Barnsley to Doncaster via Sheffield?

[CaptainHaddock]

Hi, another quick routeing/validity query.

I'm making a journey from Barnsley to Doncaster tomorrow, but want to know if a through ticket permits me to change at Sheffield rather than Meadowhall.

On the one hand, the shortest route is to change at Meadowhall and therefore to go into Sheffield and back out again means you're doubling back on yourself.

On the other, going via Sheffield gives you more choice of trains as you can take the Cross Country to Doncaster that doesn't stop at Meadowhall, and of course you have the joys of the Sheffield Tap while you wait for your connection.

So would doing the journey via Sheffield be valid on a Barnsley-Doncaster day return or would I need to get Barnsley-Sheffield and Sheffield-Doncaster returns?

 

[soil]

I don't think it's ever permitted to double back between Sheffield and Meadowhall.

Best bet is a South Yorkshire Day Tripper (£6.30) or Travel Master Day (£7.55), respectively 30p and 45p more than the Barnsley - Doncaster returns.

 

[brompton rail]

CrossCountry* are not running between Doncaster and Sheffield tomorrow (Sat) so you would still have the four trains per hour choice, all of which call at Meadowhall. In other words going via Sheffield offers no travel advantages. Sorry!

* for pedants, yes, the 0615 Leeds to Birmingham etc does call at Doncaster.