Permitted route(s) Bromley Cross to Preston

[ffcphone]

EDITED:

For years I have been buying monthly ST between Bolton and Preston. However, recently I was advised to renew between Bromley Cross and Preston as this would be cheaper but still valid on the Bolton to Preston line served by fTPE.

END OF EDIT:

My query is whether any other permitted routes are allowed. Occasionally, I have gone Preston-Wigan North Western-transfer to Wigan Wallgate-Bolton and never had an issue. Will this still be permitted under Bromley Cross-Preston ST?

Also, can someone explain why the fare is cheaper now. Is it because Northern are setting the whole fare rather than fTPE? And will I still be able to access complimentary first class on fTPE at weekends with this new ticket?

Many thanks.

F

 

[LexyBoy]

Clearly Northern ticket staff are to be applauded for bringing to passengers' attention a cheaper fare.

Good on them indeed! However, best not to bring it to Northern's attention - the ticket clerk could get in trouble for suggesting you buy this fare, as it's against impartial retailing rules.

My query is whether any other permitted routes are allowed. Occasionally, I have gone Preston-Wigan North Western-transfer to Wigan Wallgate-Bolton and never had an issue. Will this still be permitted under Bromley Cross-Preston ST?

If travel via Wigan is permitted for Bolton-Preston, then I can't see why it wouldn't be from Bromley Cross as I'd expect Bolton and Blackburn to be associated RPs. I wouldn't have expected Wigan to be a permitted route though. I'll have a look at the RG if no-one beats me to it.

edit: Bolton and Blackburn are appropriate associated Routeing Points for this journey.
Bolton allows routes by map NW - i.e. direct or via Wigan
Blackburn allows routes by map NC - i.e. direct

Also, can someone explain why the fare is cheaper now. Is it because Northern are setting the whole fare rather than fTPE? And will I still be able to access complimentary first class on fTPE at weekends with this new ticket?

Probably simply because it's priced on the basis of going via Blackburn, i.e. a shorter route. I'm not familiar with the T&Cs of FTPE's offer so can't comment there.

edit: You may be right that it's due to differing pricing policies by Northern and FTPE. Bromley Cross - Preston is priced by Northern, whilst Bolton - Preston is priced by FTPE. The SDS for the former is £8.60, whilst for the latter it's £8.10 - a somewhat curious situation given that the Season is cheaper from Bromley Cross.

I believe that Bolton is only a permitted route from Bromley Cross because of this - if the fare were cheaper, the fares check rule would preclude travel via Bolton. (I may wrong though - the dreaded fares check rule has tripped me up before)

 

[OwlMan]

There was an error in this post - I have deleted it to save confusion
Peter

 

[LexyBoy]

That's also a good point... hock:

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Preston to Bolton via Wigan is a permitted route, as is Bolton to Wigan via Preston.
A Bromley Cross - Preston monthly is £147.90
A Bolton - Preston monthly is £159-40
But as a Bolton - Wigan ticket is valid via Preston you should buy a Bolton - Wigan monthly at £78-00 saving over 50% of a Bolton - Preston ticket.

Peter

Would Bolton to Wigan via Preston not mean doubling back through Leyland? Which would therefore make this not valid? And I cannot see an easement.

 

[OwlMan]

Would Bolton to Wigan via Preston not mean doubling back through Leyland? Which would therefore make this not valid? And I cannot see an easement.

Yes I agree - I have deleted the original post to avoid confusion

 

[LexyBoy]

Yes I agree - I have deleted the original post to avoid confusion

NRE would allow it as a route when I looked earlier. Whatever that means (maybe Leyland isn't a timing point so NRE doesn't see it)

 

[Solent&Wessex]

NRE would allow it as a route when I looked earlier. Whatever that means (maybe Leyland isn't a timing point so NRE doesn't see it)

This issue has raised its head before. I made enquiries about this situation (although not this location) and the answer I got was that as location X was not a timing point it didn't recognise that the trains were going through it. It is, sadly, one of the faults with NRES.

 

[LexyBoy]

That's why there's so many negative easements preventing journeys which wouldn't be allowed anyway.

 

[ffcphone]

Many thanks for the prompt input into this. I have edited my original post to not land anyone in trouble!

I presume the idea of a Bolton to Wigan ticket at a substantial reduction to what I pay currently is a definite no go then for my Bolton to Preston journey?

Thanks again for your help.