Routing Query, Wakefield - Lancaster

[yorksrob]

Hi All, I wonder if someone could set my mind at rest.

I'm sure in the recent past, there used to be a permitted route from Wakefield to Lancaster via Manchester. In fact, i seem to recall there being a more expensive permitted route ticket via Manchester.

Looking at the train websites, there appears to be no such through ticket (advances excepted, bizarrely), infact the routing guide doesn't give any options south of the Copy Pit line.

Has the routing guide changed in this respect, or is the recent permitted route via Manchester, a figment of my imagination ?

 

[John @ home]

Consulting the current Routeing Guide only, I find that:

• Wakefield Group - Lancaster Group is not permitted via Manchester Group. It is permitted to use map LX (via Hellifield), combination DH+XP (via Horbury Jn, Rose Grove & Preston) or combination NP+XP (via Leeds, Rose Grove & Preston).
• Pontefract Group - Lancaster Group is permitted via Manchester Group. It is permitted to use map combination MK+MX. MK allows Pontefract Group - Manchester Group via Horbury Jn, Bradford or Dewsbury. MX allows Manchester Group - Lancaster Group via Blackburn, Chorley or Wigan.
• Pontefract - Lancaster through tickets are 7% to 8% more expensive than Wakefield - Lancaster through tickets.

 

[JB_B]

As John has noted, Pontefract Gp as your origin routeing point gives you routes via (Wakefield) and Manchester.

So maybe buy from South Elmsall?

 

[yorksrob]

Thanks for the info, that's certainly interesting to know. It seems odd that both have the same potential routes via Manchester (through either Leeds or Healy Mills) yet only one is permitted !

 

[lyndhurst25]

Wakefield-Manchester-Lancaster was permitted in the pre-October 2013 Routeing Guide via the old maps WY+TP+NW.

The option of travelling via Manchester seems to have been withdrawn in the big October 2013 overhaul of the RG. Whether or not that was intentional, or if permission from DfT was sought, is anyone's guess.

 

[Starmill]

Are you travelling on a Strike day again?

If so I thought I'd look into the options offered for Wakefield (any) to Lancaster on 19th Jan on National Rail Enquiries. Only one journey is returned by the NRE app: 0807 from Wakefield Westgate changing at Leeds, Skipton and Carlisle, arriving in Lancaster at 1456. Intriguing...