Retford/Doncaster to Loughborough

[ECML180]

Hi All,

Received advice on here a while ago that purchasing a Retford to Loughbrough ticket saved me a fair bit travelling between Doncaster and Loughborough as the off peak was valid any time after 04.29.

I haven't travelled that way for a few weeks now but this morning I tried to buy one but was refused and offered the anytime ticket at around £30 more. I instead purchased a Doncaster to Loughborough return for £32.40. Is this my mistake - I accept validities etc may change. Or have they refused to sell me a valid ticket? I accept they may not be keen to sell it to start at Doncaster but I do sometimes finish at Retford on the return leg!

Cheers!

 

[Adam0984]

The fare is still there according to brfares and valid after 0430. Having trying to put Retford to Loughborough via Doncaster in East Coast it says no fares so I'd assume that the ticket is Retford to Sheffield via Kiverton then Sheffield to Loughborough

 

[yorkie]

If pricing managers read on here that people are buying tickets from a different origin purely to reduce the cost that the pricing managers want them to pay, then you can be pretty sure they will do anything they can to remove that validity.

The DfT have to approve all changes, so you can FOI them.

EC are (for now) also subject to FOI.

However given that it's unlikely to be quicker to go via Doncaster and it's a longer way round, I doubt you will get anywhere with that.

 

[ECML180]

If pricing managers read on here that people are buying tickets from a different origin purely to reduce the cost

That's part of the problem though, some weeks I start my outward journey at Doncaster and finish the return journey at Retford! The lower price is a nice benefit but it is required for the journey. I'll stick to the normal fare and catch the bus from Doncaster to Retford then.

Please delete this thread then to keep it away from those pricing managers.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Doing a quick Routeing Guide check, all of the stations involved are Routeing Points, so a fares check doesn't come into it when determining routes, which means we just need to check the "Yellow Pages" to see what map combination(s) is/are permitted.

Our survey says: Maps EM, or SH+MM.

Map EM permits Retford - Worksop - Nottingham - (Derby -) Loughborough
SH+MM permits Retford - Worksop - Sheffield - Chesterfield - (Derby and/or Nottingham) - Loughborough

For the sake of completeness, a mileage check gives the following results:

Retford HL - Doncaster is 17.5 miles
Doncaster - Sheffield is 19 miles via Swinton
Sheffield - Loughborough is 53.25 miles via Derby, and 55.5 miles via Nottingham
Giving totals of 89.75 miles via Derby, and 92 miles via Nottingham

Retford - Worksop is 7.75 miles
Worksop - Nottingham is 31.5 miles
Retford - Worksop - Sheffield is 23.5 miles
Sheffield - Loughborough is 53.25 miles via Derby, and 55.5 miles via Nottingham
Nottingham - Lougborough is 14.75 miles
Giving totals of 54 miles for Retford - Worksop - Nottingham - Loughborough, 76.75 miles for Retford - Worksop - Sheffield - Derby - Loughborough, and 79 miles for Retford - Worksop - Sheffield - Nottingham - Loughborough

Not surprisingly, none of those are within 3 miles of the routes via Doncaster, so it doesn't pass the "shortest route" test either.

 

[bb21]

Did you try buying that ticket at Doncaster? If so, that is asking for trouble imo.

You are buying what can potentially be perceived as a loophole ticket, which is probably seen as not valid at that time of day (unless one checks the restriction details), at an intermediate ticket office. This is also a sure-fire way to see the favourable terms of the fare reported and brought to the attention of those who have "ulterior motives". I would never do that.

Instead buy online before you leave home and collect at the station. WebTIS are instant so you can even buy on your phone as you set foot on station premises.

I realise that you are not at fault during this whole episode but sometimes it is much more beneficial to keep a low profile of certain fares, especially if you wish to make good use of it for the foreseeable future.

 

[ECML180]

The strange thing about it - I've had it suggested by a TM when travelling between Doncaster and Sheffield and ticket office confirmed it was ok as well. I was told it was a permitted route, not that ignorance is an excuse nor that "the man on the platform said..." makes it ok - just surprises me is all!

Thanks for everyones help!