Northern free travel pass routeing

[paddington]

I know people like to go the long way round as Northern doesn't operate between York and Darlington, but what about a more complex indirect route?

The journey I am thinking of is Windermere > (Wigan) > Man Picc > Sheffield > Barnsley > Wakefield > Leeds > Harrogate > York > (Sherburn) > Hull.

If I just write Windermere to Hull would I be all right? It is far from the most direct route

I do have a number of passes so if necessary I can use more than one.

I don't really want to break my journey although I might do at unbarriered stations for a short time.

 

[yorkie]

When are you looking to travel?

This looks to be possible on Northern only, here is an example itinerary: http://www.fastjp.com/#journeys?ori...20191028&otime=0600&maxres=5&maxch=9&extra=on

If I just write Windermere to Hull would I be all right? It is far from the most direct route

There is no concept of the Routeing Guide applying with Northern complimentary tickets (or the £7 F&F or £10 newspaper tickets) and certainly no requirement to only take the shortest route.

 

[paddington]

Yes that looks like a viable itinerary thanks.

Are there any written rules? For example I don't think guards would be too happy if I doubled back (if they worked out that I did so), or what if I went in a loop round Man Airport/Wilmslow and back to Piccadilly?

I know a lot of Northern guards are pretty relaxed but some are not. Yesterday someone trying to buy on board at a station with a TVM was denied a railcard discount but someone else who had asked permission from the guard before boarding was allowed to use his railcard.

 

[Djgr]

As far as Northern free travel passes are concerned I have not heard any stories of passengers having difficulties using them, whatever their itinerary.

To my knowledge there are "no rules" as such and thus no rules to be broken (other than Northern only)

Unless anyone knows differently?

 

[yorkie]

Unless anyone did something obviously unreasonable, there is not going to be any issue.

 

[paddington]

I thought I would report what I got up to with this ticket - I wrote the journey as Windermere to Hull as I said.

I set off on the first train from Windermere then changed to TPE where I held a separate ticket from Oxenholme to Lancaster. I resumed on Northern and broke my journey at Bolton, where the ticket was accepted at the barriers both ways after some head-scratching (but I didn't need to say anything except "Hi" and "Cheers").

At Manchester Piccadilly I left and reentered via the lift to avoid the barriers. So far, my ticket had not been checked on the train. It was checked after leaving Barnsley, then Leeds, and after my break of journey at Knaresborough.

I took TPE from York to Middlesbrough then caught the last train to Whitby, where I told the guard that I hoped the train would arrive in time for the last bus to Scarborough. He told me to have a nice time.

I didn't actually go to Hull that night but stayed in Whitby. The next morning, my friend drove me to Scarborough. I had already purchased a ticket valid beyond Hull, but when the guard came round, I showed him my free ticket (dated the previous day). He did notice the date but before I could say anything he remarked that it was a rather long way to travel and something to the effect that I must have experienced another delay, hence I was finishing up the journey today...

Actually every train I took ran perfectly to time (+1 or 2 mins) which was a nice surprise, although there were lengthy delays between Carlisle and Newcastle that day.

 

[30907]

The next morning, my friend drove me to Scarborough. I had already purchased a ticket valid beyond Hull, but when the guard came round, I showed him my free ticket (dated the previous day). He did notice the date but before I could say anything he remarked that it was a rather long way to travel and something to the effect that I must have experienced another delay, hence I was finishing up the journey today...

You had a very friendly guard in that case, because I don't recall overnight BoJ being allowed with these passes.