Chester-Settle seems a bit of a awkward ticket in terms of routing guide validity
You can say that again! I think we'll add it to the list of Routeing Guide errors.
With Chester and Hellifield as the end to end routing points
Agreed, the fares check gives these as the appropriate Routeing Points for the journey.
the following maps and validity is given
routes with trains on summer Sundays only snipped
CH+NC+EH
Chester-Liverpool-Huyton-Earlestown-Warrington-Preston-Lancaster-Carnforth-Hellifield-Settle
Chester-Liverpool-Hunts Cross-Warrington-Preston-Lancaster-Carnforth-Hellifield-Settle
One can use map CH from Chester to Crewe, Hunts Cross or Huyton. Then one can use map NC to Wigan, either from Crewe via Warrington, or from Hunts Cross via Warrington with an optional deviation via Earlestown, or from Huyton via Earlestown with an optional deviation via Warrington. From Wigan, one continues on map NC to Preston, to Lancaster, to Wennington, to Hellifield Group. But for this to be a Permitted Route, we need to make use of
all maps CH, NC and EH.
How to use the National Routeing Guide said:
Where a routeing specifies that a combination of Maps be used e.g) ER+PN+BD, the route is via any route on that map from the first routeing point to intercept point(s) for the next map without doubling back, then via any route within that map without doubling back. This is repeated until the final map is reached then via any route within that map until the final routeing point is reached. ... ALL MAPS NEED TO BE CONSULTED IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER.
http://www.atoc.org/rsp/Routeing_Guide/instructions.pdf
The National Routeing Guide in detail said:
If the route code has several maps, route tracing must observe the following rules:
1. Tracing must start at one of the ends of the route code.
2. All maps must be used.
3. Maps must be used in strict sequence, first to last or last to first, according to the end of the route code where reading began.
4. Tracing may move from map to map only at a point where the two maps touch.
5. Once route tracing has left a map it cannot return to it.
6. Journeys may not double back except between stations which are members of a routeing point group for interchange or unless an easement permits it.
(My emphasis)
http://www.atoc.org/rsp/Routeing_Guide/nrg_detail.pdf
It is therefore quite difficult to construct a permitted route Chester - Settle using maps CH+NC+EH. Route EH is Halifax or Hellifield to Blackburn, to Bolton, to Wigan, to Warrington, to Hunts Cross or to Huyton via Earlestown. The only Permitted Routes I can devise are:
Map CH Chester - Crewe or Hunts Cross or Huyton.
Map NC Crewe or Hunts Cross or Huyton - Wigan - Preston - Lancaster - Wennington - Long Preston.
Map EH Long Preston - Hellifield.
This takes advantage of the facts that Hellifield Group comprises Hellifield and Long Preston and that doubling back is permitted by point 6 of
The National Routeing Guide in detail quoted above.
So Chester - Settle is permitted via Lancaster if and only if one doubles back between Long Preston and Hellifeld!
By the same calculations, Chester - Hellifeld is permitted via Lancaster using map EH between Long Preston and Hellifeld.
But for 341 days of the year Chester - Long Preston has no mapped Permitted Routes at all because the doubling back concession
does not apply where the origin or destination stations are part of a group . The only valid route for a Chester - Long Preston route Any Permitted ticket is
taking the route of shortest distance or a distance longer by no more than 3 miles.
http://mileage.railmiles.org shows that there are six such routes, but all of them use the Blackburn - Hellifeld route which has summer Sunday trains only.
In order to find any trains at all on which a Chester - Long Preston route Any Permitted ticket can be used on these 341 days, one has to be creative in the interpretation of the Routeing Guide. An example on pages F12 - F15 of the Guide states:
The National Routeing Guide in detail said:
The permitted route is via the shortest distance to the first routeing point over which a scheduled train service runs, then via the permitted route, then via the shortest distance with a scheduled train service from the destination routeing point to the destination.
This introduces the concept of
the shortest distance with a scheduled train service for the parts of a journey between origin or destination and the relevant Routeing Points. It does not explicitly say that there has to be
a scheduled train service for the part of a journey between the appropriate Routeing Points, but it's all we have so let's use it.
Once again thanks to
http://mileage.railmiles.org which suggests that the shortest route is
Chester - Runcorn East - Warrington BQ [18.25 miles]
Warrington BQ - Wigan NW - Preston - Lancaster [48.00 miles]
Lancaster - Wennington - Long Preston [32.75 miles]
Total 99 miles
Distances from National Rail Timetable because that's what NRG states must be used.
The concession of using routes
taking the route of shortest distance or a distance longer by no more than 3 miles adds the possibility of visiting Bare Lane, but that does not significantly increase journey opportunities.
