Edinburgh to Lockerbie

[rosscbrown]

Howdy All,

Can you tell me if I can go Edinburgh to Carlisle, Carlisle to Lockerbie on a Edinburgh to Lockerbie Any Permitted route ticket.

I was told I could do this yesterday by station staff but I wasn't aware that it was an option.

If it is a valid routing I think I will be doing it fairly regularly as I'd much rather take a Virgin service rather than the fTPE direct services.

 

[me123]

I have seen this accepted in the past between Glasgow and Lockerbie (ie, Glasgow-Lockerbie via Carlisle). Given the low service frequency at Lockerbie, this can be your quickest option.

That said, it breaks one of the most important rules in the routeing guide: no doubling back is allowed. Furthermore, there are also no easements which relate to this journey. A quick search shows that no-one online is prepared to issue tickets for this journey. I would be cautious about this route. You may be best to check with the conductor/guard/TM/whatever before doing this.

Of course, if this is allowed (formally or otherwise), tickets from the Central Belt to Carlisle will become rather pointless, if you know what I mean... A single to Carlisle could magically become a fiver cheaper...

 

[yorkie]

I think there should be a "Route Carlisle" flow introduced, at the same price as a ticket to Carlisle or perhaps a token 10p more or something.

It's not valid. But common sense is probably ensuring leniency at times when there are no direct trains and going via Glasgow would be cumbersome.

There is a huge gap between the 1208 and 1611 from Edinburgh. The only other option between those times is the 1410 from Glasgow Central (arr 1506). You'd have to leave Edinburgh at 1300 to make that (1349 into GLQ) but that's probably not an official connection. So, if 1245 is the minimum official connection into the 1410, anyone presenting themselves at Edinburgh around 1pm-2pm may sensibly be allowed via Carlisle, assuming there's a good connection back... however my concern then would be, just because the first guard allowed it, how can you be sure the Carlisle to Lockerbie guard will also be lenient? I'd ask for them to endorse it to be safe.

Getting the 1300 and going via Glasgow (ignoring the fact it's not an official connection it is doable) gets you to Lockerbie 1506, this compares unfavourably with the 1252 arriving Carlisle 1405 and then the 1411 from Carlisle to Lockerbie arriving 1430.

 

[rail-britain]

According to the pocket timetables, travelling between Edinburgh or Glasgow to Lockerbie, can be done by changing at Carlisle
Equally the opposite appears to be advised for travelling northbound
I got the same result when checking available tickets at FTPE

Strangely there is no mention of travelling via Glasgow Central

 

[A60K]

Interesting! I think that would count as a valid travel itinerary beyond any reasonable doubt - carry that with an Edinburgh to Lockerbie ticket that doesn't say 'Not Carlisle' as the route and it would be impossible to argue that Carlisle isn't an acceptable route.