Darlington - York return. OK to break return @ Yarm?

[DrSpocker]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find the answer to this in the Routeing guide but getting a bit stuck.

I wish to travel from Darlington to York, and then return the same day but from York to Yarm (rather than back to Darlington).

Is this a permitted route on an Off-Peak Day Return?

& if so, can I break my return journey in Yarm and then take a later train from Yarm - Darlington? or would I need to purchase another ticket?

I'd be most grateful for any advice.

Many thanks!

 

[bb21]

That is fine. Darlington - York is permitted via Yarm and Eaglescliffe.

However on resuming your journey at Yarm, you must travel via Eaglescliffe (or Middlesbrough but only for interchanging purposes there).

 

[ASharpe]

That is fine. Darlington - York is permitted via Yarm and Eaglescliffe.

However on resuming your journey at Yarm, you must travel via Eaglescliffe (or Middlesbrough but only for interchanging purposes there).

There are no direct trains from Yarm to Eaglescliffe, change at Thornaby to get back to Darlington.

 

[bb21]

There are no direct trains from Yarm to Eaglescliffe, change at Thornaby to get back to Darlington.

You know what I mean.

Yes, changing at Thornaby is also fine.

 

[DrSpocker]

Many thanks for your help - and apologies for the late reply!

 

[cuccir]

Although the stations themselves are a little far apart (~3 miles) because they are at the northern and southern extremes of the two towns, Yarm and Eaglescliffe are contiguous: depending on where you are in Yarm, it will in most instances probably be preferable to head directly to Allens West or Eaglescliffe stations (both in Eaglescliffe) rather than mess about travelling up to Thornaby and back.

 

[Starmill]

Although the stations themselves are a little far apart (~3 miles) because they are at the northern and southern extremes of the two towns, Yarm and Eaglescliffe are contiguous: depending on where you are in Yarm, it will in most instances probably be preferable to head directly to Allens West or Eaglescliffe stations (both in Eaglescliffe) rather than mess about travelling up to Thornaby and back.

Yarm is weird. Everything about it is abnormal - it's name. It's awfully early last service (for TPE), the fact it doesn't have so much as a TVM (again, for TPE), the fact it's an unstaffed halt but it looks smart (this one is because of TPE). The fact that the London services stop at Eaglescliffe and omit Yarm, but the 'local' TOC stopping at Yarm omit Eaglescliffe. A real case of joined up planning there!

The real important question here is - which station serves Egglescliffe?

 

[cuccir]

(With apologies for hi-jacking the thread)

It's a little bit of a mess I agree. Eaglescliffe station is a much satisfactory station for trains to stop at for interchange purposes, as it's on the stretch of track that is shared by Darlington-Durham Coast, Darlington-Middlesbrough and York-Middlesbrough. That's why Grand Central stop there.

But it is probably generally less convenient for local residents as its a good 2 miles from the centre of Yarm where local shops and services are located, whereas Eaglescliffe itself is largely suburban sprawl. If TPE didn't stop at Yarm, then there wouldn't be any services stopping there, and I don't see TPE wanting to stop at all three of Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Thornaby. It's interesting to note that Yarm only opened in 1996, so presumably that local demand is sufficient to create the current situation.

Ideally TPE would stop at Eaglescliffe which would allow for greater interchange options, and there'd be a York to Middlesbrough/Sunderland stopper train which would serve Yarm. In the absence of any proper 'local' service on this stretch of line, however, I guess that the current situation will persist!

 

[ASharpe]

Yarm is a rather short platform, a 3 car 185 only just fits. I don't think grand central could stop their HSTs there.

 

[Darandio]

it's on the stretch of track that is shared by Darlington-Durham Coast, Darlington-Middlesbrough and York-Middlesbrough.

I don't really think the former is worth a mention, doesn't the Darlington - Durham Coast service amount to a couple of trains on a Sunday?

Yarm station is only around a mile from the town centre, but it feels like a much longer walk! You also have the strange situation whereby the walk from Yarm town centre to Eaglescliffe isn't a great deal further!