Online routing guide

[Craig]

Does anyone have a link handy for the online version of the routing guide? I want to look up valid routes for a Newcastle to Birmingham International standard open return.

TIA

 

[Tom]

www.davros.org has the "unofficial" routing guide.

http://www.atoc.org/rsp/Routeing_Guide.asp for the official one.

 

[yorkie]

www.davros.org has the "unofficial" routing guide.

I think you're on dodgy ground there, it's very out of date and has severe limitations (see the relevant page for details). It is, however, very useful for obtaining mileages.

 

[yorkie]

Key points:

The shortest route is always valid, along with any routes not greater than 3 miles further than the shortest route

(e.g. in this case it's Birmingham Int, to Birmingham New St, to Sheffield, then via Pontefract Baghill to York, and on to Newcastle).

Direct trains are always valid.

Mapped routes are valid for journeys where the origin/destination do not share the same routeing point, this is where you need to consult the guide.

(e.g. in this case the relevant maps are: BG+ER; BP+MM+ER' BP+TV+LY+ER; BP+TV+TP; BS+GNCE+DG+ER; CE+ER; CM+LY+ER and CM+TP)

It's also worth bearing in mind that the "no doubling back" rule has various exceptions (see Grouped Stations) that allow you to do so - which can be extremely useful.

This particular ticket appears to be valid via the WCML between Carlisle and Nuneaton, or for the ECML as far south as Peterborough, or for MML as far south as Leicester, plus almost every conceivable route in between, making a circular route such as Newcastle-Carlisle-Preston-Crewe-Birmingham-Nuneaton-Leicester-Peterborough-York-Newcastle possible! So quite a useful ticket.

 

[Craig]

This particular ticket appears to be valid via the WCML between Carlisle and Nuneaton

That's what I wanted to know. If I get finished early tomorrow, I might travel back via Carlisle and the Tyne Valley.

plus almost every conceivable route in between, making a circular route such as Newcastle-Carlisle-Preston-Crewe-Birmingham-Nuneaton-Leicester-Peterborough-York-Newcastle possible! So quite a useful ticket.

I realised this once I'd made sense of that awful website. A bargain at £125, I'm just glad I didn't pay for the ticket

 

[yorkie]

I realised this once I'd made sense of that awful website. A bargain at £125, I'm just glad I didn't pay for the ticket

Fortunately, the same routes can be done on a Saver...and, with a railcard, you could still travel at peak time.

 

[adambro]

Fortunately, the same routes can be done on a Saver...and, with a railcard, you could still travel at peak time.

How does that work please?

 

[yorkie]

How does that work please?

Savers have no time restriction on Virgin trains, with any railcard.

 

[adambro]

Okay, cheers. I was trying to find Virgin's saver conditions but with no luck. Would they be somewhere in the fares manual or elsewhere? Started looking through the fares manual but the section is 120 pages long so it would take a while.

Thanks again.

 

[metrocammel]

Okay, cheers. I was trying to find Virgin's saver conditions but with no luck. Would they be somewhere in the fares manual or elsewhere? Started looking through the fares manual but the section is 120 pages long so it would take a while.

Thanks again.

I dont know if it's online, but there is a leaflet, with a pic of a Pendo on the front, dedicated to SVR restrictions on VT (though I think it is for ICWC, rather than XC)

 

[Guinness]

It's on a "Is my Saver Valid?" pocket leaflet for Virgin. It's written on the back IIRC.

Saver's at any time (Including Peak) are valid with Railcards EXCEPT with a Family Railcard.

 

[yorkie]

Saver's at any time (Including Peak) are valid with Railcards EXCEPT with a Family Railcard.

No, it's any railcard.

 

[yorkie]

http://www.atoc.org/retail/_downloads/NFM95/NFM95_Common_F.pdf

 

[Guinness]

No, it's any railcard.

Page 2:
Savers purchased with a Family Railcard are valid on any
Virgin Train, without time restriction.

I stand corrected.

 

[adambro]

Thanks very much for the help. Seems I would have been looking in the wrong section of the fares manual so you've saved me a lot of time (and potentially money). Cheers!

 

[adambro]

For the benefit of anyone else interested in Virgin's saver offer, details are also in their leaflet, "Travelling with Virgin Trains". Section 3.4 states "If you hold a valid Railcard, you can take advantage of the normal Railcard discount on top of our already great value Saver and Virgin Value fares. And if you buy a Saver ticket with your Railcard you can travel on any Virgin Trains' service at any time. Please ask for details at time of booking your ticket".