Leamington Spa-Crewe not valid via Nuneaton

[LittleRedTrain]

Was just checking out tickets for a trip in a couple of weeks, and was very surprised to find that my proposed Leamington Spa-Crewe via Nuneaton trip required two tickets, despite it being a seemingly obvious route, in the right direction, with only a single easy change..

Looking at the Routeing Guide, both are Routeing Points and the only permitted route is via Map RJ, which includes both Nuneaton and Coventry, but not the line between them.

(Screenshot of map RJ - Crewe at top left, Leamington Spa at bottom right)

On the other hand, if I wanted to go Leamington-Stafford, there is a permitted route via Nuneaton (maps BB+TL).

Does anyone know if there's any weird/historical quirk as to why this obvious route is not allowed and you're forced to go through Birmingham? Did someone not update these maps when the service via Bedworth was extended from Coventry to Leamington Spa?
Is there any process by which the powers that be could be gently nudged into reviewing it?
Obviously as a power user, I can easily get around this issue by splitting at Stafford, but those not in the know would easily get caught out and end up having to pay more. (NRE will quite happily suggest a Leamington-Crewe via Nuneaton itinerary without needing to explicitly state it as a Via point).

 

[Hadders]

It's certainly a reasonable route, and I can get 'mixing deck' sites to sell a ticket.

Now it's been posted on here there's probably a chance someone will see it and fix it.

 

[Adam Williams]

Is there any process by which the powers that be could be gently nudged into reviewing it?

Customers always have the right to invoke the disputed routeing procedure, as set out in page 7 of the routeing guide instructions.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

You can always use a West Midlands Day Ranger for that route if it suits your plans.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Thanks for the info on the Disputed Routeing Procedure. I wasn't aware of that. I guess that West Midlands Trains would be the TOC to go through. Might drop them an email.

The trip is a period return so a WM Day Ranger wouldn't be suitable, sadly.

 

[Hadders]

The ticket is priced by CrossCountry so you should go through them.

 

[paddy1]

Wouldn't it be permitted by the 3 mile longer than the shortest route rule ? Leamington-Birmingham-Crewe approx 24 + 54 miles =78 miles - versus Leamington-Nuneaton-Crewe approx 20 + 61 miles = 81 miles.

 

[Hadders]

I think the shortest route is just over 76 miles.

 

[CyrusWuff]

I think the shortest route is just over 76 miles.

According to eNRT mileages:

• Leamington Spa - Birmingham Moor Street (walk to) Birmingham New Street - Crewe is 67.25 miles
• Leamington Spa - Birmingham New Street via Solihull - Crewe is 68.75 miles
• Leamington Spa - Birmingham New Street via Coventry - Crewe is 73 miles
• Leamington Spa - Nuneaton - Crewe is 80.25 miles

 

[LittleRedTrain]

E-mail to CrossCountry sent invoking the 'Disputed Routeing Procedure', lets see if it comes to anything!

 

[mickey]

For a ‘belt and braces’ approach, I’d also be tempted to write to WMT (given they operate the services) and ask them to raise it through their industry contacts with Crosscountry. I say this specifically because I’ve found WMT to be very good in this area - I have in the past written a query through their webform and had a personal (and helpful) reply from a specialist in their fares team that it was passed to. It took 3-4 weeks or so, but absolutely happy to give them credit where it’s due.