Kemble blockade

[island]

For 23 days from 10-AUG-13 there will be no service between Swindon and Kemble. Passengers from Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury) travelling to London are being recommended to travel on XC/VT via Birmingham N St or on XC/FGW to Bristol Parkway.

Is it reasonable to assume that route VIA STROUD tickets will be passed on these trains which do not pass through Stroud? Via Bristol is a permitted route for London to Gloucester (without engineering works) but costs more.

 

[LexyBoy]

I believe there is an easement permitting this for the duration of the works, though it doesn't appear to be in the latest PDF.

NRE shows Via Stroud fares as valid via Bristol Parkway (either on the diverted PAD-CNM or changing to XC) but I cannot find anything "in writing" as it were.

I was also wondering about season ticket holders - the FGW posters mention that car park season ticket holders can use alternative stations, but makes no mention of rail tickets!

edit: there's this leafletwhich is quite helpful - though it doesn't explicitly mention the Via Stroud issue, it makes many mentions of "at no extra cost". Some of the additional availability looks quite expoitable too...

 

[sonic2009]

During the period 09 August to 02 September 2013 inclusive, customers in possession of tickets with the following route codes "LONDN STRD/EVSHM", "RDG STRD INC LDN", " VIA STROUD", "EVESHAM/STROUD", "AP KEMBL NOT LDN" and "AP KEMBLE SLOUGH" may not travel via Bristol Parkway. This easement applies in both directions.

Source : Atoc Routeing Guide Easements

FGW's leaflet explains that customers from Worcester travelling to or via Swindon are allowed to travel via Bristol Parkway or Bristol Temple Meads, route codes on Worcester to Swindon tickets are :

Any Permitted, Not via Birmingham & Via Stroud.

The above easement prohibits travel via Bristol Parkway on the Via Stroud ticket despite the FGW leaflet saying different.

This would seem to be the same for customers travelling from Ashchurch, Cheltenham & Gloucester that hold a via Stroud Ticket and you cannot travel via Bristol despite the FGW leaflet saying you can.

Worth an email to FGW?

 

[yorkie]

Surely the word "not" is included in error?

The people who write up these Easements do seem to make a lot of mistakes, and there is evidence that on occasions they can barely comprehend the English language.

 

[island]

What easement number is that?

 

[sonic2009]

what easement number is that?

700384

 

[Welshman]

Surely the word "not" is included in error?

The people who write up these Easements do seem to make a lot of mistakes, and there is evidence that on occasions they can barely comprehend the English language.

Indeed, it does take a fair ability to mangle the language to come-up with the term "negative easement"

 

[CNash]

Indeed, it does take a fair ability to mangle the language to come-up with the term "negative easement"

I think they should be called "diseasements"...

 

[LexyBoy]

Obviously missed that one then! Agree that it must be an error - force of habit putting that 'not' in. It can be hard to tell what's a mistake though as so many easements allow routes which are allowed anyway, or disallow those that are not.