Cosford To Sutton Coldfield

[Northerngirl]

I'm trying to travel from Cosford To Sutton Coldfield.

The national rail site seems to say it's not valid new street, and to change at shifnal on the return leg.

There also seems to be an £8.80 fare that shows up for one journey but no others.

Is any of this correct or a weird error?

 

[Benjwri]

I'm trying to do the journey in the title, and the national rail site seems to say it's not valid new street, and to change at shifnal on the return leg. There also seems to be an £8.80 fair that shows up for one journey but no others. is any of this correct or a weird error

The site is correct it isn't valid via Birmingham New Street. As for the prices I'm not sure where the £8.80 fare is coming from, unless you're using a railcard?

 

[Watershed]

Cosford to Sutton Coldfield tickets are valid via Birmingham New Street, as you'd expect. However, in the direction towards Sutton Coldfield it is quicker to avoid New Street by changing at Tame Bridge Parkway and Aston, since Cosford to Birmingham stopping trains are now diverted to run via Tame Bridge Parkway. You can still change at New Street if you prefer, but it takes 10 minutes longer (at least, based on the official connections, which can often be beaten in practice).

In the direction towards Cosford, the connections work out a little bit differently and it is quickest to change at New Street if you depart Sutton Coldfield at xx49. You can get to Cosford at the same time (xx15 1.5 hours later) with an additional change at Wolverhampton but there's no real benefit to this. If you leave Sutton Coldfield at xx19 then you could also reach Cosford in around 1.5 hours by changing at New Street and Shifnal, but the double-back between Cosford and Shifnal isn't permitted on a Cosford-Sutton Coldfield ticket.

The site is correct it isn't valid via Birmingham New Street

Not sure where you are getting this from, but it absolutely is valid via New Street. Just not via Shifnal (whether you travel via Tame Bridge Parkway or New Street).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Cosford to Sutton Coldfield via Birmingham New Street seems to me to be reasonable, provided a change is made at Wolverhampton, but the given itinerary invariably seems to be via Tame Bridge Parkway and then Aston. Is that because its quicker that way and avoids double-backing between Aston and New Street?

P.S. I have the Off Peak Day Return fare from Cosford to/from Sutton Coldfield as £10.60 (Anytime = £13.20).

 

[Benjwri]

Not sure where you are getting this from, but it absolutely is valid via New Street. Just not via Shifnal (whether you travel via Tame Bridge Parkway or New Street).

Not sure why I didn't think it was, might have miscalculated the mileage there, apologies.

Not sure why journey planners won't validate it as a route though, even trying to force TrainSplit it returns it as an invalid route.

 

[Watershed]

provided a change is made at Wolverhampton

Changing at Wolverhampton is rarely quickest for this particular journey (again, based on official connection times, which can sometimes be beaten in practice).

but the given itinerary invariably seems to be via Tame Bridge Parkway and then Aston. Is that because its quicker that way and avoids double-backing between Aston and New Street?

Yes, essentially - although you wouldn't be doubling back between Aston and New Street, as the Cosford <-> Birmingham trains run via Soho rather than Aston.

 

[Northerngirl]

Thanks for the help, I might just go via new street for the ease of it

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thanks for the help, I might just go via new street for the ease of it

Still likely requires the two changes, the first one at Wolverhampton and then another at Birmingham New Street, but valid itineraries via New Street are certainly possible by selecting "Avoid Tame Bridge Parkway" and the £10.60 Off Peak Day Return fare will still be offered.

 

[nwales58]

Can someone work out what is going on, or wrong, in the official planners? Is it a mucked-up (dis-)easement? It needs correcting.

The planners allow Telford-Sutton Coldfield via New Street but not from Shifnal, Cosford, Codsall. All of those, including Telford, have routing points of Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

The site is correct it isn't valid via Birmingham New Street ...

Cosford to Sutton Coldfield tickets are valid via Birmingham New Street ...

Not sure why I didn't think it was, might have miscalculated the mileage there, apologies.

Not sure why journey planners won't validate it as a route though, even trying to force TrainSplit it returns it as an invalid route.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Can someone work out what is going on, or wrong, in the official planners? Is it a mucked-up (dis-)easement? It needs correcting.

The planners allow Telford-Sutton Coldfield via New Street but not from Shifnal, Cosford, Codsall. All of those, including Telford, have routing points of Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

Which planners do you refer to?
I've just tried NRE journey planner and it gives me £10.60 off peak return Cosford - Sutton Coldfield with a change at Birmingham New Street which seems to be what's suggested.

 

[Haywain]

I've just tried NRE journey planner and it gives me £10.60 off peak return Cosford - Sutton Coldfield with a change at Birmingham New Street which seems to be what's suggested.

Trainsplit is also offering that ticket.

 

[nwales58]

Which planners do you refer to?
I've just tried NRE journey planner and it gives me £10.60 off peak return Cosford - Sutton Coldfield with a change at Birmingham New Street ...

On Sunday, yes.
Try Monday, add via BHM and it gives me 'not a permitted route' + 'no fares available'.

Journey Planner | Official Train Ticket Info | National Rail

Plan your journey and buy train tickets for all rail links with our national Journey Planner. Check departure times and prices.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Edit: Now I understand.

It is valid via New Street, but NOT if you use a through Cosford-New Street via Tame Bridge Parkway.

So if a journey planner's heuristics only offers the better 1 change at New Street the route is not valid, if it offers 2 changes, at Wolverhampton and New Street, for the same end-end times the route is valid.

So yet another example of how rail pricing encourages the public to travel some other way.

 

[Haywain]

On Sunday, yes.
Try Monday, add via BHM and it gives me 'not a permitted route' + 'no fares available'.

Journey Planner | Official Train Ticket Info | National Rail

Plan your journey and buy train tickets for all rail links with our national Journey Planner. Check departure times and prices.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Is it giving different results for different people?

If, instead of stop at Birmingham New Street, you use change at Wolverhampton you'll get results.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

If, instead of stop at Birmingham New Street, you use change at Wolverhampton you'll get results.

A Sunday ticket Off Peak Return has restriction JC which is just the weekday morning peak and any permitted route.

Assuming the direct ticket can be bought for a weekday, from a machine, say, surely it would be valid? Or would a machine follow NRE and say no tickets?

 

[yorkie]

The problem is that travel via Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmimgham New Street isn't permitted.

The forum's site will offer plenty of valid itineraries via the permitted routes; it will also offer the fastest itinerary in conjunction with a valid combination of tickets.

I believe this is an oversight in the Routeing Guide; now there are direct trains between Wolverhampton and New Street via TAB, the routeing guide ought to be amended accordingly.