeds;
via Lincoln;
via Penistone; or
via Swinton.

Huddersfield Group (G40) to Lincoln Central (LCN) gain DP+GG DP+NH lose WK+EE WK+ER WY+EE WY+ER​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Grantham;
via Hatfield & Stainforth;
via South Milford;
via the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Swinton; or
routes via Church Fenton which do not go through Ulleskelf.
It now has mapped routes:
via Harrogate;
via Ulleskelf;
via Bradford and Streethouse; and
via Wakefield, Pontefract and Bradford.

Huddersfield Group (G40) to Retford (RET) gain DP+NH lose WK+GL WY+GL
Huddersfield Group (G40) to Worksop (WRK) gain DP+NH lose WK+GL WY+GL​

These journeys no longer have mapped routes via Swinton.
They now have mapped routes via Bradford and Pontefract.

Lincoln Central (LCN) to Manchester Group (G20) lose JL+DB​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Wakefield.

Lincoln Central (LCN) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain DG+DY+DW SH+AM lose DG+PR JL+DB JL+MN SH+PR​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Wakefield; or
via Wigan.

Retford (RET) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain SH+AM lose NS+DB SH+PR​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Leeds;
via Wakefield; or
via Wigan.

Retford (RET) to Selby (SBY) gain NH lose GL+HL NS​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Leeds; or
via York.
It now has mapped routes via Goole.

Salford Crescent (SLD) to Worksop (WRK) gain AM+SH lose DW+SH​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Brigg.

Easement changes:

Added:

700826 (Fare route) Tickets priced (00810) NOT VIA READING will be permitted for journeys via Reading on 16 December 2018 due to the line through Didcot Parkway being closed to allow for improvement work to take place. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

The line through Didcot is closed, but one of the avoiding lines remains open, with various trains going Reading and Oxford. I haven't checked if the line towards Swindon is closed, but there don't seem to be any trains scheduled that way.

This means that the easement helps anyone going from (say) Westbury to Oxford. It's less useful if you're going from Bicester North to Moreton in Marsh, though.

Changed (added text in red, deleted in green):

700771 (Fare route) Journeys between Salisbury and Swindon priced on route (00136) VIA MELKSHAM may travel via Bath Spa on the following dates; 23 - 26 April 2018; 14 - 17 May 2018; 04 - 07 June 2018; 09 - 12 July 2018; 16 July to 05 August 2018; 28 - 30 August 2018; 08 - 11 October 2018 and 19 - 22 November 2018 and 22 December 2018 - 04 January 2019. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700796 (Map) During engineering works on the weekend of 13/10/2018 - 14/10/2018, between 27/10/2018 to 18/11/2018 and the weekends of the 24/25 November and 01/12/2018 - 02/12/2018 diversions between Bristol and Cheltenham will be permitted via Swindon. This map easement is applies in both directions.

700814 (Fare route) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on journeys to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700815 (Map) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on routes to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This map easement applies in both directions​

All date changes, I assume to track changes in planned closures.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Some more changes were published on Wednesday.

Changes from 181031 (232) to 181107 (233).

Permitted Route changes:

Stalybridge (SYB) to Worksop (WRK) gain MR+PR+SH lose MA+SH​

No effect.

Chesterfield (CHD) to Manchester Group (G20) gain AM lose PR
Chesterfield (CHD) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain AM lose PR​

These journeys no longer has mapped routes via Wigan.

Guide Bridge (GUI) to Lincoln Central (LCN) lose MH+EM MR+MH+EM MR+PS+ER MR+PS+JL MR+TP+EE MR+WK+EE MR+WY+EE
Lincoln Central (LCN) to Stalybridge (SYB) lose EE+TP EE+WK EE+WY EM+MH EM+MH+MR ER+PS+GM ER+PS+MR JL+PS+GM JL+PS+MR SH+MS+MR​

These journeys no longer have mapped routes:
via Chesterfield;
via Doncaster; or
via Newark.

Halifax Group (G39) to Lincoln Central (LCN) gain DP+GG lose GU+JL WK+EE WK+ER WK+ER+SH WK+SH WY+EE WY+ER WY+ER+SH​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Grantham;
via Hatfield & Stainforth;
via South Milford;
via Bradford and Sheffield;
via Leeds and the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Barnsley;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Swinton;
routes via Leeds and Church Fenton, except ones via Ulleskelf; or
routes via Mirfield and the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster, except ones via Newark.
It now has mapped routes:
via Harrogate;
via Ulleskelf;
via Bradford and Mirfield;
via Streethouse, Leeds and Mirfield;
ones via Leeds and Mirfield which don't go through Pontefract; and
ones via Mirfield, Leeds and Fitzwilliam which don't go through Moorthorpe.

Halifax Group (G39) to Retford (RET) gain DH+NH DP+GT TP+NH lose GU SY+SH WK+GL WK+SH WY+GL​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Brigg;
via Lincoln;
via Meadowhall; or
via Swinton.
It now has mapped routes:
via Goole;
via Harrogate;
via Selby;
via Ulleskelf;
and via both Leeds and Mirfield, in either direction.

Halifax Group (G39) to Worksop (WRK) gain DH+NH GU+MY+SH lose GU+SH SY+SH WK+GL WK+SH WY+GL​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Brigg;
via Leeds;
via Lincoln;
via Penistone; or
via Swinton.

Huddersfield Group (G40) to Lincoln Central (LCN) gain DP+GG DP+NH lose WK+EE WK+ER WY+EE WY+ER​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Grantham;
via Hatfield & Stainforth;
via South Milford;
via the direct line between Pontefract and Doncaster;
via the direct line between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, and Swinton; or
routes via Church Fenton which do not go through Ulleskelf.
It now has mapped routes:
via Harrogate;
via Ulleskelf;
via Bradford and Streethouse; and
via Wakefield, Pontefract and Bradford.

Huddersfield Group (G40) to Retford (RET) gain DP+NH lose WK+GL WY+GL
Huddersfield Group (G40) to Worksop (WRK) gain DP+NH lose WK+GL WY+GL​

These journeys no longer have mapped routes via Swinton.
They now have mapped routes via Bradford and Pontefract.

Lincoln Central (LCN) to Manchester Group (G20) lose JL+DB​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Wakefield.

Lincoln Central (LCN) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain DG+DY+DW SH+AM lose DG+PR JL+DB JL+MN SH+PR​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Wakefield; or
via Wigan.

Retford (RET) to Salford Crescent (SLD) gain SH+AM lose NS+DB SH+PR​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Leeds;
via Wakefield; or
via Wigan.

Retford (RET) to Selby (SBY) gain NH lose GL+HL NS​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Leeds; or
via York.
It now has mapped routes via Goole.

Salford Crescent (SLD) to Worksop (WRK) gain AM+SH lose DW+SH​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Brigg.

Easement changes:

Added:

700826 (Fare route) Tickets priced (00810) NOT VIA READING will be permitted for journeys via Reading on 16 December 2018 due to the line through Didcot Parkway being closed to allow for improvement work to take place. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

The line through Didcot is closed, but one of the avoiding lines remains open, with various trains going Reading and Oxford. I haven't checked if the line towards Swindon is closed, but there don't seem to be any trains scheduled that way.

This means that the easement helps anyone going from (say) Westbury to Oxford. It's less useful if you're going from Bicester North to Moreton in Marsh, though.

Changed (added text in red, deleted in green):

700771 (Fare route) Journeys between Salisbury and Swindon priced on route (00136) VIA MELKSHAM may travel via Bath Spa on the following dates; 23 - 26 April 2018; 14 - 17 May 2018; 04 - 07 June 2018; 09 - 12 July 2018; 16 July to 05 August 2018; 28 - 30 August 2018; 08 - 11 October 2018 and 19 - 22 November 2018 and 22 December 2018 - 04 January 2019. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700796 (Map) During engineering works on the weekend of 13/10/2018 - 14/10/2018, between 27/10/2018 to 18/11/2018 and the weekends of the 24/25 November and 01/12/2018 - 02/12/2018 diversions between Bristol and Cheltenham will be permitted via Swindon. This map easement is applies in both directions.

700814 (Fare route) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on journeys to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700815 (Map) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on routes to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This map easement applies in both directions​

All date changes, I assume to track changes in planned closures.

That does seem rather unusual to have so many changes to mapped validity in the same sort of area. I presume there must have been some loopholes lurking around for them to do that.

 

[swt_passenger]

Some more changes were published...

700824 (Map) Due to engineering works Cross Country services on the 10 and 11 November 2018 will be diverted between Basingstoke and Southampton via Romsey. This map easement will apply in both directions.​

That is to say, they're being diverted via the outskirts of Salisbury, rather than via Chandler's Ford.

I thought this had been dealt with by permanently adding a line on the map between Romsey and Basingstoke? Wasn’t there an earlier discussion about this very problem?

 

[Paul Kelly]

I thought this had been dealt with by permanently adding a line on the map between Romsey and Basingstoke? Wasn’t there an earlier discussion about this very problem?

Well, there's more than one map you might use when travelling between Basingstoke and Southampton on CrossCountry! Certainly, the BSK-ROM link is shown on map XR, which you might use if travelling via Reading to Bournemouth, but for example it's not present on map SW, which you might use if travelling via London to Bournemouth. There are probably also other maps where the easement is necessary, but I haven't checked.

 

[kieron]

That does seem rather unusual to have so many changes to mapped validity in the same sort of area. I presume there must have been some loopholes lurking around for them to do that.

There have been times where ATOC have said that someone has reviewed the permitted routes for journeys from one area to another. This could be what has happened here.

I thought this had been dealt with by permanently adding a line on the map between Romsey and Basingstoke? Wasn’t there an earlier discussion about this very problem?

There are 5 maps (BB, MW, SW, WU and WW) which include Winchester but don't include this diversion. SW and WU include the whole Southampton-Basingstoke section. While the easement doesn't say which journeys are affected by it, I'd expect the likes of Poole-Basingstoke (normally only valid on SW) to be included.

 

[swt_passenger]

There are 5 maps (BB, MW, SW, WU and WW) which include Winchester but don't include this diversion. SW and WU include the whole Southampton-Basingstoke section. While the easement doesn't say which journeys are affected by it, I'd expect the likes of Poole-Basingstoke (normally only valid on SW) to be included.

Thanks - makes sense when the wider (non-XC) picture is seen.

 

[kieron]

Some new easements were published this afternoon:

700827 (Local) Journeys from Morpeth to Berwick upon Tweed may doubleback at Newcastle. This local easement applies in both directions.​

Easements 65 and 700705 already allowed a double-back at Newcastle for journeys using "any permitted" tickets (although nationalrail.co.uk still rejects them for some reason). This easement broadens it to cover other tickets.

700828 (Map) During engineering works between the 23 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, customers travelling from Diss, Needham Market and Stowmarket to or via central London on tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED may travel via Bury St Edmund's and Cambridge to both London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street. This map easement applies in both directions​

The line through Shenfield is closed then, making the journey on that line slower and less convenient. This easement adds some alternatives. It doesn't cover St. Pancras, but most of the Cambridge-Brighton trains are cancelled then, anyway.

700829 (Routeing Point) Journeys from or via London Terminals to Tiverton Parkway are not valid via Exeter St Davids. This negative routeing point easement applies in both directions.​

Easement 76 already invalidated journeys via Exeter and Taunton, so this easement bans journeys via Honiton. Without this easement, you may have been able to save £2.10 from the price of an Exeter-Newark off peak return by buying a ticket from Tiverton Parkway instead.

 

[infobleep]

700829 (Routeing Point) Journeys from or via London Terminals to Tiverton Parkway are not valid via Exeter St Davids. This negative routeing point easement applies in both directions.​

Easement 76 already invalidated journeys via Exeter and Taunton, so this easement bans journeys via Honiton. Without this easement, you may have been able to save £2.10 from the price of an Exeter-Newark off peak return by buying a ticket from Tiverton Parkway instead.

Were there any other much bigger savings to be had I wonder. If I've read it correctly the off peak return is £147. How many people actually would have been buying the other ticket just to save £2.10? I can't imagine masses of traffic between Newark and Exeter.

Thanks for your continued updates. I find them interesting.

 

[Paul Kelly]

700827 (Local) Journeys from Morpeth to Berwick upon Tweed may doubleback at Newcastle. This local easement applies in both directions.Easements 65 and 700705 already allowed a double-back at Newcastle for journeys using "any permitted" tickets (although nationalrail.co.uk still rejects them for some reason). This easement broadens it to cover other tickets.

I've had a look at the electronic data and the new easement 700827 doesn't do anything that easement 65 doesn't do. But in fact neither are necessary because the common routeing point rule applies here (the journey involves through trains to and from Newcastle), so a local easement is not needed.

What is needed here is a doubleback easement. I strongly suspect if the electronic versions of easements 65 and 700705 were changed from type "Local" to type "Doubleback", then most journey planners would start permitting these journeys.

An extra note for completeness: as I said, only a doubleback easement is needed here because the local journey requirements are satisfied by the common routeing point rule. But if (e.g. due to engineering work resulting in a blockade of Newcastle) you needed to change short of the common routeing point (e.g. at Manors or Cramlington) onto a train that started there and had not previously called at Newcastle (yes I know it's a very contrived example!), then the common routeing point rule would not be satisfied and a local easement would be required in addition to a doubleback easement.

 

[kieron]

Were there any other much bigger savings to be had I wonder.

Actually, sorry but I misunderstood the results I had there. Tiverton-Newark is only valid via Exeter if you compare the "not via London" NFM64 fares. While the instructions don't prohibit this, web sites tend not to accept it anyway.

Something like Tiverton-Ipswich would have been accepted, and an off-peak return is £10.10 less from Tiverton. It's easy enough to find a better deal for an Exeter-Ipswich return via Honiton, though.

I assume that there has been something someone at a TOC didn't like, but we may never find out what it was.

I've had a look at the electronic data and the new easement 700827 doesn't do anything that easement 65 doesn't do. But in fact neither are necessary because the common routeing point rule applies here (the journey involves through trains to and from Newcastle), so a local easement is not needed.


What is needed here is a doubleback easement. I strongly suspect if the electronic versions of easements 65 and 700705 were changed from type "Local" to type "Doubleback", then most journey planners would start permitting these journeys.

Thanks, that explains it. I know page F10 of the routeing guide says they allow doubling back on the local part of a journey. Am I right in thinking that only applies for routes which use the maps?

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published on Wednesday.

Changes from 181113 (234) to 181121 (235).

Map changes:

KE: Gain Finsbury Park to/from Hackney Downs​

This is an unusual link. If I was to travel from Finsbury Park to Hackney Downs by train, I'd change at Highbury & Islington, and walk from Hackney Central.

Highbury & Islington is itself a routeing point, so this isn't what this link means. Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale and Walthamstow Central are also routeing points, so I don't know of any way to use this link with the standard timetable.

Permitted Route changes:

Banbury Group (G58) to Manchester Group (G20) gain BB+BM lose RM​

This journey now has mapped routes via Bedworth.

Cheshunt (CHN) to Hitchin (HIT) gain ST+TY​

No effect. Everything on ST+TY is also on ST+KE.

Hackney Downs (HAC) to Stevenage (SVG) gain KE​

I think this is supposed to add a route avoiding London on one route or another. I don't think it does, though.

Easement changes:

Removed:

700812 (Map) Due to engineering diversions on the 14 October 2018 via Normanton; this map easement will create temporary permitted routes for TransPennine Express trains only between Leeds and Huddersfield for journeys between Hull and Manchester/Liverpool. This easement applies in both directions.

700819 (Local) Between 27th October 2018 and 18th November 2018, customers may travel between Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Stations via via Newport South Wales. This local easement applies in both directions.

700824 (Map) Due to engineering works Cross Country services on the 10 and 11 November 2018 will be diverted between Basingstoke and Southampton via Romsey. This map easement will apply in both directions.

700825 (Fare route) Due to engineering work diversions, until the 18 November 2018, tickets on route (00831) VIA BATH SPA will be valid on journeys via Swindon. this fare route easement applies in both directions.​

This just deletes some temporary easements which have expired.

 

[MikeWh]

KE: Gain Finsbury Park to/from Hackney Downs
This is an unusual link. If I was to travel from Finsbury Park to Hackney Downs by train, I'd change at Highbury & Islington, and walk from Hackney Central.

Highbury & Islington is itself a routeing point, so this isn't what this link means. Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale and Walthamstow Central are also routeing points, so I don't know of any way to use this link with the standard timetable.

Not sure if this is connected but the default Oyster route for Finsbury Park to Hackney Central/Downs is zones 2-3, so via either Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale. The fare is the same via Highbury with a pink reader touch, unless you have a zone 1-2 travelcard.

 

[kieron]

I don't know - it's still going through another routeing point on the way.

In theory, I think there could be a route to make the journey from Finsbury Park to Hackney Downs without passing through a routeing point on the way. It would go something like:

train: Finsbury Park-Harringay
walk: Harringay-Harringay Green Lanes
train: Harringay Green Lanes-South Tottenham East Junction-Tottenham South Junction-Coppermill Junction-Clapton-Hackney Downs

I don't think any passenger train services use the second route, though, and I don't think any are planned, even as a diversion.

 

[Hadders]

Just a thought on SVG-HAC, tickets are routed 'Victoria Line North' and '+Any Permitted'.

Is this anything to do with getting journey planners to show the correct route if using the Victoria Line?

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published this afternoon as follows:

Changes from 181121 (235) to 181128 (236).

Map changes:
KE: Gain Finsbury Park to/from Seven Sisters
KE: Gain Hackney Downs to/from Seven Sisters
KE: Lose Finsbury Park to/from Hackney Downs​

This is an updated version of last week's change. It adds a route from Finsbury Park to Hackney Downs via Seven Sisters.

Tickets with a "Victoria Line North" route should already have been valid that way. Most of the tickets have a cross on them for London Underground use. It says on nationalrail.co.uk that this means it is "valid for travel between any two stations shown in the 'Station List' (below) appropriate to the route of the through journey being made." The route of the journey is printed on the ticket.

It doesn't create a route which avoids the Victoria Line. This would have to involve a walk between Harringay and Harringay Green Lanes. Harringay is on the only line between Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park, so the route would have to avoid this link. From what I can tell, none of the routes which involve KE do this.

Permitted Route changes:
Goole (GOO) to Guide Bridge (GUI) gain YL lose HO​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Brigg.

Easement changes:
Changed (added text in red):
700753 (Circuitous Route) Journeys from or via (that originate beyond) Shenfield routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED to Brentwood, Harold Wood, Gidea Park, Romford, Chadwell Heath, Goodmayes, Seven Kings, Ilford, Manor Park, Forest Gate and Maryland may not travel via Stratford (London) or London Liverpool Street. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions​

This fixes a typo in a station name.

 

[kieron]

Some more changes were published this afternoon.

Changes from 181128 (236) to 181205 (237).

Permitted Route changes:

Leatherhead (LHD) to Newcastle (NCL) gain DK+TY​

Leatherhead-Newcastle doesn't have LONDON as a valid map combination, but this covers some of the routes which would be available for it if it did.

In particular, it adds some mapped routes via Wimbledon.

Easement changes:

Added:

700830 (Map) The route between Three Bridges and Brighton will be closed for engineering works from 16 February 2019 to 24 February 2019. This map easement will provide alternative routeings, in both directions, via Horsham and Littlehampton.​

The timetable hadn't been changed for this at the time of writing.

 

[kieron]

There have been a few sets of changes published over the last month. Sorry for the delay, especially as some of the easements added below are already out of date.

On 12 December, the following changes were published:

Changes from 181205 (237) to 181212 (238).

Permitted Route changes:
Ealing Broadway Group (G77) to South Ruislip (SRU) lose RG​

No effect.

Map changes:
GC: Lose Greenford to/from South Ruislip
RG: Lose Greenford to/from South Ruislip​

That is, the link between Greenford and South Ruislip has been removed from all of the maps which contained it.

From what I can see, this has no effect. According to the published information, a train is treated as going to Greenford if it runs into the bay platform at Greenford, or if it goes through Greenford East Junction. Greenford East Junction is used by trains to or from the Old Oak Common direction.

The Greenford platform is only used by trains which call at Greenford (Greenford-West Ealing ones now). Greenford East Junction is only used by trains to/from London. No map contains a Greenford-London link, so a train which was scheduled to go this way wouldn't be following a mapped route.

I do wonder why GC still includes Ealing-Greenford. Greenford isn't a routeing point, so it's not needed for trains going to Greenford. And no map includes a connection between Greenford and anywhere else, so it can't form part of a through route. All having the link there does is ensure that no train which runs through Greenford East Junction in future will be shown as using a mapped route.

Easement changes:

Removed:

700687 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling from or via Reading to East Croydon and London Terminals on tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED may not travel via Reading Bus and Gatwick Airport. This negative circuitous route easement applies in both directions​

I don't know anything about this service. Does this mean you can do this now?

700780 (Map) Customers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond, whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carlisle during engineering works on Saturdays 22 and 29 September, 06 and 13 October 2018; Sundays 23 and 30 September, 07 and 14 October 2018 . This map easement applies in both directions

700785 (Fare route) During engineering works between 04-07 June 2018, 09-12 July 2018, 16 July to 05 August 2018, 08-11 October 2018 and 19-22 November 2018, journeys from Warminster, Frome, Dilton Marsh and Westbury to Reading and London Paddington priced on fare route (00063) VIA NEWBURY are permitted on journeys via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700786 (Map) During engineering works between 04-07 June 2018, 09-12 July 2018, 16 July - 05 August 2018, 08-11 October 2018 and 19-22 November 2018 passengers from Pewsey to Reading and London Paddington on tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED, may travel via Westbury, Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon. This map easement applies in both directions.

700788 (Map) Due to engineering work diversions via Cosham, affecting journeys from and via Southampton to destinations using journey legs on Cross Country services on the weekends 01/02, 08/09, 15/16, and Saturday 22 September 2018, and Sundays the 21 October 2018 and 04 and 25 November 2018. This map easement will allow journey planners to see journeys via Cosham and Havant, and applies in both directions.

700796 (Map) During engineering works on the weekend of 13/10/2018 - 14/10/2018, between 27/10/2018 to 18/11/2018 and the weekends of the 24/25 November and 01/12/2018 - 02/12/2018 diversions between Bristol and Cheltenham will be permitted via Swindon. This map easement is applies in both directions.​

These are all temporary easements which have since expired.

Added:

700831 (Fare route) For journeys from West Ealing to High Wycombe using tickets priced on routes (00813) VIA GREENFORD (UND)and (00200) VIA LONDON may be used on the 11.47 direct service that runs Mondays to Fridays. This fare route easement applies only to the 11.47 through service.​

This means that there is a ticket which would be valid on that train. There are others, of course, such as a High Wycombe travelcard, but this is cheaper.

700832 (Fare route) Journeys to West Ealing Mondays to Fridays, that involve interchange at South Ruislip and onward travel on the 11.02 through train between South Ruislip and West Ealing will be permitted on tickets priced on (00813) VIA GREENFORD (UND) and (00200) VIA LONDON. This fare route easement only applies to journeys using the 11.02 service​

This is a similar easement for the other direction, although it covers more than just tckets from High Wycombe. South Ruislip-High Wycombe tickets are "any permitted", so would be covered anyway due to this being a through train.

700833 (Map) Due to engineering works between Petts Wood and Lewisham, trains will be diverted via New Beckenham and New Cross on the weekends of the 29-30 December 2018 and 05-06 January 2019. This affects journey planning involving more than one service, and requires temporary routeing data to be put in place. This map easement will apply in both directions.​

This permits (well, permitted) travel via Catford Bridge over the period.

On 19/12, the following changes were published:

Changes from 181212 (238) to 181219 (239).

Permitted Route changes:

Aberdeen (ABD) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Bradford Group (G03) to London Group (G01) gain ER+KS
Dalmuir (DMR) to London Group (G01) gain FW+EG+EC+KS
Darlington (DAR) to London Group (G01) gain TE+KS
Doncaster (DON) to London Group (G01) gain AD+KS
Dundee (DEE) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Edinburgh Group (G11) to London Group (G01) gain AA+KS
Falkirk Group (G44) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Gilberdyke (GBD) to London Group (G01) gain HU+KS
Goole (GOO) to London Group (G01) gain AD+KS
Hellifield Group (G53) to London Group (G01) gain WY+ER+KS
Hull (HUL) to London Group (G01) gain HU+KS
Inverkeithing Group (G50) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Kirkcaldy Group (G51) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Ladybank (LDY) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Leeds Group (G16) to London Group (G01) gain AY+KS
London Group (G01) to Middlesbrough Group (G42) gain KS+TE
London Group (G01) to Newcastle (NCL) gain KS+AA
London Group (G01) to Northallerton (NTR) gain KS+TE
London Group (G01) to Pontefract Group (G22) gain KS+GU
London Group (G01) to Scarborough Group (G48) gain KS+AY
London Group (G01) to Stirling (STG) gain KS+EC
London Group (G01) to Wakefield Group (G30) gain KS+AD
London Group (G01) to York (YRK) gain KS+AY​

These journeys now have mapped routes via Letchworth.

Barnetby (BTB) to London Group (G01) gain EE+KS
Bellgrove (BLG) to London Group (G01) gain GO+EG+EC+KS
Carstairs (CRS) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Crianlarich (CNR) to London Group (G01) gain FW+EG+EC+KS
Dingwall (DIN) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Dumbarton Group (G80) to London Group (G01) gain FW+EG+EC+KS
Fort William (FTW) to London Group (G01) gain FW+EG+EC+KS
Habrough (HAB) to London Group (G01) gain EE+KS
Huddersfield Group (G40) to London Group (G01) gain DP+GU+KS
Hyndland (HYN) to London Group (G01) gain GO+EG+EC+KS
Inverness (INV) to London Group (G01) gain EC+KS
Kilmarnock (KMK) to London Group (G01) gain GO+EG+EC+KS
Kilwinning (KWN) to London Group (G01) gain GO+EG+EC+KS
London Group (G01) to Motherwell Group (G67) gain KS+EC
London Group (G01) to Mount Florida (MFL) gain KS+EC+EG+GO
London Group (G01) to Paisley Gilmour Street (PYG) gain KS+EC+EG+GO
London Group (G01) to Partick (PTK) gain KS+EC+EG+GO
London Group (G01) to Perth (PTH) gain KS+EC
London Group (G01) to Pollokshaws West (PWW) gain KS+EC+EG+GO
London Group (G01) to Port Glasgow (PTG) gain KS+EC+EG+GO
London Group (G01) to Springburn (SPR) gain KS+EC+EG+GO​

These journeys now have mapped routes via Cambridge.

Barnsley (BNY) to London Group (G01) gain AD+KS​

This journey now has mapped route which go via both Doncaster and Letchworth.

Glasgow Group (G13) to London Group (G01) gain EG+EC+KS
London Group (G01) to Newark Group (G47) gain KS+LN
London Group (G01) to Retford (RET) gain KS+LN
London Group (G01) to Worksop (WRK) gain KS+LN​

These journeys now have mapped routes via Finsbury Park and Cambridge.

Halifax Group (G39) to London Group (G01) gain DP+GU+KS​

This journey now has mapped routes via Cambridge, as well as ones via Bradford and Huddersfield which do not go through Chesterfield.

Hayes & Harlngtn Gp (G75) to South Ruislip (SRU) lose RG
Slough (SLO) to South Ruislip (SRU) lose RG
Maidenhead (MAI) to South Ruislip (SRU) lose RG
Reading Group (G24) to South Ruislip (SRU) lose RG
South Ruislip (SRU) to Twyford (TWY) lose RG​

No effect. South Ruislip was removed from RG the week before, so these were sequences you couldn't possibly follow.

Lincoln Central (LCN) to London Group (G01) gain DG+LN+KS LN+KS​

These journeys now have mapped routes which go:
via Cambridge and Stevenage; and
via Rauceby.

London Group (G01) to Meadowhall (MHS) gain KS+AA+BB lose EE+HO​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Barnley; or
via Shadwell.
It now has mapped routes via Cambridge.

London Group (G01) to Newton (NTN) gain KS+EC+EG+GO​

This journey now has mapped routes:
via Cambridge;
via Falkirk; and
via both Edinburgh and Glasgow

London Group (G01) to Selby (SBY) gain KS+AL+HL KS+AY​

This journey now has mapped routes:
via Letchworth; and
ones via Leeds and York which do not go via Wakefield or Cambridge.

London Group (G01) to Sheffield (SHF) gain KS+HU+MS KS+HU+SH​

This journey now has mapped routes:
via Doncaster and Letchworth; and
via Worksop and Letchworth.

London Group (G01) to Sleaford (SLR) gain KS+LN​

This journey now has mapped routes via Stevenage, Cambridge and Spalding.

London Group (G01) to Swinton (South Yorkshire) (SWN) gain KG+DW KS+AA+DW lose EE+HO​

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Barnley and Stevenage; or
via Shadwell.
It now has mapped routes via Cambridge.

London Group (G01) to Troon Group (G81) gain KS+EC+EG+AG​

This journey now has mapped routes via Ely.

London Group (G01) to Westerton (WES) gain KS+EC+EG​

No effect.

I think this one may be a mistake. 4 maps (EG, FW, GF and SR) had a link between Springburn and Westerton added in 2016 for when Glasgow Queen Street High Level tunnel was closed for engineering work. I'm not sure what used the link at the time, but nothing is scheduled to go that way now. As that's the only way to reach Westerton on EG, this map combination covers nothing.

One of the pre-existing London-Westerton map combinations is KG+SR. If that had instead been replaced by KE+KG+SR, this would have permitted travel via Cambridge, Peterborough and Berwick using "any permitted" tickets

Easement changes:

Removed:

700811 (Map) Due to engineering works, Cross Country services on Sundays 21 October 2018 and the 04 and 25 November 2018 will be diverted via Ash and North Camp. this map easement will allow connecting services to be shown in journey planners.

700813 (Fare route) Tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD and (00805) VIA EVESHAM will be valid via Stroud between 17 and 25 November 2018 due to station improvement works between Pershore and Morten in the Marsh. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700818 (Map) During engineering works on 09/12/2018 and 16/12/2018, Customers travelling from and via Gloucester to and via Bristol Temple Meads may travel via Newport S.Wales. This map easement applies in both directions.

700821 (Fare route) During engineering works 27 October 2018 to 18 November 2018. Plus the weekends of the 24/25 November 2018 and 01/02 December 2018, journeys on Cross Country services using tickets priced on fare route (00817) VIA BRISTOL may travel via Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Kemble and Stroud and Cheltenham Spa. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

700823 (Doubleback) On Sundays 09 and 16 December 2018, due to engineering work diversions, Cross Country services will travel via Newport (South wales) and will pass Severn tunnel Junction twice. This double back easement will apply on these dates and work in both directions.

700826 (Fare route) Tickets priced (00810) NOT VIA READING will be permitted for journeys via Reading on 16 December 2018 due to the line through Didcot Parkway being closed to allow for improvement work to take place. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

These are all temporary easements which have since expired.

On 4/1, the following changes were published:

Changes from 181219 (239) to 190104 (240).

Permitted Route changes:

Basingstoke (BSK) to Castle Cary (CLC) gain BB+PC LE lose XR+PC​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Weymouth.
It now has mapped routes via Yeovil Junction.

Castle Cary (CLC) to Weybridge Group (G82) gain LE WE+RU​

This journey now has mapped routes:
via Yeovil Junction; and
via Mortimer.

Castle Cary (CLC) to Woking (WOK) gain LE​

This journey now has mapped routes via Yeovil Junction.

Chippenham (CPM) to Hunts Cross Group (G70) gain BW+BV
Chippenham (CPM) to Liverpool Group (G18) gain BW+BV​

These journeys now have mapped routes:
via Bath and Runcorn; and
via Bath, Stoke-on-Trent and Chester.

Highbury & Islington (HHY) to London Group (G01) lose KP​

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Finsbury Park.

Map changes:

HI: Gain Essex Road to/from Highbury & Islington
HI: Gain Essex Road to/from London Group​

Before this change, there was a line on the map between Highbury and London which had no intermediate point marked, and Essex Road wasn't included on the map. This change adds a second line, with Essex Road marked on it.

There are only 4 map sequences which include HI, and no mapped routes are added or removed by this change.

Easement changes:

Removed:
700814 (Fare route) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on journeys to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This fare route easement applies in both directions

700815 (Map) During engineering works affecting journeys into London Paddington between 23 and 30 December 2018, tickets routed (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00807) VIA STROUD will be valid on routes to London Euston and London Marylebone via Birmingham and Oxford. This map easement applies in both directions

700820 (Map) On 1st Jan 2019, there is an engineering blockade between Wolverhampton and Stafford. Cross Country services will not be calling at Wolverhampton, and instead will be diverting from Birmingham New Street via Nuneaton to Stafford and onward to Manchester. This map easement will apply in both directions

700828 (Map) During engineering works between the 23 December 2018 and 01 January 2019, customers travelling from Diss, Needham Market and Stowmarket to or via central London on tickets routed (00000) ANY PERMITTED may travel via Bury St Edmund's and Cambridge to both London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street. This map easement applies in both directions​

Temporary easements, now finished.

Added:

700834 (Routeing Point) Journeys from Castle Cary to, Walton on Thames, Hersham and Esher on route (00700) NOT VIA LONDON denied by fares checking when travelling via Weybridge will be permitted by this routeing point easement; and will apply in both directions.​

The statement above doesn't seem to be correct for Walton on Thames, as the prices are the same as for Weybridge. Using Weybridge rather than Surbiton (the other opton) as a routeing point means that there are mapped routes via Reading and via Yeovil.

700835 (Fare route) During engineering in the Westbury area on Sunday 13 January 2019 and on the 03, 06 and 07 February 2019. Tickets priced on fare route (00136) VIA MELKSHAM, will be valid for travel via Bristol Temple Meads. This fare route easement applies in both directions​

Melksham, Westbury and Dilton Marsh are closed then, so this could be useful for someone travelling between Swindon and Trowbridge. Less so if you're going from Melksham to Salisbury.

On 9/1, the following easements were published:

Changes from 190104 (240) to 190109 (241).

700836 (Routeing Point) Journeys from Keynsham or Oldfield Park to Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Chalfont & Latimer and Amersham may travel via Bath Spa. This routeing point easement overrides fares checking (NFM64) and operates in both directions.​

There were no fares for any of these routes in NFM64. This easement says that you can use Bath as a routeing point at one end. Easement 700730 says that you can travel via London Marylebone so long as you travel via London Victoria. BL+WX contains a route from Bath Spa to London Victoria. It isn't the first route I'd think of for the journey, though.

700837 (Map) On 2nd Feb 2019, Cross Country trains are diverting between Basingstoke and Southampton via Salisbury and Romsey. This map easement will apply in both directions.​

By "Salisbury", this means the Laverstock curve in the west of the town. The easement could be intended to let you travel through Salisbury station, though. They haven't really given very much away.

700838 (Routeing Point) Journeys from Elsecar and Wombwell to Willesden Junction priced on route (00486) AP EMT & CONNECTIONS are denied via Meadowhall by (NFM64) fares checking. This routeing point easement will apply and operate in both directions.​

Not being shown on ticket sites seems to be an issue that also affects "any permitted" tickets on these routes. The web sites do allow "via Chesterfield" tickets, but they're less flexible.

On 11/1, the following changes were published:

Changes from 190109 (241) to 190111 (242).

​

Permitted Route changes:
Chester (CTR) to Newcastle (NCL) gain JP+VT+MN​

This now has mapped routes via Liverpool and Manchester. These include both routes between Liverpool and Manchester, and both between Manchester and Leeds.

Easement changes:

Added:

700839 (Map) During engineering diversions from 17 February to 08 March 2019, this temporary map easement will create permitted routes between London Paddington and Penzance via Castle Cary, Yeovil Junction and Honiton. But only for tickets priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED. It will operate in both directions​

This seems like a surprisingly specific easement to me.

The diversion route in question goes from Castle Cary to Exeter via Yeovil. A ticket between two stations your train calls at will be fine, of course. The route via Castle Cary is around 4 miles longer than the one via Taunton, and I don't think there are any map combinations which go this way. In other words, there are lots of routes which would not be valid on a diverted train, even with this easement.

The only London-Penzance tickets which don't have an "any permitted" route are advance tickets. Preventing people from using those on through trains also seems a bit odd.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Not being shown on ticket sites seems to be an issue that also affects "any permitted" tickets on these routes. The web sites do allow "via Chesterfield" tickets, but they're less flexible.

All of the Any Permitted fares were previously valid anyway, as far as I can see, by virtue of there being a cheaper routed fare (i.e. Via Chesterfield) with the same ticket type. The easement does seem to be necessary to validate those fares routed ✠AP EMT& CONNECT, though.

 

[embers25]

Easement changes:

Added:

700839 (Map) During engineering diversions from 17 February to 08 March 2019, this temporary map easement will create permitted routes between London Paddington and Penzance via Castle Cary, Yeovil Junction and Honiton. But only for tickets priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED. It will operate in both directions​

This seems like a surprisingly specific easement to me.

The diversion route in question goes from Castle Cary to Exeter via Yeovil. A ticket between two stations your train calls at will be fine, of course. The route via Castle Cary is around 4 miles longer than the one via Taunton, and I don't think there are any map combinations which go this way. In other words, there are lots of routes which would not be valid on a diverted train, even with this easement.

The only London-Penzance tickets which don't have an "any permitted" route are advance tickets. Preventing people from using those on through trains also seems a bit odd.​

This stops people booking direct trains with GWR January sale tickets which may be the reason.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

This stops people booking direct trains with GWR January sale tickets which may be the reason.

But it is not just GWR January Sale tickets that are affected. The likes of London to Exeter don't have an Any Permitted route ticket. Only via Honiton or via Taunton (for walkups), or route and/or operator restricted Advances.

 

[infobleep]

But it is not just GWR January Sale tickets that are affected. The likes of London to Exeter don't have an Any Permitted route ticket. Only via Honiton or via Taunton (for walkups), or route and/or operator restricted Advances.

Whilst that maybe the case, they may have just been thinking about the January sale and not considered the wider implications of this change.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Whilst that maybe the case, they may have just been thinking about the January sale and not considered the wider implications of this change.

So, in other words, short-sighted thinking that discourages people from travelling by rail? Sounds like the rail industry I know!

 

[infobleep]

So, in other words, short-sighted thinking that discourages people from travelling by rail? Sounds like the rail industry I know!

Some people work in a bubble at times a d just focus on what they need to do.

You'd hope though in something as important as this, there would be someone checking that the change didn't cause other unintended issues.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Some people work in a bubble at times a d just focus on what they need to do.

You'd hope though in something as important as this, there would be someone checking that the change didn't cause other unintended issues.

If the rail industry implemented the same level of care with respect to ticketing and routeing as they evidently do to safety-related matters, based on their accident history (or lack thereof)... well, things like this thread would hardly have to exist. It almost feels like we're the beta testers of the rail industry's latest changes and inventions.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If the rail industry implemented the same level of care with respect to ticketing and routeing as they evidently do to safety-related matters, based on their accident history (or lack thereof)... well, things like this thread would hardly have to exist. It almost feels like we're the beta testers of the rail industry's latest changes and inventions.

They are by no means the only organisation that applies that level of "chuck it out and see if it works" to IT related stuff. If anything it's rapidly becoming the norm.

The trouble with the railway is that they actually give people criminal records based on it, rather than them just not, for instance, being able to order their shopping from their supermarket of choice. It's one of the arguments I would tend to use to back up my view that the Byelaws and RoRA should be abolished, with the railway forced to use the civil courts (plus a modified statutory PF scheme with an independent appeals board) for non-payment like everyone else - they are simply not responsible enough to have that right. And not having the easy recourse to prosecution (due to the different legal system; private prosecutions are very difficult to conduct in Scotland to the point that almost none are ever carried out) doesn't exactly cause ScotRail to be a basket case.

Edit: I've created a new thread to discuss that point further as I think it merits one:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-their-own-laws-for-ticketless-travel.176605/

 

[RJ]

If the rail industry implemented the same level of care with respect to ticketing and routeing as they evidently do to safety-related matters, based on their accident history (or lack thereof)... well, things like this thread would hardly have to exist. It almost feels like we're the beta testers of the rail industry's latest changes and inventions.

I'm going to stick up for the RDG here. Sometimes when dealing with large, complex data, one change can produce a load of untended consequences. When the process is manually untertaken by people, this will happen and it's a job in itself to keep patching them.

Before long they will come to hear about it - I'm sure hundreds of thousands of trips are booked online daily and customers may well make some noise if something. I'm sure the TOCs are vocal too and there are websites like this where people like to keep them on their toes. Demands from all directions but I'm sure it's a thankless task.

I've got customers who are not enthusiasts who come to my window to report "oddities" from online journey planners. If it's negative I will forward the feedback on to try and get it fixed. If they're positive I'll advise them not to tell anyone and make a note in my book of anomalies/loopholes in case they ever become useful

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I'm going to stick up for the RDG here. Sometimes when dealing with large, complex data, one change can produce a load of untended consequences. When the process is manually untertaken by people, this will happen and it's a job in itself to keep patching them.

Before long they will come to hear about it - I'm sure hundreds of thousands of trips are booked online daily and customers may well make some noise if something. I'm sure the TOCs are vocal too and there are websites like this where people like to keep them on their toes.

I've got customers who are not enthusiasts who come to my window to report "oddities" from online journey planners. If it's negative I will forward the feedback on to try and get it fixed. If they're positive I'll advise them not to tell anyone and make a note in my book of anomalies/loopholes in case they ever become useful

It's true that it's a big task, and feedback will see most issues fixed eventually, the current problems with engineering work diversions and the like demonstrate how there is a lack of joined up thinking. More effort needs to be put into getting it right first time. Of course there will always be some mistakes, but the current rate suggests that there isn't nearly enough quality control and the like.