Alsager To Manchester Via Stoke??

[northernrail2009]

I am going to Manchester tomorrow from Alsager and would like to know can i get train from Alsager to Manchester and change at Stoke?

Im asking as the times are better for me but didnt know if Tickets would let me do that.

 

[323235]

From the research ive conducted it seems that

No specific Easements exist for Alsager to Manchester via Stoke which means you would not be permitted to travel via Stoke

However an Easement does exist for Kidsgrove

030126 Journey from Kidsgrove via Macclesfield may travel via Stoke on Trent.

So to take advantage of this and travel via Stoke you would need to buy a :

Alsager - Kidsgrove Standard Day Return £1.90
Kidsgrove - Manchester Stns Cheap Day Return £10.20

However there may be someone with a more in depth knowledge that can help with this further and may tell you different
This is just what I found from a quick look at the routing guide and the Nationalrail site

 

[yorkie]

I'm surprised there isn't a "Stoke Group" to allow this.

Surely, if there is an easement for Kidsgrove, it must be an oversight not to include Alsager? Otherwise it's the opposite situation elsewhere in the country where, to give just example out of many, Hitchin to York you aren't officially allowed to go via Stevenage but you can from Letchworth to York.

I'd say go via Stoke anyway - it's perfectly reasonable and sensible and surely just an oversight that Alsager isn't included.

 

[John @ home]

an Easement does exist for Kidsgrove

030126 Journey from Kidsgrove via Macclesfield may travel via Stoke on Trent.

The NXEC journey planner seems to interpret this easement as applying to journeys via Kidsgrove, not just starting at Kidsgrove. For example, for weekday mornings it offers to sell you:

Anytime Day Single. £9.70
Origin:Alsager
Destination:Manchester Piccadilly

Alsager Dep 08:16 EM
Kidsgrove Arr 08:21 Dep 08:21
Longport Arr 08:27 Dep 08:27
Stoke On Trent Arr 08:31
Train continues to Derby

Stoke On Trent Dep 08:48 VT
Stockport Arr 09:16 Dep 09:17
Manchester Piccadilly Arr 09:28
Train terminates at Manchester Piccadilly
Reservations available
First and Standard Class
Restaurant in first class only
and buffet service

Changes:1 Duration:1:12hrs
Valid on all services by the route and Train Operator shown. Valid 1 day only.
http://tickets.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/nxec/en/JourneyPlanning/MixingDeck

 

[323235]

The NXEC journey planner seems to interpret this easement as applying to journeys via Kidsgrove, not just starting at Kidsgrove. For example, for weekday mornings it offers to sell you:

Whilst NXEC will allow you to go from Alsager to Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke-On-Trent on a Single journey
It will not offer a Return ticket via this Routing,
which is what I encountered when searching on the National Rail site.

but since :

The Fares are the same from both Alsager and Kidsgrove
They both have Stoke as a Routing point

Then it seems illogical to offer a Return Journey for one and not the other

Was it a Single or Return Journey that you were intending to carry out?

As Yorkie said , your unlikely to encounter any problems regardless of what ticket you get.

 

[tony_mac]

it's quite common on NXEC for slightly odd routeings to only work in one direction. If your outward journey works then you can click the 'open return' box to buy the ticket.

 

[northernrail2009]

I got the Ticket all ok and changed at Stoke so no Problem.

Even the Train timetable at station says to change at stoke.