National Routeing Guide update

[embers25]

There's an easement allowing via Taunton to use SWR via Honiton anyway...

 

[redreni]

Sorry, I've just realised it's the wording of the restriction that appears to limit the scope of the easement to passengers travelling on GWR services.

 

[kieron]

There's an easement allowing via Taunton to use SWR via Honiton anyway...

Easement 300227 does say:

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

The data for that easement is a bit different in that it only lets retailers make use of the easement on weekends, and only for itineraries which involve GWR. 701383 is Tuesday–Thursday. You can use SWR via Honiton with a "via Taunton" Exeter–Gatwick ticket, but the new easement is an attempt to let you use the diverted GWR trains.

When I look for "Gatwick to Exeter via Slough" now, gwr.com doesn't find any tickets for the diverted trains, only for itineraries which involve a bus from Taunton.

On another topic, some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 23 Jul 2025 (581) to 30 Jul 2025 (582).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701351 (Routeing Point) During engineering works from Sunday 17th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 inclusive, tickets from Westcombe Park travelling to Lewisham, Blackheath or Kidbrooke do not have to travel via Charlton. This routeing point easement applies in both directions.

701352 (Map) During engineering works from Sunday 17th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 inclusive, tickets starting between Lewisham and Kidbrooke and ending between Westcombe Park to Abbey Wood will be valid for travel via London Bridge. This map easement applies in both directions.

701353 (Fare route) During engineering works from Sunday 17th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 inclusive, tickets priced on (00700) NOT VIA LONDON from Westcombe Park travelling to Lewisham, Blackheath or Kidbrooke may travel via London Bridge. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701354 (Fare route) During engineering works from Sunday 17th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 inclusive, passengers from Westcombe Park, Charlton, Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich Arsenal, Abbey Wood and Belvedere who would otherwise travel via Lewisham may travel via London Bridge. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701382 (Map) During engineering work between Shrewsbury and Crewe on the weekends of 19-20 and 26-27 July 2025, passengers between Cardiff Central and Manchester Piccadilly may travel via Chester. This easement applies in both directions.​

These were temporary easement for which the dates have passed.

Added:

701388 (Local) Passengers travelling from Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley in Wharfedale, Menston and Guiseley to Leeds and beyond may travel via Shipley. This local easement will overcome the shortest distance rule and apply in both directions​

It can sometimes be quicker for someone going from an Ilkley branch station to change in Shipley rather than wait for a direct train to Leeds. This easement permits it.

701389 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 13-14 and 20-21 September 2025, passengers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond with tickets priced on (00421) AP BERWICK whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carlisle. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

This relates to the same line closure as 701366. This overrides the route restrictions on these advance tickets, and means that you can now buy a LNER advance ticket from (for instance) Ayr to Peterborough.

701390 (Fare route) During engineering works between Bristol and Bath from 27 to 30 October 2025, passengers on Great Western services travelling between Chippenham/Melksham and the Bristol area with tickets routed (00831) VIA BATH SPA may travel via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

This is being planned well ahead, but from what I can see the line between Bristol and Bath is closed with London trains diverted via Bristol Parkway.

The intention may be to let (say) a Chippenham–Yate ticket be used via Swindon. My understanding is that fare route easements only allow routes which an "any permitted" ticket would permit without the easement. The data doesn't look right, but I don't know of any tickets it would affect even if it was.

Station link changes:

Greenford (GFD) to South Ruislip (SRU) now has a distance of 3.00.​

This creates a link between Greenford (that is, the bay platform) and South Ruislip in the table retailers use as alternative to calculating shortest distances.

It doesn't affect the routes they offer between (say) Princes Risborough and London Paddington or Slough as a link was added between West Ealing and West Ruislip in 2021, and a shorter distance can be calculated using that.

Neither route appears in the NRT mileage tables, and neither is used by passenger trains at the moment.

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The following post was made on 4th August 2025.

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Some changes were published in the routeing guide on Fridy.

Changes from 30 Jul 2025 (582) to 01 Aug 2025 (583).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701376 (Map) During engineering works from 2nd to 28th August, CrossCountry passengers from Stoke on Trent to Birmingham New Street may travel on East Midlands services to Derby and then by the replacement bus service. This map easement applies in both directions.​

This removes an easement which was due to apply for most of this month.

The text allowed Stoke-Birmingham tickets to be used via Derby, but incorrectly states that one leg requires buses. The data was somewhat different. It's gone now, anyway.

In addition, the data has been changed for a few other easements.

The data for easement 701383 now says that it allows "via Taunton" tickets used on GWR to go via Castle Cary as well as via Honiton. gwr.com can plan journeys for the affected dates for (say) Exeter St Thomas-London, but it doesn't find tickets if this involves diverted trains. The text remains:

701383 (Fare route) During engineering works between 4 and 6 November 2025, passengers travelling on Great Western services on route (00842) VIA TAUNTON from the southeast to, from or via Exeter may travel via Honiton. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

The data for easement 701389 now only applies to journeys which go via Carstairs (or the line nearby) and do not go via Berwick. This means you can no longer buy advance tickets via Dumfries, but there may be other effects. The text remains:

701389 (Fare route) During engineering works on the weekends of 13-14 and 20-21 September 2025, passengers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond with tickets priced on (00421) AP BERWICK whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carlisle. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

The data for easement 701390 now says that it lets "via Bath Spa" tickets be used via Swindon. gwr.com wouldn't let me book a Chippenham-Bristol Parkway ticket using that route when I tried, though. The text remains:

701390 (Fare route) During engineering works between Bristol and Bath from 27 to 30 October 2025, passengers on Great Western services travelling between Chippenham/Melksham and the Bristol area with tickets routed (00831) VIA BATH SPA may travel via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

The data for the "via Greenford" (00813) route has also changed. It had been restricted by train company, but now it's allowed for any journey via Greenford. I don't think you can actually buy a "via Greenford" Ealing Broadway-High Wycombe ticket with an itinerary though, even now.

 

[mm333]

Added:​

​

701388 (Local) Passengers travelling from Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley in Wharfedale, Menston and Guiseley to Leeds and beyond may travel via Shipley. This local easement will overcome the shortest distance rule and apply in both directions​

It can sometimes be quicker for someone going from an Ilkley branch station to change in Shipley rather than wait for a direct train to Leeds. This easement permits it.

We’ve had easement 94: “Journeys from or via London and via Leeds to Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfdale, Ben Rhydding or Ilkley may go via Shipley. This easement applies in both directions” for quite a few years.

Now we have a lot more LNER services calling at Shipley, this will be helpful.

 

[kieron]

We’ve had easement 94: “Journeys from or via London and via Leeds to Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfdale, Ben Rhydding or Ilkley may go via Shipley. This easement applies in both directions” for quite a few years.

Now we have a lot more LNER services calling at Shipley, this will be helpful.

Thanks, I hadn't noticed that easement. Easement 94 does seem redundant now 701388 is there.

On another note, two more sets of changes have been made to the routeing guide this week.

The following changes were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday.

Changes from 01 Aug 2025 (583) to 06 Aug 2025 (584).

Easement changes:

Added:

701392 (Map) During to engineering works between Exeter and Taunton from 4 to 6 November 2025, passengers with tickets priced on routes (00700) NOT VIA LONDON, (00411) AP SLOUGH, (00820) GW ONLY, (00810) NOT VIA READING, (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00203) GWR SLEEPER & GWR, (00955) GWR ONLY and (00840) VIA HONITON will be valid for travel on Great Western services via Honiton, Yeovil and Castle Cary. This map easement will not apply to journeys that include travel via Brockenhurst or Salisbury. This map easement applies in both directions.​

This easement relates to the same line closure as easement 701383.

The data makes it a map easement for tickets which use one of the above route codes (with the exception of 00820, a code some GWR advance tickets use) which were bought with an itinerary which involves GWR trains but does not involve travel through Brockenhurst or Salisbury. The applicable locations are Exeter Group, Honiton, both Yeovil stations and Castle Cary.

gwr.com only offers "any permitted" Exeter-Trowbridge tickets for itineraries which go via Taunton, though.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701366 (Map) (Fare route) Passengers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond, whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carlisle with tickets priced on (00421) AP BERWICK, during engineering works on the weekends of 13-14 and 20-21 September 2025. This map fare route easement applies in both directions.​

This is now a fare route easement. The data allows "AP Berwick" tickets to be used via Carstairs, with no further restrictions. This makes it equivalent to the original version of easement 701383.

As there are only fare route easements for this line closure, "AP Berwick" tickets are only offered where LNER are the main operator and LNER aren't diverting trains via Carlisle, it's hard to tell what tickets would actually benefit from the easements.

And the following were published yesterday (Thursday).

Changes from 06 Aug 2025 (584) to 07 Aug 2025 (585).

Easement changes:

Added:

701393 (Circuitous Route) Passengers travelling from Market Harborough, Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough to Flitwick, Harlington (Beds), Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Harpenden may not travel via London St.Pancras. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions. This overcomes the unintended effect of a related positive easement.​

nre.co.uk had allowed travel via St Pancras for itineraries which only change trains there, possibly because of easement 701296 below. This tries to prevent it.

In addition, the data was changed for easement 701296. It had previously had rules which meant that West Hampstead Thameslink was a valid routeing point for any journey to or from a station between there and Bedford. These rules now only apply where the other end of the journey is Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, Syon Lane or Isleworth. The text remains:

701296 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Flitwick, Harlington (Beds), Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, Radlett, Elstree & Borehwood, Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Brent Cross West and Cricklewood to Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, Syon Lane and Isleworth may travel via West Hampstead Thameslink. This routeing point easement overcomes NFM64 fares checks and applies in both directions.​

 

[4COR]

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

​

701393 (Circuitous Route) Passengers travelling from Market Harborough, Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough to Flitwick, Harlington (Beds), Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Harpenden may not travel via London St.Pancras. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions. This overcomes the unintended effect of a related positive easement.​

And yet more proof that the pricing managers watch these forums like hawks, even if posts are reasonably quickly removed...

 

[kieron]

The data for an easement was changed on Friday.

Changes from 07 Aug 2025 (585) to 08 Aug 2025 (586).​

The data for easement 701386 now affects "via Stockport" tickets between Altrincham and stations towards Chester. There are none. The text remains:

701386 (Fare route) During engineering works between 2 and 22 August 2025, passengers from stations Delamere to Hale (inclusive) to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria and Deansgate with tickets on route (00325) VIA STOCKPORT may travel via Altrincham. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Even if via Stockport was a restriction on those tickets, they would be allowed via Altrincham anyway? What does that easement even do?

 

[jfollows]

In response to https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ne-during-stockport-engineering-works.290374/ I think.

Tickets “via Stockport” (for example, Plumley-Manchester) weren’t being offered during the station closure period.

Now says

Valid only for travel via (changing trains or passing through) Stockport.

Fare route Easement 701386 (outbound journey): During engineering works between 2 and 22 August 2025, passengers from stations Delamere to Hale (inclusive) to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria and Deansgate with tickets on route (00325) VIA STOCKPORT may travel via Altrincham. This fare route easement applies in both directions.<br>Fare route Easement 701386 (inbound journey): During engineering works between 2 and 22 August 2025, passengers from stations Delamere to Hale (inclusive) to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria and Deansgate with tickets on route (00325) VIA STOCKPORT may travel via Altrincham. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

Restriction B3 applies

on this site’s original site.

 

[izvor]

Any easement on travel between Tonbridge and Redhill (i.e. permitting via London) during the 10-day block next week, please? Website says nothing. Local staff unsure apart from one who said definitely NOT. Yet it's been done before. Of course my query to Southern will not be answered until after it's all over...

Even more needed this time as for some reason the RR bus service is unaccountably split at Edenbridge Town.

 

[kieron]

Even if via Stockport was a restriction on those tickets, they would be allowed via Altrincham anyway? What does that easement even do?

At the moment, no trains are running through Stockport, and there are no buses between there and Altrincham. You are permitted to use some of the local buses, but a rail retailer can't find offer a journey involving those as they're not in the data they use.

What this easement does is allow tickets to be offered which use Metrolink between Altrincham and central Manchester instead of visiting Stockport. A ticket between Altrincham and Salford Central would be valid without an easement, but there's no reason why a passenger would know that.

On another subject, the routeing guide was updated yesterday.

Changes from 08 Aug 2025 (586) to 13 Aug 2025 (587).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701280 (Circuitous Route) During engineering works closing Westbury Station on 08 and 09 March 2025. Customers travelling with tickets priced on routes (00618) VIA SALISBURY, (00627) SALISBURY/YEOVIL, (00836) VIA WESTBURY and (00837) WESTBURY AND SALISBURY may travel via Reading and Basingstoke. But not on Cross Country train services departing Reading between 14:00 and 18:00 each day. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions.​

This was a temporary easement, and the dates have now passed.

Added:

701395 (Map) During engineering works between Bristol and Bath from 27 to 30 October 2025, passengers travelling between Chippenham/Melksham and the Bristol area may travel via Swindon. This map easement applies in both directions.​

As with easement 701390, this relates to dates when the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa is closed. The data for this is a map easement which applies to journeys which don't go via Didcot and has Bristol Group, Bath, Chippenham, Westbury Group and Swindon as applicable locations. gwr.com will now let me book a Chippenham-Severn Tunnel Junction journey via Swindon.

Incidentally, 701390 should help with "via Bath" tickets, but it doesn't seem to affect retailers. I suspect this is because it only applies at the weekend, and the dates it covers go from Monday to Thursday.

701396 (Routeing Point) Passengers travelling from Cardenden to Burntisland may travel via Inverkeithing. This routeing point easement applies in both directions and is to enable journey planners to show this journey as valid.​

Going via Inverkeithing is permitted if you only change train there as it is a common routeing point for Cardenden and Burntisland.
As they have more than one common routeing point (Inverkeithing Group and Kirkcaldy Group), retail systems don't respect this. They deny the route with a single change in Inverkeithing as it's further than the shortest route via Kirkcaldy. They deny the route with a single change at Markinch as it's further than the shortest route via Inverkeithing.

The route via Inverkeithing is the most useful one as few trains now go between Cardenden (or Glenrothes and Thornton) towards Kircaldy or Markinch, with most either terminating at Glenrothes with Thornton or going to Leven.

Easement 700997 (a local easement) covers similar ground, saying that "Customers travelling from ... Cardenden ... to ... Burntisland ... may travel via Inverkeithing." nre.co.uk doesn't show a Cardenden-Burntisland ticket as being valid via Inverkeithing even with both easements. I don't know why.

 

[Kite159]

They deny the route with a single change at Markinch as it's further than the shortest route via Inverkeithing.

The route via Inverkeithing is the most useful one as few trains now go between Cardenden (or Glenrothes and Thornton) towards Kircaldy or Markinch,

Isn't it still only a tiny handful of trains a day which calls at both Glenrothes & Markinch with the majority of services Edinburgh - Glenrothes via Rosyth carrying on to Leven
Although I presume for some holding a ticket from Glenrothes With Thornton to Kirkcaldy can circulate via Cameron Bridge rather than going via Inverkeithing

 

[kieron]

Although I presume for some holding a ticket from Glenrothes With Thornton to Kirkcaldy can circulate via Cameron Bridge rather than going via Inverkeithing

Not with a ticket between Glenrothes with Thornton (GLT) and Kirkcaldy (KDY), as that's a "local" journey. The additional "there and back" routes only apply when the intermediate station is a common routeing point. Cameron Bridge (CBX) isn't a routeing point at all, so you can't use it like that.

It wouldn't work with the "3 mile" rule, either. No distance is listed between GLT and CBX in the NRT table or the data retailers use, but the "crow flies" distance is around 4 miles. KDY is closer to GLT than to CBX in both, so adding them together wouldn't give a valid route.

On another subject, some changes to the routeing guide data were published yesterday.

Changes from 13 Aug 2025 (587) to 15 Aug 2025 (588).​

The data for easement 701356 has been extended to include the dates (next week) which are listed in the text. The text remains:

701356 (Map) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill from 18th to 24th August 2025, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud. This map easement applies in both directions.​

The data makes it a map easement which has Cheltenham and Gloucester as applicable stations in addition to Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, Cam & Dursley and Stonehouse.

Between Monday 18th and Thursday 21st, it applies to "via Evesham" tickets from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive booked with an itinerary via Stroud and Swindon. Between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th, it also applies to tickets to those stations on the same basis, so long as you use GWR (not that anyone else runs trains through Swindon).

The data for easement 701358 has changed to only permit an itinerary which involves travel on GWR. The text doesn't mention this. It remains:

701358 (Map) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud from 22nd to 24th August 2025, after 15:00 and before 10:00. This map easement applies in both directions.​

The data for easement 701390 has changed to apply on the dates listed in the text. It means that nre.co.uk now shows a "via Bath Spa" Chippenham-Bristol Parkway ticket as being valid via Swindon. The text remains:

701390 (Fare route) During engineering works between Bristol and Bath from 27 to 30 October 2025, passengers on Great Western services travelling between Chippenham/Melksham and the Bristol area with tickets routed (00831) VIA BATH SPA may travel via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

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The following was posted on 21st August 2025.

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Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 15 Aug 2025 (588) to 20 Aug 2025 (589).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Removed:​

​

700999 (Fare route) During engineering works on the 16 and 17 August 2022, tickets priced on (00807) VIA STROUD, (00808) READING STROUD INCLUDING LONDON, (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00827) LONDON STROUD/EVESHAM, (00418) AP KEMBLE/SLOUGH and (00417 AP KEMBLE NOT LONDON will be valid via Yate, Cam & Dursley and Bristol Parkway for journeys via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions​

The dates for this have passed now.

Added:​

​

701397 (Local) Passengers travelling from Cardenden to Burntisland may travel via Inverkeithing. This local easement applies in both directions and is to enable journey planners to show this journey as valid.​

This is a local easement for the same purpose as 701396 (and 700997). nre.co.uk still doesn't show a journey between Cardenden and Burntisland via Inverkeithing as being valid with a single ticket.

701398 (Map) During engineering work between Stalybridge/Penistone and Huddersfield/Mirfield from 30 August to 28 September 2025, passengers on TransPennine services from stations Micklefield to Mirfield (inclusive) travelling to St Helens Central/Newton-le- Willows/Warrington Central to Liverpool Line Street, may travel via Sowerby Bridge and Manchester Victoria. This Map easement applies in both directions.​

The line through Huddersfield is closed then, and some TPE trains are diverted via Brighouse and Rochdale between Leeds and Manchester. There are already some easements (such as 701381) for this, but only to help people use the buses.

The data for this easement makes it a mapped easement with Manchester Victoria and Sowerby Bridge as applicable locations. It only applies to itineraries which involve TPE services and where the origin and destination match one of a number of cross-Pennine journeys.

On the east side, it affect tickets to and from stations between Micklefield and Mirfield via Leeds. On the west, it affects tickets to and from stations between Edge Hill and each of Newton-le-Willows, St. Helens Central and Warrington Stations inclusive, except that it doesn't affect Liverpool South Parkway or any stations between there and Liverpool Central via Brunswick.

It does seem to allow the route via Sowerby Bridge. Some journeys can be quicker via Sheffield, but the easement doesn't affect that route.

In addition to the above, the data for easement 701296 has changed. It no longer permits the extra journeys (ones via West Hampstead Thameslink and Luton Airport Parkway) which were added to the easement in January. The text remains:

701296 (Routeing point) Customers travelling from Flitwick, Harlington (Beds), Leagrave, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans City, Radlett, Elstree & Borehwood, Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Brent Cross West and Cricklewood to Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, Syon Lane and Isleworth may travel via West Hampstead Thameslink. This routeing point easement overcomes NFM64 fares checks and applies in both directions.​

 

[kieron]

Some changes were published in the routeing guide on Friday.

Changes from 20 Aug 2025 (589) to 22 Aug 2025 (590).

Easement changes:

Added:

701399 (Local) Customers travelling from Woodlesford, Castleford, Pontefract Monkhill or Tanshelf and Normanton to Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall and Adwick may travel via Leeds. This local easement applies in both directions.​

These stations are all in, or associated with, the Pontefract routeing group, so the journeys are all "local". Within Pontefract Group itself, the easement doesn't mention Pontefract Baghill (which doesn't have direct trains to Leeds) or Glasshoughton.

The data for the easement gives Leeds as an applicable location. nre.co.uk doesn't show a journey between (for instance) Castleford and Fitzwilliam as being valid via Leeds, however, but only if you change in Wakefield.

701400 (Local) Passengers travelling from Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Landywood, Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley Town and Rugeley Trent Valley to Stone may travel via Stafford. This Local easement applies in both directions.​

Stone is associated with Rugeley Trent Valley. The shortest route between the stations is via Stafford, but retailers use data which includes a fictitious shorter route between them. Without an easement, no valid route could be found for an "any permitted" ticket although nre.co.uk did show a route via Stafford for (say) a Bloxwich–Wedgwood ticket. nre.co.uk now allows the shortest route.

In addition, the data for some easements has been altered.

The data for easement 701397 has changed, and now tries to do the same thing for journeys between Burntisland and Cardenden that easement 700997 does. The text remains:

701397 (Local) Passengers travelling from Cardenden to Burntisland may travel via Inverkeithing. This local easement applies in both directions and is to enable journey planners to show this journey as valid.​

nre.co.uk still can't find a through fare for this route. Some other web sites (such as gwr.com) can, but I don't know how that relates to these easements.

The data for easement 701398 has been extended to cover journeys to and from Liverpool Lime Street. The text remains:

701398 (Map) During engineering work between Stalybridge/Penistone and Huddersfield/Mirfield from 30 August to 28 September 2025, passengers on TransPennine services from stations Micklefield to Mirfield (inclusive) travelling to St Helens Central/Newton-le- Willows/Warrington Central to Liverpool Line Street, may travel via Sowerby Bridge and Manchester Victoria. This Map easement applies in both directions.​

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The following was posted on 28th August 2025.

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The following changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 22 Aug 2025 (590) to 27 Aug 2025 (591).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701355 (Fare route) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill from 18th to 24th August 2025, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701356 (Map) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill from 18th to 24th August 2025, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud. This map easement applies in both directions.

701357 (Fare route) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud from 18th to 21st August 2025. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701358 (Map) During engineering closures between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill, passengers with tickets on route 00805 (VIA EVESHAM) from stations between Hereford and Worcestershire Parkway inclusive, for destinations to, from or via Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington, may travel via Stroud from 22nd to 24th August 2025, after 15:00 and before 10:00. This map easement applies in both directions.

701373 (Map) During engineering works between Worcester Shrub Hill and Moreton-in-Marsh from 18th and 24th August, passengers with walk-up tickets from Hereford to Worcestershire Parkway inclusive may travel via Birmingham using West Midlands Trains services and then to London Marylebone using Chiltern services. This easement applies in both directions.

701374 (Map) During engineering works between Worcester Shrub Hill and Moreton-in-Marsh, from 18th and 21st August passengers with walk-up tickets from Hereford to Worcestershire Parkway inclusive may travel via Birmingham using West Midlands Trains or CrossCountry services and then to London Marylebone using Chiltern services. This easement applies in both directions.

701375 (Fare route) During engineering works between Worcester Shrub Hill and Moreton-in-Marsh from 18th and 24th August, passengers with walk-up tickets travelling from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern and Malvern Link to destinations via Didcot, Reading and London with walk-up tickets routed Evesham/Stroud (00803) or Via Evesham (00805) may travel via Newport. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701386 (Fare route) During engineering works between 2 and 22 August 2025, passengers from stations Delamere to Hale (inclusive) to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria and Deansgate with tickets on route (00325) VIA STOCKPORT may travel via Altrincham. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

The dates for these have all passed now.

Added:

701401 (Doubleback) Passengers from Edinburgh travelling to Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth and Micklefield may doubleback via Leeds. This easement applies in both directions.​

It's sometimes quicker for someone going from Edinburgh to double back via Leeds rather than change to a stopping train in York. This easement permits it.

It doesn't seem to be reflected in results from nre.co.uk, possibly because the data doesn't match the text. My understanding is that the data for a double back easement should look something like easement 30095.

701402 (Fare route) During engineering works between 30th August and 29th September 2025, passengers from Slaithwaite travelling to Brighouse with tickets on route (00092) VIA HUDDERSFIELD may use the direct replacement bus. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

Huddersfield station is closed then. As with easement 701381, this lets people use some "via Huddersfield" tickets on the few buses which are scheduled to run between Marsden and Brighouse. This easement is for tickets between Slaithwaite and Brighouse, rather than Leeds.

There isn't a similar easement for tickets from (or via) Marsden. Oddly, nre.co.uk reflects this by not listing the direct buses at all.

In addition, the data from easement 701399 has had Bentley added to the list of locations, so that it's treated in the same way as Adwick. The text remains:

701399 (Local) Customers travelling from Woodlesford, Castleford, Pontefract Monkhill or Tanshelf and Normanton to Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall and Adwick may travel via Leeds. This local easement applies in both directions.​

 

[kieron]

The following changes were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday.

Changes from 27 Aug 2025 (591) to 03 Sep 2025 (592).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701348 (Fare route) Journeys priced on routes (00267) VIA BANBURY, (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, (00362) VIA HIGH WYC&SHR, (00363) VIA HWYC & BHM, (00364) CH & TFW ONLY, (00402) AP HIGH WYCOMBE, (00432) AP H WYC & SHREW and (00435) AP CH AND TFW ONLY may travel via Aylesbury during engineering work closures on 31/08/2025. This Fare route easement will apply in both directions.

701360 (Fare route) During engineering work between Swindon and Gloucester from 26 to 30 August 2025, passengers travelling to and from Gloucester on tickets with route 00807 VIA STROUD may use any Great Western service via Bristol Parkway. This route easement applies in both directions.

701377 (Fare route) During engineering works from 2nd to 28th August, CrossCountry passengers from Macclesfield to Birmingham New Street with tickets routed via Stoke on Trent (00313) may use the replacement bus service from Macclesfield to Wilmslow. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

These were temporary easements. The dates have passed now.

Added:

701403 (Fare route) During engineering works between 30th August and 29th September 2025, passengers from Slaithwaite travelling to Dewsbury with tickets on route (00092) VIA HUDDERSFIELD may use the direct replacement bus between Slaithwaite and Brighouse. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

701405 (Fare route) During engineering works between 30th August and 29th September 2025, passengers from Slaithwaite travelling to Dewsbury with tickets on route (00092) VIA HUDDERSFIELD may use the direct replacement bus between Slaithwaite and Brighouse. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

These are some extra easements (to go with 701381, 701384 and 701402) to let tickets be used on buses between Marsden and Brighouse. Both of these easements relate to tickets between Slaithwaite and Dewsbury, a journey which did, at least, already have first class "TPE only" tickets available.

701404 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Elstree & Borehwood, Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Brent Cross West and Cricklewood to Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, Syon Lane and Isleworth may travel via London St. Pancras. This routeing point easement overcomes NFM64 fares checks and applies in both directions.​

Easement 701296 makes West Hampstead Thameslink a valid routeing point for various journeys. This easement tries to make London a valid routeing point for some of them. I don't think it works as the London routeing point isn't associated with any of the stations listed.

The data does make Barnes a valid routeing point for the stations between Chiswick and Islworth inclusive for journeys to and from stations between Cricklewood and Elstree & Borehamwood inclusive. I don't know how significant this is given that the standard rules already allowed some routes along these lines.

701407 (Fare route) Journeys priced on routes (00267) VIA BANBURY, (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, (00362) VIA HIGH WYC&SHR, (00363) VIA HWYC & BHM, (00364) CH & TFW ONLY, (00402) AP HIGH WYCOMBE, (00432) AP H WYC & SHREW and (00435) AP CH AND TFW ONLY may travel via Aylesbury during engineering work closures on 8th and 9th November 2025. This Fare route easement will apply in both directions.​

No trains are running between Gerrards Cross and London Marylebone then. The Aylesbury line remains open, with buses between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Bicester. This easement lets you go via Aylesbury with a "via High Wycombe" ticket.

701408 (Local) Customers travelling from Bellshill or Uddingston to Newton (Lanarkshire), Blantyre, Hamilton West, Hamilton Central, Chatelherault, Merryton, Larkhall and from Uddingston to Airbles, may interchange at Cambuslang and travel through Newton (Lanark) twice. This Doubleback easement will apply in both directions.​

This is intended to permit travel via Cambuslang for journeys between Bellshill or Uddingston and stations btween Newton and Larkhall inclusive. You could arleady travel between these stations by changing in Hamilton and Motherwell, but a change in Cambuslang is often quicker.

nre.co.uk doesn't show this route as being valid for (as an example) a Blantyre–Uddingston ticket. The data is a local easement with Newton (a common routeing point for the two stations) as the applicable locations, but I don't know what might work better. It does work for Newton–Uddingston, but that may be because the "applicable location" is the origin and not just an intermediate station.

701409 (Circuitous Route) Passengers from Edinburgh travelling to Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth and Micklefield may travel via Leeds. This Circuitous Route easement applies in both directions.​

This is another positive circuitous route easement. I still don't know what effect those should have, but it doesn't make nre.co.uk accept an Edinburgh–Cross Gates ticket as being valid via Leeds.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701149 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling to Crosshill from Newton (Lanarkshire), Uddingston, Bellshill, Motherwell, Airbles and Blantyre, may travel via Glasgow Central. This routeing point easement applies ion in both directions.​

This just corrects a typo.

In addition, the data for two easements has changed:

Easement 700578 has had Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Queenstown Road (Battersea) added to what had been a list of London Terminals. The text remains:

700578 (Circuitous route) Journeys from Bromley North, Sundridge Park, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods may not travel to London Terminals via Bromley South (which is in a higher priced Travelcard zone). This negative circuitous easement applies in both directions.​

Easement 701399 has had Pontefract Monkhill and Pontefract Tanshelf added as applicable locations. The text remains:

701399 (Map) Customers travelling from Woodlesford, Castleford, Pontefract Monkhill or Tanshelf and Normanton to Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall and Adwick may travel via Leeds. This local easement applies in both directions.​

nre.co.uk now shows Pontefract Monkhill–Fitzwilliam as being valid via Leeds. Someone travelling between Castleford, Normanton or Woodlesford and a station between Wakefield and Doncaster wouldn't normally travel via Pontefract, but they do benefit if you choose an itinerary which goes that way.

 

[MrJeeves]

701409 (Circuitous Route) Passengers from Edinburgh travelling to Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth and Micklefield may travel via Leeds. This Circuitous Route easement applies in both directions.This is another positive circuitous route easement. I still don't know what effect those should have, but it doesn't make nre.co.uk accept an Edinburgh–Cross Gates ticket as being valid via Leeds.

This easement has no effect as circuitous route easements can only be negative, yet this has been set up as a positive easement.

 

[MikeWh]

Easement 700578 has had Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Queenstown Road (Battersea) added to what had been a list of London Terminals. The text remains:

700578 (Circuitous route) Journeys from Bromley North, Sundridge Park, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods may not travel to London Terminals via Bromley South (which is in a higher priced Travelcard zone). This negative circuitous easement applies in both directions.

I don't know what effect that will have on people using PAYG. The Bromley OSI will join journeys together and they all appear to be priced as zone 1-4 journeys.

 

[kieron]

This easement has no effect as circuitous route easements can only be negative, yet this has been set up as a positive easement.

I was beginning to wonder as we now have three of them. The other two are otherwise identical to other easements, so I wonder if it's trying to work around a problem one of retail systems has.

I don't know what effect that will have on people using PAYG. The Bromley OSI will join journeys together and they all appear to be priced as zone 1-4 journeys.

I think zonal fares are completely separate. If TfL changed the "via Bromley South" fares for these journeys, I'd expect them to communicate it in their own way.

On another note, the following changes were published in the routeing guide on Friday:

Changes from 03 Sep 2025 (592) to 05 Sep 2025 (593).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Removed:​

​

701383 (Fare route) During engineering works between 4 and 6 November 2025, passengers travelling on Great Western services on route (00842) VIA TAUNTON from the southeast to, from or via Exeter may travel via Honiton. This fare route easement applies in both directions.​

​

701392 (Map) During to engineering works between Exeter and Taunton from 4 to 6 November 2025, passengers with tickets priced on routes (00700) NOT VIA LONDON, (00411) AP SLOUGH, (00820) GW ONLY, (00810) NOT VIA READING, (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00203) GWR SLEEPER & GWR, (00955) GWR ONLY and (00840) VIA HONITON will be valid for travel on Great Western services via Honiton, Yeovil and Castle Cary. This map easement will not apply to journeys that include travel via Brockenhurst or Salisbury. This map easement applies in both directions.​

The line closure has been cancelled (according to nre.co.uk). Anyone who tries to book tickets now will still see an amended timetable, but this should change at some point.

---

The following was posted on 9th September 2025.

---

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 05 Sep 2025 (593) to 08 Sep 2025 (594).​

​

Easement changes:​

​

Added:​

​

701410 (Map) Due to engineering works, on the 19 October 2025, customers travelling from Stansted Airport to central London or via central London may travel to London Kings Cross via Cambridge and Hitchin. This map easement applies in both directions​

There are no trains between Stansted Airport, Waltham Cross and Edmonton Green. The text lets Stansted–London travellers go via Cambridge to London Kings Cross (but not Moorgate).

The data has this as a map eaasement with the routeing points between London Kings Cross, Cambridge and Stansted Airport as applicable locations. The route isn't shown as being valid on nre.co.uk, possibly because they see a double back through Cambridge South.

Cambridge South isn't just a problem for journeys using this easement, as nre.co.uk only offers (for instance) a Stevenage–Stansted Airport ticket for an itinerary which goes via Hertford East.

701411 (Map) During industrial action on London Underground until Friday 12th September 2025, journeys from or via London to Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville may go via Princes Risborough and Aylesbury. This easement applies in both directions.​

The stations between Great Missenden and London Marylebone (exclusive) are closed during the current London Underground industrial action. There are through trains along the line on some days but not others. Trains are running between Aylesbury and Great Missenden throughout.

This easement is intended to let you use the route via High Wycombe and Aylesbury to go between London and one of the stations which remain open. nre.co.uk doesn't show this as a valid route, I presume because the journey from London is a "local" journey and "map" easements like this one don't apply to "local" journeys.

Luckily, there are some cross-London journeys (such as Clapham Junction–Great Missenden) which don't need an easement because of the way nre.co.uk calculates the shortest route for journeys across London.

 

[IrishDave]

701400 (Local) Passengers travelling from Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Landywood, Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley Town and Rugeley Trent Valley to Stone may travel via Stafford. This Local easement applies in both directions.​

Stone is associated with Rugeley Trent Valley. The shortest route between the stations is via Stafford, but retailers use data which includes a fictitious shorter route between them. Without an easement, no valid route could be found for an "any permitted" ticket although nre.co.uk did show a route via Stafford for (say) a Bloxwich–Wedgwood ticket. nre.co.uk now allows the shortest route.

On this specific point, I suspect the issue is that, for timetable planning purposes, the junction just north of Stone is treated as the same location as Stone station. So an Avanti service between Euston and Manchester via Stoke-on-Trent is timed at Stone, even though it doesn't pass through the platforms. This presumably necessitates a "fictitious" route being created between Rugeley Trent Valley and Stone along the direct line via Hixon.

 

[kieron]

The following changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 08 Sep 2025 (594) to 10 Sep 2025 (595).

Easement changes:

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701410 (Map) Due to (Doubleback) During engineering works, works on the 19 October 2025, customers passengers travelling from Stansted Airport to central London or via central London may travel to London Kings Cross via Cambridge and Hitchin. Hitchin, doubling back through Cambridge South. This map Doubleback easement applies in both directionsdirections.​

This is now a doubleback easement rather than a map one. nre.co.uk doesn't show Stansted–Cambridge–London as being valid with a single ticket. The easement data doesn't contain a doubleback or via location, and my understanding is that a doubleback easement doesn't allow travel via Cambridge by itself when no Stansted–London maps include Cambridge and the shortest route is via Stratford.

701411 (Map) (Fare route) During industrial action on London Underground until Friday 12th September 2025, journeys from or via London to Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville may go via Princes Risborough and Aylesbury. This easement applies in both directions.​

This is now a fare route easement rather than a map one. It still doesn't help with tickets between Great Missenden and London.

---

The following post was made on 13th September 2025.

---

The following changes were made to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 10 Sep 2025 (595) to 12 Sep 2025 (596).

Easement changes:

Added:

701412 (Map) During engineering works on 19 October 2025, customers travelling from Shelford (Cambs), Whittlesford Parkway, Great Chesterford, Audley End, Newport (Essex), Elsenham (Essex), Stansted Mountfitchet and Stansted Airport to or via London may travel via Cambridge. This map easement applies in both directions​

Like the first version of easement 701410 this is a map easement, although the text refers to more journeys than that did.

The data has, as applicable locations, Stansted Group and the routeing points between Cambridge and London (St Pancras, Kings Cross or Moorgate) as well as London Liverpool Street.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701410 (Doubleback) During engineering works on 19 October 2025, passengers travelling from Shelford (Cambs), Whittlesford Parkway, Great Chesterford, Audley End, Newport (Essex), Elsenham (Essex), Stansted Mountfitchet and Stansted Airport to or via central London may travel to London Kings Cross via Cambridge and Hitchin, via Cambridge, doubling back through Cambridge South. This Doubleback easement applies in both directions.​

The text for this easement now includes Stansted Mountfitchet, as well as the stations between there and Cambridge, and no longer specifies a route to London.

The data has the same list of applicable locations as 701412. Here it means that you can double back through one of those stations.

nre.co.uk now shows journeys from London from Stansted Airport and Stansted Mountfitchet as being valid via Cambridge on that date. Shelford–London is also allowed (because Cambridge is a valid routeing point for Shelford for the ticket), but not (because of easement 700119) with an itinerary to London Kings Cross, St Pancras or Farringdon, or via Farringdon.

The other stations mentioned would, I think, need a routeing point easement to allow travel via Cambridge. I did think of Audley End–Stansted–Cambridge–London, but nre.co.uk didn't show it as being valid with a through ticket. I don't know the reason for this.

700220 (Doubleback) Customers travelling via Audley End to Stansted Airport amy may double back between Stansted Mountfitchet and Bishops Stortford. This easement applies in both directions​

This just fixes a typo.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

700220 (Doubleback) Customers travelling via Audley End to Stansted Airport amy may double back between Stansted Mountfitchet and Bishops Stortford. This easement applies in both directions
This just fixes a typo.

Are easments like this typed out by hand?
I would have gussed it'd be some kind of formula where all that needs to be selected is the format (E.g. Doubleback) and then the stations.

 

[MrJeeves]

Are easments like this typed out by hand?
I would have gussed it'd be some kind of formula where all that needs to be selected is the format (E.g. Doubleback) and then the stations.

It's all hand-typed freetext input.

 

[JB_B]

It's all hand-typed freetext input.

I'm guessing that TOCs provide a natural language specification of the easement they want - do they also do the data side or does someone else do that?

 

[MrJeeves]

I'm guessing that TOCs provide a natural language specification of the easement they want - do they also do the data side or does someone else do that?

Changes are made through a system called Product Management Service (PMS).

Some TOCs have direct access to this system, but others get changes made via the managed helpdesk.

I'm not sure what level of detail requests get made in, but I know that I have personally written one of the easement texts before when I was getting something fixed via the helpdesk.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Changes are made through a system called Product Management Service (PMS).

Some TOCs have direct access to this system, but others get changes made via the managed helpdesk.

I'm not sure what level of detail requests get made in, but I know that I have personally written one of the easement texts before when I was getting something fixed via the helpdesk.

Do all TOCs not have access?

 

[MrJeeves]

Do all TOCs not have access?

I'd like to think at least someone from every TOC has access, but I don't know if they all either use that access or all the people that might need access have it.

I can only regurgitate what I was told by the helpdesk when I queried about it.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'd like to think at least someone from every TOC has access, but I don't know if they all either use that access or all the people that might need access have it.

I can only regurgitate what I was told by the helpdesk when I queried about it.

A Pricing Manager's role would be very difficult without PMS access, I have PMS access and I have nothing to do with pricing.

 

[MrJeeves]

A Pricing Manager's role would be very difficult without PMS access, I have PMS access and I have nothing to do with pricing.

Good to know, and also explains how so many changes get made without any PAFs being sent out.

 

[JB_B]

Changes are made through a system called Product Management Service (PMS).

Some TOCs have direct access to this system, but others get changes made via the managed helpdesk.

I'm not sure what level of detail requests get made in, but I know that I have personally written one of the easement texts before when I was getting something fixed via the helpdesk.

That's interesting - thanks.

 

[kieron]

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 12 Sep 2025 (596) to 17 Sep 2025 (597).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701411 (Fare route) During industrial action on London Underground until Friday 12th September 2025, journeys from or via London to Great Missenden, Wendover and Stoke Mandeville may go via Princes Risborough and Aylesbury. This easement applies in both directions.​

The dates for this have passed.

Added:

701413 (Doubleback) During engineering works on 21 September 2025, passengers travelling from Hampden Park (Sussex) to Crewe may doubleback via Eastbourne. This local easement applies in both directions.​

Clapham Junction is closed this weekend, with some trains diverted to London Bridge, but I don't know if this easement is connected with this.

Hampden Park is served by Ore-London trains which stop in Hampden Park between Ore and Eastbourne but not between Eastbourne and London. This means that it's often quicker to double back via Eastbourne rather than change to a London train somewhere else.

This service pattern happens daily, although days other than Sundays also have Eastbourne-London trains which stop in Hampden Park on the way. There's no change on this Sunday, so I don't know if it actually is the concern here.

The text for this easement lets you double back through Hampden Park (a station within the Eastbourne routeing group) with tickets between Hampden Park and Crewe. nre.co.uk shows tickets from Crewe as being valid this way, but not ones to Crewe. It does the same for dates not affected by this easement, so the easement may be unconnected.

The reason why the easement does not affect its results may be because the easement data includes no "applicable locations". My understanding in that that means the easement data has no effect.

In addition to the above, the "via Balham" route code (00754) has been renamed as "Balham not Clapham Junction" and had its restriction changed to match. The route code is used for some journeys to and from Underground locations. such as between Eatbourne and zones 2-6.