Preston (Lancs) to/from Edinburgh...?

[Mcr Warrior]

Is a Preston (Lancs) -> Edinburgh Off Peak Return or Off Peak Day Return (both routed "via Carlisle") valid / still valid via Glasgow Central / Glasgow Queen Street?

 

[Watershed]

Yes - map combination GP+EG refers.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thanks. Avanti guard not overly happy when inspecting my ticket between Carlisle and Glasgow Central today, but I politely stood my ground, and he eventually moved on.

Subsequently was left wondering whether someone might have sneaked in a negative easement or some such in the last year or so, however National Rail website was showing apparently valid itineraries via Glasgow Central quoting the Off Peak fare.

 

[Watershed]

Thanks. Avanti guard not overly happy when inspecting my ticket between Carlisle and Glasgow Central today, but I politely stood my ground, and he eventually moved on.

Subsequently was left wondering whether someone might have sneaked in a negative easement or some such in the last year or so, however National Rail website was showing apparently valid itineraries via Glasgow Central quoting the Off Peak fare.

The fares to Glasgow are nearly identical, so you could buy those in future? A ticket to somewhere like Falkirk is unambiguously valid both either Edinburgh or Glasgow, albeit there's no Off-Peak Day Return, in case that's what you were using.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The fares to Glasgow are nearly identical, so you could buy those in future? A ticket to somewhere like Falkirk is unambiguously valid both either Edinburgh or Glasgow, albeit there's no Off-Peak Day Return, in case that's what you were using.

The Preston to Edinburgh off peak ticket allows for a more varied / flexible itinerary, including travel across Central Scotland via Glasgow, then Falkirk or Airdrie, and gives something of a safety net if WCML services to/from Edinburgh are delayed/cancelled. And, as you say, there's no Off Peak Day Return to Falkirk or Airdrie.

Think I'm also right in saying that you can't travel via Edinburgh or Haymarket on a Preston to Glasgow Off Peak ticket, if routed via Carlisle. Happy to be corrected if that understanding is wrong.

 

[Watershed]

The Preston to Edinburgh off peak ticket allows for a more varied / flexible itinerary, including travel across Central Scotland via Glasgow, then Falkirk or Airdrie, and gives something of a safety net if WCML services to/from Edinburgh are delayed/cancelled. And, as you say, there's no Off Peak Day Return to Falkirk or Airdrie.

Preston to Croy is part of the same flow as Preston to Glasgow, so the fares and restrictions are the same (i.e. it includes the cheap CDR). However, unlike a ticket to Glasgow, it allows travel via the same routes as a ticket to Falkirk - i.e. including via Edinburgh and/or any of the E-G lines.

A ticket to any of Glasgow/Croy/Falkirk/Edinburgh does at least allow the option of the G&SW, albeit that's a rather slow and infrequent alternative.