Birmingham to Carlisle bypassing Shap

[EveningStar]

In proof that some deity has it in for me, travelling Birmingham to Morpeth this Saturday, and to avoid the RRB south of York booked Birmingham to Carlisle than onwards to Morpeth, only for this to become problematic on how quickly the WCML reopens. Am playing with the idea of Preston > Lancaster > Hellifield > Carlisle rather than any RRB. Not fussed about the extra time, as prefer train to bus, and am guessing ticket acceptance is going to be in place, yet wonder if the whole world might be trying the same. Thoughts as to practicality please?

 

[jp4712]

I’m not sure what acceptance will be in place but I’d have thought Birmingham-Leeds-Carlisle-Newcastle-Morpeth, or Birmingham-Manchester-Leeds-Carlisle-Newcastle-Morpeth would both be faster. But I expect a lot of rammed trains whichever way you go.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I would expect the WCML to have re-opened by the weekend.

If not, your options will be limited and will depend on what (if any) ticket acceptance is put in place. It will also depend on what ticket you hold.

 

[EveningStar]

I’m not sure what acceptance will be in place but I’d have thought Birmingham-Leeds-Carlisle-Newcastle-Morpeth, or Birmingham-Manchester-Leeds-Carlisle-Newcastle-Morpeth would both be faster. But I expect a lot of rammed trains whichever way you go.

I would expect the WCML to have re-opened by the weekend.

If not, your options will be limited and will depend on what (if any) ticket acceptance is put in place. It will also depend on what ticket you hold.

This all makes sense. If there are still problems come Saturday, will play it by ear. The Birmingham to Carlisle ticket is advance, so think I need to be ready to pay a top up if I take an unusual route.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The Birmingham to Carlisle ticket is advance, so think I need to be ready to pay a top up if I take an unusual route.

If it's still shut my opinion would be that the expectation would be for you to take any RRB from Preston to Carlisle. Especially as that would likely be the quickest way of getting from Preston to Carlisle.

The walk-up fares are routed VIA LANCASTER so I wouldn't expect you to be allowed to go via Manchester and Leeds, even with disruption. Otherwise its either the Cumbrian Coast line (it's only a short RRB or walk between Corkickle and Whitehaven) or going Lancaster-Hellifield-Carlisle.

 

[EveningStar]

If it's still shut my opinion would be that the expectation would be for you to take any RRB from Preston to Carlisle. Especially as that would likely be the quickest way of getting from Preston to Carlisle.

The walk-up fares are routed VIA LANCASTER so I wouldn't expect you to be allowed to go via Manchester and Leeds, even with disruption. Otherwise its either the Cumbrian Coast line (it's only a short RRB or walk between Corkickle and Whitehaven) or going Lancaster-Hellifield-Carlisle.

Cumbria Coast has some marvellous scenery to enjoy in places, yet overall can be a grind (well, except for brief spell about ten years ago when it was class 37 haulage ... that was fun).

And as it turns out, my question looks like it is going to be theoretical after some hard work by Network Rail in what looks like atrocious weather, so respect to them. However, thoughts not wasted as never know when the ideas might come in useful for the future. Clearly RRB can sometimes be the least bad solution.