Glossop - Kirkby Stephen return

[windswept]

I will be traveling from Glossop to Kirkby Stephen on 27th June, returning on the 30th. I don't know what time I will be travelling back on 30th, so it needs to be an open return.

A basic search on national rail enquiries throws up an anytime return going up via Carlisle. When I've made the journey previously, I've travelled via Leeds, however when I restrict the journey to go via Leeds, no return fares are available. An anytime single IS valid via Leeds, however NRE seems to suggest a return is not.

The validity restrictions seem odd - return valid via Carlisle but not via Leeds, single valid via either route.

Could someone confirm whether an anytime return *would* be valid via Leeds? If not, what would the best combination of tickets be, given the need for fleixibility on 30th?

 

[John @ home]

The £47.40 Anytime Return Glossop - Kirkby Stephen route Any Permitted is undoubtedly valid via Leeds because Leeds is on the shortest route Glossop - Kirkby Stephen.

According to the Network Rail timetable, these are the shortest routes:

Shortest route from Glossop to Kirkby Stephen (127.5 miles)

Glossop 0, Dinting 1, Broadbottom 3.25, Hattersley 4.25, Godley 4.75, Newton For Hyde 5.75, Flowery Field 6.5, Guide Bridge 8.5, Fairfield 9.75, Gorton 10.75, Ashburys 11.75, Ardwick 12.75, Manchester Piccadilly 13.25, Stalybridge 20.75, Mossley (Grtr Manchester) 23.5, Greenfield 25.75, Marsden 31.75, Slaithwaite 34.25, Huddersfield 38.75, Deighton 40.75, Mirfield 43.75, Ravensthorpe 45.5, Dewsbury 46.75, Batley 48, Morley 51.5, Cottingley 53, Leeds 56, Shipley 66.75, Saltaire 67.5, Bingley 69.75, Crossflatts 70.5, Keighley 73, Steeton & Silsden 76, Cononley 79.25, Skipton 82.25, Gargrave 86, Hellifield 92.25, Long Preston 93.5, Settle 97.25, Horton In Ribblesdale 103.5, Ribblehead 108.25, Dent 114.25, Garsdale 117.75, Kirkby Stephen 127.5.

http://www.bukitlawang.com/routes/routes.aspx

 

[bb21]

It is possible that the shortest route was interpreted as the route via Hellifield and Clitheroe, which has, at best, a skeleton service, at certain times of the year.

I am not going to comment on what I think of that logic.

 

[John @ home]

what would the best combination of tickets be, given the need for flexibility on 30th?

If you are content to travel in both directions by trains calling at Hebden Bridge, try:

£15.80 Off-Peak Return Glossop - Hebden Bridge route Any Permitted (Outward by any train except those timed to depart Mondays to Fridays before 0745, Return by any train)
£29.70 Anytime Return Hebden Bridge - Kirkby Stephen route Any Permitted
Total £45.50.

Otherwise, the £47.40 Anytime Return Glossop - Kirkby Stephen route Any Permitted gives good value and greater flexibility.

It is possible that the shortest route was interpreted as the route via Hellifield and Clitheroe

http://www.bukitlawang.com/routes/routes.aspx does indeed show that the Rail Journey Information Service (RJIS), used by at least some journey planners, does indeed calculate the shortest route Glossop - Kirkby Stephen via Clitheroe. But the National Routeing Guide instructs us that "The shortest route is calculated by reference to the mileages shown in the National Rail Timetable, available at www.networkrail.co.uk/timetable". These mileages are used in the calculation in post #2 above.

 

[windswept]

Thanks for your help - I thought it would be alright, as I've made the journey before with no trouble, just wanted to check. It's certainly a shorter route than via Carlisle.