Help with tickets for a journey in Lincolnshire

Hi all,

Hope you can help with this! I'm doing the below itinerary. I was hoping to use a simple combination of tickets, such as Nottingham to Cleethorpes + Haborough- Barton-on-Humber returns. I'm struggling with journey planners though, the forum site struggles to return tickets, whereas EMR's own site allows for a one way (not return?!) journey via Sheffield, but not Worksop...
All very confusing.

This is my itinerary, if you have any questions do let me know!

Nottingham - Worksop EMR
Worksop - Barnetby Northern (via Brigg)
Barnetby - Habrough EMR
Habrough - Barton-on-Humber EMR
Barton-on-Humber - Cleethorpes EMR
Cleethorpes - Nottingham EMR

I think in theory a simple ticket should be valid but because the route via Brigg is so unusual it isn't classed as a valid route. Journey planners prefer TPE via Doncaster than Northern via Brigg, but Brigg is more direct!

If anyone could help that would be amazing!

EDIT: I've actually figured the routing guide out, and it looks like the Nottingham - Worksop bit is actually the issue. Via Sheffield (then Brigg) is a valid route, via Mansfield is not listed. Do you think I would have an issue using it on the Robin Hood line? I assume its probably just an omission?

@tram21. Are you planning on doing the above itinerary all on the same day?

Mcr Warrior said:

@tram21. Are you planning on doing the above itinerary all on the same day?

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Yes

I haven‘t checked on prices or validity of returning via Lincoln, but have you thought about looking at fares from somewhere like Bulwell or Hucknall just outside Nottingham on the Robin Hood Line? This probably isn’t of much help but the return fare from Hucknall to Brigg is very reasonably priced. I‘ve done a few trips from Hucknall to Brigg on Thursdays for the market.

So, just how much of the planned itinerary might be covered by a 'Lincolnshire Day Ranger' (= £38.30 before any applicable railcard discount) and what would cost extra for travel outside its area?

ChrisC said:

I haven‘t checked on prices or validity of returning via Lincoln, but have you thought about looking at fares from somewhere like Bulwell or Hucknall just outside Nottingham on the Robin Hood Line? This probably isn’t of much help but the return fare from Hucknall to Brigg is very reasonably priced. I‘ve done a few trips from Hucknall to Brigg on Thursdays for the market.

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Yes perfect, I thought I'd checked that but clearly not correctly! Bulwell generates the right itinerary with a Anytime Short Distance Return of £33. Or if I did the loop the other way it would only cost £23 as you can start later!

Fantastic thanks so much!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2026 ==

Mcr Warrior said:

So, just how much of the planned itinerary might be covered by a 'Lincolnshire Day Ranger' (= £38.30 before any applicable railcard discount) and what would cost extra for travel outside its area?

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Unfortunately not valid to Barton, nor via Brigg. Yes they are both in Lincolnshire but some reason aren't included (I wonder why??)

tram21 said:

I've actually figured the routing guide out, and it looks like the Nottingham - Worksop bit is actually the issue. Via Sheffield (then Brigg) is a valid route, via Mansfield is not listed. Do you think I would have an issue using it on the Robin Hood line? I assume its probably just an omission?

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I would be inclined to agree, and I can’t imagine anyone challenging you on it but from a look through it does seem like you would have to go via Sheffield rather than Mansfield.
You could ask the guard on the Worksop service, if they say no then you’d just catch the 0845 and change at Sheffield for the Brigg train.

If you must go via Mansfield then I can get the split ticketing to generate:
Nottingham-Shirebrook
Anytime Day Single
£7.40
Any Permitted

Shirebrook-Cleethorpes
Anytime Day Single
£20.90
Via Brigg

Cleethorpes-Nottingham
Off-Peak Day Single
£22.30
Via Lincoln

East Midlands Rover 3 in 7 (headline price 116.10) would let you do all of this - and the same again or something different on two other days alongside. Just in case you might choose to stretch your adventure to include one or two other outings.

Harpers Tate said:

East Midlands Rover 3 in 7 (headline price 116.10) would let you do all of this - and the same again or something different on two other days alongside. Just in case you might choose to stretch your adventure to include one or two other outings.

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A £116.10 three day Rover works out as quite expensive if the OP is only contemplating a day trip, even if buying single leg tickets at the full Anytime Day Single fare rate as shown below. Must be a cheaper way of doing all this, such as using day return fares whilst on the Barton-on-Humber branch, and/or maybe change of route excesses for Nottingham to/from Cleethorpes? Thoughts?

tram21 said:

This is my itinerary, if you have any questions do let me know!
Nottingham - Worksop EMR £9.20 via Mansfield
Worksop - Barnetby Northern (via Brigg) £13.50 via Brigg
Barnetby - Habrough EMR £6.30
Habrough - Barton-on-Humber EMR £6.50
Barton-on-Humber - Cleethorpes EMR £9.30
Cleethorpes - Nottingham EMR £30.10 via Lincoln or £22.30 off-peak via Lincoln (it should be off-peak by then!)

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I’d say the best strategy (starting the journey from Bulwell to officially allow use of the Robin Hood Line, but in reality I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid if the OP started from Nottingham) could be an off-peak day-return to Barton on Humber, route “via Lincoln”, excessing the outward portion only to route ‘any permitted”. Plus an off-peak day-return Habrough to Cleethorpes.

I note that there is a long standing easement “000005. Journeys from stations on the Barton-on-Humber line to Habrough and stations west of Habrough may double back between Habrough and Grimsby. This easement applies in both directions”. I suppose could that mean that an even cheaper Grimsby to Cleethorpes off-peak day-return could be used instead of one from Habrough?

(P.S. Apologies - I’ve just noticed that the OP will have to set off from Nottingham at peak times, to connect with the single daily Brigg line train at Worksop. Maybe my strategy still works with a peak ticket? Maybe not?)

lyndhurst25 said:

I’d say the best strategy (starting the journey from Bulwell to officially allow use of the Robin Hood Line, but in reality I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid if the OP started from Nottingham) could be an off-peak day-return to Barton on Humber, route “via Lincoln”, excessing the outward portion only to route ‘any permitted”. Plus an off-peak day-return Habrough to Cleethorpes.

I note that there is a long standing easement “000005. Journeys from stations on the Barton-on-Humber line to Habrough and stations west of Habrough may double back between Habrough and Grimsby. This easement applies in both directions”. I suppose could that mean that an even cheaper Grimsby to Cleethorpes off-peak day-return could be used instead of one from Habrough?

(P.S. Apologies - I’ve just noticed that the OP will have to set off from Nottingham at peak times, to connect with the single daily Brigg line train at Worksop. Maybe my strategy still works with a peak ticket? Maybe not?)

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Yes that works, and I've got a robin hood card for travel to Bulwell too

Interesting about the easement- that would be good. A Grimsby to Cleethorpes is probably all thats needed? Unless anyone disagrees?