Newtown to Stafford - can I loop?

[southernyoshi]

Hello I tried to check the routeing guide but I don't understand it lol - on an ordinary return ticket from Newtown (Powys) to Stafford, does "Any Permitted" include going from Shrewsbury to Stafford via Crewe as well as via Wolverhampton? I'd like to be able to do a loop, to get some more track & more variety. Thank you

 

[jfollows]

Hello I tried to check the routeing guide but I don't understand it lol - on an ordinary return ticket from Newtown (Powys) to Stafford, does "Any Permitted" include going from Shrewsbury to Stafford via Crewe as well as via Wolverhampton? I'd like to be able to do a loop, to get some more track & more variety. Thank you

Yes.
Maps ES and MC at https://data.atoc.org/routeing-maps
The latter shows a valid route via Crewe, the former via Wolverhampton, from the routeing point for Newtown (Powys) which is Shrewsbury.

 

[southernyoshi]

Ah, I see - so Newtown - Shrewsbury - Crewe - Stafford - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Newtown is fine? I did see the maps, it's just that I was confused by them because they include routes all the way down to London & Cardiff & up to Manchester! Plus the ES map doesn't seem to include going from London to Shrewsbury via Birmingham, which I'd have thought is the way anyone doing that would go... thank you

 

[jfollows]

You only refer to the maps after finding the options from the table of permitted routes, London-Shrewsbury uses EB, ES, GC + GA, LC + AW, RG + RB + CA, and ES is only one of the options here (EB gives you the via Birmingham route you mention). Anyway, you’re fine with your planned trip on an “any permitted” ticket, yes. And when you refer to the maps you use whatever part of them is appropriate for your end points.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

In Virgin/ATW days I once did a Chester-Shrewsbury cheap day return (valid via Wrexham or Crewe) covering a huge mileage, because of engineering diversions.
The VT Chester-Crewe was diverted via Delamere and Middlewich, while the connecting ATW Crewe-Shrewsbury was diverted via Stafford, Oxley and Wellington.
I came back on the direct route via Wrexham, but it was still a good day out describing a grand circle covering three counties.
Not possible these days I think, as TfW don't sign via Stafford any more I believe.

 

[southernyoshi]

You only refer to the maps after finding the options from the table of permitted routes, London-Shrewsbury uses EB, ES, GC + GA, LC + AW, RG + RB + CA, and ES is only one of the options here (EB gives you the via Birmingham route you mention). Anyway, you’re fine with your planned trip on an “any permitted” ticket, yes. And when you refer to the maps you use whatever part of them is appropriate for your end points.

Thank you - that's a nice big loop, pretty good value for a standard ticket in this part of the country
(And I see how that works now, good to know that a ticket from London to Shrewsbury is valid for the obviously natural route from London to Shrewsbury )