Permitted routes between Darwen (Lancashire) and Leeds

[Darren R]

I've just spent the last half hour trying to figure out from the Routing Guides what the permitted routes are between Darwen (DWN) in Lancashire and Leeds - and now my head hurts!

Is a ticket (route Any Permitted) from DWN to LDS valid via Manchester or not? Darwen has both Blackburn and Bolton as routing points, so in theory I could travel via Manchester changing there, or via Blackburn changing there. Both joureys would require just one change of trains - or am I stymied by the difference in mileage? (Darwen - Leeds via Blackburn is 55.75 miles and via Man Vic it's 70 miles.)

But if I travel via Manchester Piccadilly with TPE (which would require extra changes), the distance is 63.5 miles; does this fall within the parameters of allowable difference in distance between permitted routes?

I ask because Copy Pit is about to close until March, and with bustitutions between Burnley Manchester Road and Hebden Bridge the journey time is increased to the extent that travelling via Manchester becomes more attractive. Additionally, NRE is telling me to travel via Manchester once Copy Pit closes, and gives no mention to travelling via Blackburn as normal - but it is wanting to charge me double the normal fare!

 

[yorkie]

I'm not going to bother to check the Routeing Guide (but there is a website called Trains Can Be Cheaper which is much easier to use and will interpret the Routeing Guide for you) to answer this.

Yes, Darwen to Leeds is permitted via Manchester, in fact that's what you are paying the extra for (for a Route: Any Permitted ticket, compared to a Route: via Burnley ticket).

The NRCoC states you may take the shortest route, through trains or routes shown in the National Routeing Guide. So the fact it's not the shortest route does not in any way invalidate the route - it just means the shortest route rule isn't applicable to that route.

Additionally, if you book a ticket online with an itinerary, you don't need to check the Routeing Guide if you wish to follow that itinerary. If NRE gives an itinerary on one ticket then most booking engines will issue that itinerary, and printing the confirmation email with itinerary is evidence of a contract, and the railway companies have confirmed that such itineraries will be honoured.

So, really, there is no need to check the Routeing Guide for this journey, but if you want to give TCBC a go, see this post by SickyNicky for more information, and if you get stuck, let us know

 

[Darren R]

Thanks Yorkie for clearing that up - very helpful. Wanted to make sure before trying it via Man Pic - I've heard stories about the RPOs there!