Pollokshaws East to Hamilton Central

[trei2k]

I was wondering if someone is able to clarify the acceptable routes on tickets purchased from Pollokshaws East (PWE) to Hamilton Central (HNC)?

I've received mixed messages from ScotRail.

Looking on ScotRail's site, there are two suggested routes:

Pollokshaws East > Newton > Hamilton Central
Pollokshaws East > Glasgow Central > Hamilton Central

Yesterday, I actually did both, the former going out and the latter returning. My tickets were accepted at Glasgow Central without any issue.

ScotRail's site shows both are acceptable routes on off-peak return tickets costing £4.60

However when using NRE, it shows that singles via Newton are £3.80, yet £6.00 if I select an itinerary via Glasgow Central.

Can anyone provide any further insight?

 

[Romilly]

I have looked at three possible routes:

1. Pollockshaws East-Langside-King's Park-Newton-Hamilton

2. Pollockshaws East-Maxwell Park-Glasgow Central-Newton-Hamilton

3. Pollockshaws East-Langside-Cathcart-Glasgow Centraol-Newton-Hamilton

Looking at the Routeing Guide, Pollockshaws East and Hamilton Central have one Routeing Point in common: Newton Lanark

This means that the only permitted route is the shortest direct route over which scheduled trains run (and, of course, any route no more than 3 miles longer).

As all routes go via Newton, we can just compare distances between Pollockshaws East and Newton.

On route 1. that distance is 6.25 miles according to the National Rail Timetable.

On route 2. that distance is 3.75 miles into Glasgow Central plus 6.25 miles onto Newton.

On route 3. that distance is 5.5 miles into Glasgow Central plus 6.25 miles onto Newton.

So route 1 is a permitted route. Strictly, routes 2 and 3 are not permitted because they are more than 3 miles longer than route 1. But the East Coast website, for example, will allow route 2 but not route 3. From what I have read on here, this may be because some of the booking sites either measure distances differently or allow up to 5 miles longer than the shortest route.

 

[John @ home]

1. Pollockshaws East-Langside-King's Park-Newton-Hamilton

In addition to the direct route Langside - King's Park, Langside - Cathcart - Mount Florida - King's Park is also permitted (if the shortest route is used to Langside and from Kings Park) because it is not more than 3 miles longer than the shortest route.

Shortest route from Pollokshaws East to Hamilton Central (11.5 miles)
Pollokshaws East 0, Langside 0.5, Kings Park 2, Croftfoot 2.25, Burnside (Strathclyde) 3.25, Kirkhill 4.75, Newton (Strathclyde) 6.25, Blantyre 8.75, Hamilton West 10.75, Hamilton Central 11.5.

Alternative route within 3 miles of the shortest (13 miles):
Pollokshaws East 0, Langside 0.5, Cathcart 1.5, Mount Florida 2.25, Kings Park 3.5, Croftfoot 3.75, Burnside (Strathclyde) 4.75, Kirkhill 6.25, Newton (Strathclyde) 7.75, Blantyre 10.25, Hamilton West 12.25, Hamilton Central 13.

http://www.bukitlawang.com/routes/routes.aspx

Pollockshaws East and Hamilton Central have one Routeing Point in common: Newton Lanark

Agreed. Newton Lanark is shown as "Newton (Strathclyde)" in some railway systems.

This means that the only permitted route is the shortest direct route over which scheduled trains run (and, of course, any route no more than 3 miles longer).

In addition,

Also permitted is the route followed by direct trains to and from the common routeing point if the journey is made on those trains.

http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/files/RSPDocuments/nrg_detail.pdf

This adds:

• Newton - Uddingston - Bellshill - Motherwell - Hamilton Central, and
• Newton - Uddingston - (avoiding Bellshill) - Motherwell - Hamilton Central

when using through trains between Newton and Hamilton Central.

the East Coast website, for example, will allow route 2 but not route 3. From what I have read on here, this may be because some of the booking sites either measure distances differently or allow up to 5 miles longer than the shortest route.

Agreed. If I intended to travel via Glasgow with a Pollokshaws East to Hamilton Central ticket, I would print a valid itinerary from the relevant web site and carry it on the journey.

 

[trei2k]

Thank you both for your highly detailed responses.

If I have to take this route again, I'll opt to either

a) print out the itinerary from ScotRail's own booking site as backup

or

b) Buy a ticket from Crossmyloof to Hamilton Central. It isn't far to walk and having checked the routing, it appears that Crossmyloof tickets are valid either via Glasgow Central or via Newton.

Thanks once again for your help.