Wrexham to Kirkham on March, 10th

[Talent]

All,

I'd like to go from Wrexham to Kirkham & Wesham and return on March 10th.

Any idea why the 17:25 (replacement bus) return service isn't selectable? As these are off peak tickets may I take this service?

 

[alistairlees]

No, this route is not a permitted route for any ticket (irrespective of whether it is Off-Peak or Anytime).

The suggested route involves travel from Shotton to Wrexham. The only permitted route that allows you to travel this way is if you have come via Liverpool / the Wirral. The itinerary for the 17.25 is via Chester. Once you get to Chester, the only permitted route to Wrexham is direct (i.e. not via Shotton).

In practice it's a very poor outcome as it means there are no valid itineraries showing on National Rail for three hours. I don't expect that's intended.

 

[lyndhurst25]

The £33.10 fare is a stupidly-named Off Peak Return with an 8A restruction code, meaning that you can in fact use it any time! Not sure why the journey planner isn't allowing you to select the journey that you want.

 

[alistairlees]

If you want to arrive at around 19.45 then you could do:

16.40 Kirkham & Wesham to Preston 17.05 (bus)
17.17 Preston to Crewe 17.57
18.23 Crewe to Chester 18.46
19.28 Chester to Wrexham G 19.44

Alternatively (tighter connections, but still valid)
17.25 Kirkham & Wesham to Preston 17.50 (bus)
17.58 Preston to Warrington BQ 18.20
18.26 Warrington BQ to Chester 18.53
19.28 Chester to Wrexham G 19.44

I don't know why these aren't showing on National Rail.

 

[Talent]

So if I get off at Chester, take the 19:28 direct train from Chester to Wrexham it's fine and saves me 2 minutes?

EDIT: too late...

 

[alistairlees]

Not sure why the journey planner isn't allowing you to select the journey that you want.

I just explained: because the journey at 17.25 is routed Preston - Warrington BQ - Chester - Shotton - Wrexham, and this is not a mapped (aka permitted) route. If you come into Chester from either Warrington or Crewe then you have to go direct to Wrexham (not via Shotton).

You can go via Shotton, but only if you come via Liverpool (not Chester).

 

[lyndhurst25]

I just explained: because the journey at 17.25 is routed Preston - Warrington BQ - Chester - Shotton - Wrexham, and this is not a mapped (aka permitted) route. If you come into Chester from either Warrington or Crewe then you have to go direct to Wrexham (not via Shotton).

You can go via Shotton, but only if you come via Liverpool (not Chester).

I know now. I think that we were both typing replies at the same time...

 

[Talent]

The £33.10 fare is a stupidly-named Off Peak Return with an 8A restruction code...

Duh, that means I cannot break my journey at Preston?

 

[alistairlees]

So if I get off at Chester, take the 19:28 direct train from Chester to Wrexham it's fine and saves me 2 minutes?

EDIT: too late...

Indeed. Although, strictly speaking, you are arriving three minutes later at Wrexham General (19.44 instead of 19.41); the other (unusable, via Shotton) itinerary was for going to Wrexham Central (arrive 19.46) but calling at Wrexham General at 19.41. But that's being really pedantic and I suspect a few minutes either way doesn't matter.

 

[alistairlees]

Duh, that means I cannot break my journey at Preston?

You can break your journey on the return trip, but not on the outward one. However, given that you have to exit the station at Preston in both directions in order to get on / off the bus, and that there is no practical way to assess what you are doing, I suspect you will be fine breaking your journey in the outward direction too, should you wish to.

 

[Talent]

Thanks. That is exactly what I want to hear .

EDIT: With an anytime single ticket the route via Shotton can be selected...


EDIT 2: If you select WRX rather than Wrexham (any) the 17:25 service can be selected but not bought...

 

[roversfan2001]

The National Rail Enquiries site isn't fit for purpose anyway, a number of bugs. I'd suggest using a TOC's site directly, as all NRE does is show you some itineraries (if you're lucky they'll be valid) and re-directs you to a random TOC site if you want to buy a ticket anyway.

 

[SickyNicky]

There are some savings to be made by splitting your tickets on this journey. And that would also allow you to take the non-permitted route via Chester and Shotton if you really wanted to. The disadvantage, of course, is that you would need to take (approximately) the same route on the return.

 

[Talent]

No, I don't want to take the route via Shotton if I do not have to. I want to go from Wrexham to KKM in the morning and break my journey in PRE, return 17:25 from KKM directly to Wrexham (fastest possible route).