Using a cheaper route

[transportphoto]

Hi all,

Quick question. Where is it written that if you’ve got a more expensive route (e.g. via Norwich) that you can use the cheaper route at whim (e.g. via Cambridge)?

Thank you!

 

[ASharpe]

I don't think it's written. Rather you are entitled to pay the difference without penalty on the train, which would be £0 (condition 13e in the NRCOC).

Edit to add: It's only half the difference if just one leg takes the more expensive route. So always worth considering buying the cheaper an excess or two.

 

[transportphoto]

Thanks. A little bit more searching, I’ve found it:

Where the fare specifies a particular route, there will be restrictions in the fare routes data that will affect thee routes listed in the Guide which pass through the station shown in the route description. The National Routeing Guide may be used to find out how to reach the station shown in the route description. Where there are other permitted routes, these may also be used for the same journey provided the same or a lower fare applies.

(Source:Rail Delivery Group, http://iblocks-rg-publication.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nrg_instructions.pdf)

 

[Watershed]

Hi all,

Quick question. Where is it written that if you’ve got a more expensive route (e.g. via Norwich) that you can use the cheaper route at whim (e.g. via Cambridge)?

Thank you!

The Routeing Guide refers:

Where the fare specifies a particular route, there will be restrictions in the fare routes data that will affect thee routes listed in the Guide which pass through the station shown in the route description. The National Routeing Guide may be used to find out how to reach the station shown in the route description. Where there are other permitted routes, these may also be used for the same journey provided the same or a lower fare applies.

It's also the logical conclusion of NRCoT 13.2.