How to check valid route for one journey

[rubin]

recently I bought a return ticket from Manchester to Bristol and another one from Sheffield to Bristol. The difference is that on the Sheffield one it shows 'Not Valid via London' but no such on Manchester ticket. I know they both seem to be not the valid route but why only showing the alert on the Sheffield one. Does that mean it is 'actually' valid to travel via London using the Manchester ticket. more broadly speaking how can I check the valid route for a ticket.

 

[jfollows]

If it says “any permitted” then it’s valid on any route defined by the routeing guide, not by any route you happen to fancy.
Manchester-Bristol “any permitted” is valid on routes shown by maps

• MP
• PM
• NR+MP
• NR+PM

at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

which do not include London.

It also happens that Sheffield-Bristol “any permitted” is not valid via London either. However there’s a separate “+VIA CHESTERFIELD” fare available, in which the “+” means including London Underground via London. So the “not via London” fare is to differentiate it from this.

See https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=SHF&dest=BRI&period=20260113

Manchester-Bristol has an alternative “via Hereford” ticket, but none “via London”.

EDIT: I was wrong, @AlterEgo is right, Sheffield-Bristol “any permitted” is valid via London. The problem is, there’s no “any permitted” ticket available other than singles priced by LNER. See https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=SHF&dest=BRI&period=20260113. The answer to your reasonable question is not simple.

 

[AlterEgo]

This is a very good site, which isn't faultless, but will help you interpret the Routeing Guide easily (the RG is what determines which routes are permitted).

Routeing Guide - Permitted routes & maps - Vail Data

Easily access permitted routes and view routeing maps from the Routeing Guide, for the GB rail network.

vaildata.uk

Manchester to Bristol is not valid via London.

Sheffield to Bristol is valid via London, but only if you have an Any Permitted ticket. As it is, your ticket restricts routes to avoiding London.

 

[rubin]

If it says “any permitted” then it’s valid on any route defined by the routeing guide, not by any route you happen to fancy.
Manchester-Bristol “any permitted” is valid on routes shown by maps

• MP
• PM
• NR+MP
• NR+PM

at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

which do not include London.

It also happens that Sheffield-Bristol “any permitted” is not valid via London either. However there’s a separate “+VIA CHESTERFIELD” fare available, in which the “+” means including London Underground via London. So the “not via London” fare is to differentiate it from this.

See https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=SHF&dest=BRI&period=20260113

Manchester-Bristol has an alternative “via Hereford” ticket, but none “via London”.

EDIT: I was wrong, @AlterEgo is right, Sheffield-Bristol “any permitted” is valid via London. The problem is, there’s no “any permitted” ticket available other than singles priced by LNER. See https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=SHF&dest=BRI&period=20260113. The answer to your reasonable question is not simple.

thanks for your detailed explanation. but what is the difference between MP and PM (that is the same route?) and does NR means Manchester Bristol ticket is valid via Warrington?

 

[jfollows]

thanks for your detailed explanation. but what is the difference between MP and PM (that is the same route?) and does NR means Manchester Bristol ticket is valid via Warrington?

You need to look it up on the map link I already gave you, https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

NR means via Warrington Central and walk to Bank Quay.

EDIT MP is via Shrewsbury, PM is via Birmingham