Routing Guide Question: how do split tickets affect permitted routes? [Bristol to Exeter]

[hvshe]

How do split tickets affect permitted routes for a journey, apart from requiring to stop at[normal ticket]/pass through[season ticket] the split point?
Like, on the routeing guide maps, if
-the only permitted route for B-C is B-D-C, and B-E-C is not allowed
-the only permitted route for A-C must pass through B; but between B and C, it allows routes of B-D-C and B-E-C
so for the journey A>C, if I buy the tickets of A>B and B>C, would I be allowed to use the route A-B-E-C instead of A-B-D-C?



An actual example:

The only permitted route for Cheltenham - Exeter is PB, and for Bristol - Exeter is WR

The map of PB, when travelling between Cheltenham and Exeter, must pass through Bristol and Taunton, and WR for Bristol - Exeter must also pass through Taunton

Bristol - (Weston -) Bridgwater - Taunton is an allowed route for both PB and WR
Bristol - Bath - Westbury - Castle Cary - Taunton is only allowed on PB, but not WR

Questions: [assuming there are no engineering works or easements,]
1. When having two flexible tickets [off peak return] of Cheltenham - Bristol and Bristol - Exeter, would a route of Cheltenham - Bristol - Westbury - Exeter be permitted?
2. When having a flexible ticket [off peak return] of Cheltenham - Bristol and a Bristol - Exeter season ticket, would a route of Cheltenham - Bristol - Westbury - Exeter be permitted?
3. For both above ticketing scenarios, would it be permitted to break the journey at, for example, Westbury?

 

[Merseysider]

How do split tickets affect permitted routes for a journey?

Each ticket is treated separately for the purposes of permitted routes.

the only permitted route for B-C is B-D-C, and B-E-C is not allowed
-the only permitted route for A-C must pass through B; but between B and C, it allows routes of B-D-C and B-E-C
so for the journey A>C, if I buy the tickets of A>B and B>C, would I be allowed to use the route A-B-E-C instead of A-B-D-C?

I'm not going to work out the algebra equations but permitted routes on a through ticket are completely irrelevant when not using a through ticket.

 

[hvshe]

Each ticket is treated separately for the purposes of permitted routes.

I'm not going to work out the algebra equations but permitted routes on a through ticket are completely irrelevant when not using a through ticket.

How about when combining with season tickets? Would there be any difference?

 

[drueberflug]

How about when combining with season tickets? Would there be any difference?

You'd still be in the possession of A to B and B to C tickets, not of one from A to C, and hence you'd still be in the same situation.
The only difference is that your train does not have to call at the station your season ticket would end at (see NRCoT - exceptions apply).

 

[Benjwri]

To add to other posters and answer the specific questions

When having two flexible tickets [off peak return] of Cheltenham - Bristol and Bristol - Exeter, would a route of Cheltenham - Bristol - Westbury - Exeter be permitted?

No, Past Bristol you are using a Bristol to Exeter ticket, so must travel on the permitted routes for that.

When having a flexible ticket [off peak return] of Cheltenham - Bristol and a Bristol - Exeter season ticket, would a route of Cheltenham - Bristol - Westbury - Exeter be permitted?

No, you still have to follow the routing restrictions of each ticket. The Season is still not valid via Westbury.

For both above ticketing scenarios, would it be permitted to break the journey at, for example, Westbury?

No, as it isn't a valid route.

Split ticketing has lots of benefits, but a drawback is you are giving up flexibility, and one of those flexibilities is the ability to take the full range of routes you could on a through ticket.

 

[redreni]

Split ticketing has lots of benefits, but a drawback is you are giving up flexibility, and one of those flexibilities is the ability to take the full range of routes you could on a through ticket.

True, but equally, splitting can sometimes allow you to take a route that wouldn't be a valid route on a through ticket from your origin to your destination.

 

[yorkie]

True, but equally, splitting can sometimes allow you to take a route that wouldn't be a valid route on a through ticket from your origin to your destination.

Absolutely this; some itineraries require a combination of tickets. This is sometimes the case for the fastest journey, and this is most likely to occur for journeys where the fastest routes may be rather indirect and/or where there is an infrequent service on the direct route(s).