Direct train "always a valid route"...........

[father_jack]

Just a quickie.

The routing guide provides for the above.

However this week there is a block Tiverton Parkway to Taunton with a 2 hourly train going via Yeovil Junction, leaving Exeter St Davids, missing out Tiverton and Taunton with Castle Cary next stop. Exeter to London Terminal tickets are routed "via Honiton" or "via Taunton". The twitter operator on GWR has told someone they have to go to Tiverton and get a bus to Taunton and then get a train as a "via Taunton" ticket is held !!! Notwithstanding the fact that there is more than likely an easement anyway, does a geographical routing printed on a ticket still over ride the direct train rule ?

 

[furlong]

It's poorly worded but I'd argue this covers it:

Any through train diverted from its usual route will count as a permitted route between the stations it is normally scheduled to call at.

 

[Romilly]

The following come from the Easements section of the Routeing Guide:

300227 Journeys routed Taunton may travel via Yeovil Junction. This easement applies in both directions. Fare route

700794 Due to engineering works between 12/06/2018 and 14/06/2018, customers travelling on route ' VIA TAUNTON' may travel via Castle Cary. Fare route

 

[father_jack]

My thoughts entirely. Anyone fancy telling GWR....

 

[methethpropbut]

Does this mean that a "via Honiton" ticket will thus be valid on the diverted train?

 

[221129]

Does this mean that a "via Honiton" ticket will thus be valid on the diverted train?

Yes it will be.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Notwithstanding the fact that there is more than likely an easement anyway, does a geographical routing printed on a ticket still over ride the direct train rule ?

It doesn't override it but it applies in addition - fare routes are not really part of the routeing guide; they apply separately.

Some booking websites will show a note when a fare route easement contradicts the printed route description, in order to make it clearer, e.g. see attached screenshot from trainscanbecheaper.info on one of the diverted trains. (Pedantic side note: you could argue in that using the old-style "VIA TAUNTON" description, rather than the new-style "Valid only for travel via (changing trains or passing through) Taunton." the text of the fare route easement itself isn't compliant with the accreditation rules requiring the new style everywhere!)

 

[Paul Kelly]

Does this mean that a "via Honiton" ticket will thus be valid on the diverted train?

Yes it will be.

Indeed it's valid, but you won't be able to get it to show in an online journey planner because the electronic data they must use contains a hidden restriction to say a journey on a VIA HONITON fare may not go via Castle Cary.

 

[bb21]

According to a GWR briefing document, there is no fares easement for Via Honiton tickets on non-stop trains between Exeter and Reading, only those calling at Honiton, Axminster or Yeovil Junction.

I can see some forumites already rubbing their hands with glee.

 

[221129]

According to a GWR briefing document, there is no fares easement for Via Honiton tickets on non-stop trains between Exeter and Reading, only those calling at Honiton, Axminster or Yeovil Junction.

I can see some forumites already rubbing their hands with glee.

Surely if the train goes Via Honiton it is valid?

 

[Mag_seven]

According to a GWR briefing document, there is no fares easement for Via Honiton tickets on non-stop trains between Exeter and Reading, only those calling at Honiton, Axminster or Yeovil Junction.

Surely if the train goes Via Honiton it is valid?

My logic would be if a "via Taunton" ticket is valid via Taunton regardless of whether the train calls there or not (some GWR services pass through Taunton without stopping), then surely the same principle would apply to a "via Honiton" ticket?

 

[bb21]

Surely if the train goes Via Honiton it is valid?

Well, I didn't write that briefing document.

 

[221129]

Well, I didn't write that briefing document.

Then the briefing document is arguably incorrect.

 

[bb21]

Then the briefing document is arguably incorrect.

I am not passing any judgement on it.

 

[father_jack]

Thank you to whichever of you is Andy and who sorted out the passenger !!!!

 

[tsr]

I look forward to someone at GWR applying this rule to “via Gomshall” tickets.

 

[embers25]

According to a GWR briefing document, there is no fares easement for Via Honiton tickets on non-stop trains between Exeter and Reading, only those calling at Honiton, Axminster or Yeovil Junction.

I can see some forumites already rubbing their hands with glee.

I believe the reason is because if they permit this then route Honiton tickets would be allowed any day the sleeper goes that way..which technically they should be anyway but GWR dispute!

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I believe the reason is because if they permit this then route Honiton tickets would be allowed any day the sleeper goes that way..which technically they should be anyway but GWR dispute!

GWR don't permit passengers to use that entirely valid ticket merely because they don't price it (but rather their sister company SWR does)? Wow!

 

[Deafdoggie]

I believe the reason is because if they permit this then route Honiton tickets would be allowed any day the sleeper goes that way..which technically they should be anyway but GWR dispute!

But as the train doesn't call anywhere on that route when diverted, how would a passenger know anyway?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

But as the train doesn't call anywhere on that route when diverted, how would a passenger know anyway?

Looking at Google Maps or OpenTrainTimes or the like?

 

[Deafdoggie]

I don't think Google Maps tells you which way a train runs. And websites like Opentrain Times or RTT are only really know by enthusiasts, who know the way the train goes anyway, and what tickets are valid! But as, technically at least, the sleeper requires a reservation for both seats and berths, you'd have to get someone to issue a reservation, and the tickets "via Honiton" are not offered on it

 

[A Challenge]

Couldn't you go for a ticket office and ask for a reservation for the sleeper anyway?

 

[Deafdoggie]

But then they will say "It doesn't go via Honiton"!

 

[A Challenge]

Ask a ticket office that knows its diverted or just say 'I don't have the ticket'!

 

[bb21]

Officially ticket offices should not be issuing reservations without a ticket.

 

[yorkie]

If the train goes via Honiton, then " via Honiton" tickets are valid.

Booking systems might not be able to show them as valid, due to electronic restrictions which do not in any way affect the contract between customer and rail companies, but irrespective of that, they are valid. It doesn't matter what any member of GWR staff says; they cannot remove that validity.

If the train would normally go via Taunton, and is diverted via Honiton instead, then "via Taunton" tickets are also valid.

Again, there may be occasions been booking engines aren't able to show them as valid, such as if an easement has not (yet) been entered into the system.

If anyone is wrongly charged a change of route excess fare, this would be evidence of a breach of contract by the relevant company who charged thr excess fare.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Exeter to London Terminal tickets are routed "via Honiton" or "via Taunton".

Reading tickets on the other hand are routed "via Honiton" or "any permitted". At the risk of the journey taking forever it can be a useful money saver to use a via Honiton ticket as the Network card discounts are valid on the old LSWR route, given that British Rail partially reclassified Exeter as part of the south east.

via Taunton is a proxy for GWR and via Honiton a proxy for SWR. You could use Cross Country as far as Bristol, so that's not excluded with the geographic restriction.

It would be nonsense if an Exeter to London ticket intended for travel on GWR ceased to be valid because a GWR train was diverted.