Settle / Giggleswick ticket interchangeability / easement?

[settlelad]

I am trying to see if I can find any (recent?) documentary support for ticket interchangeability from Leeds to Settle or Giggleswick.
If travelling from Leeds on a ticket to Settle, the tickets may also be accepted to Giggleswick. The two stations are about a mile apart when the line from Leeds splits after Settle junction towards Lancaster (for Giggleswick) and towards Carlisle (for Settle), and both are first stop after the split. A bit of a Yshape.
Is this formally documented anywhere, reasonably public currently? I've known about it for about 20 years, and many locals (who travel to Leeds) know about it (and many don't!), and some who commute from Settle to Leeds and return from Leeds to Giggleswick as the timetabling is more suited.
I've read about easements but never been able to find any support for this interchangeability.
I've sometimes checked with the train guard when I've had visitors using this feature and they have been fine with it.
Is it a locally known thing and Northern are happy with it. Is it something customary that has been going on for decades and people know about it but it's become folklore or unwritten.
I've also heard that this "feature" may extend to Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Clapham (the next stops further along each line) which makes for an interesting walk if coming from Leeds direction i.e. get the train to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, walk through Sulber Nick or over Ingleborough, and then to Clapham (but don't forget that Clapham station is a good mile or more south of the village if you're just draining your last coffee/pint 5 minutes before the train is due ...). Or the other way round, Clapham to Horton in Ribblesdale (the pub is closer to the station in Horton, and there's currently (2026) a cafe at Horton station)
Any documentary evidence re this "feature" would be much appreciated.
TIA

I found this https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/settle-giggleswick.57016/ but nothing formal in the way of documentation nor up to date.

 

[Acathater]

What has made you ask this?
The worry is that now you've raised it any unofficial practices may soon be blocked

 

[Bread & cheese]

This is not an unofficial practice.
There is an official list which can be found by an internet search for National Rail Inter-Available Stations.
The document states that:

Any ticket with Giggleswick as the origin or destination is also valid at Settle

And vice versa.

Loading…

assets.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[lyndhurst25]

Settle/Giggleswick - my understanding is that you'll have no problems there.

As for the other station pairs Horton/Clapham & Ribblehead/Bentham, this was something that Northern did at one time permit. It was confirmed at the time in writing and promoted in the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line Journal, and maybe other sources. I made use of it for walks in the Dales, maybe 10 years ago or so. However, I seem to remember that a new Northern management person has since had a change of heart on the subject, even though some train guards may still be accepting. Not sure why it was withdrawn and why the FoSCL didn’t kick up a fuss about it (this and other things like retrospectively changing the Dales Railcard terms and conditions). I’m a member and keep meaning to encourage them to campaign to get it officially reintroduced.


P.S. I’ve now found this old discussion on the Horton/Clapham Ribblehead/Bentham easement and its supposed withdrawal.

Triangular journey from Shipley to Bentham then back from Ribblehead?

looking to travel from Shipley to Bentham and then return to Shipley from Ribblehead(same day) is the only option 2 singles?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Baxenden Bank]

If single tickets were half the price of returns (or very close to) the need for a workaround / easement such as the above would not be necessary. Being gouged for two single tickets at 20p less than the price of the two return tickets, when doing a linear walk, irks me considerably. Good to see in Greater Manchester I can now mix and match both for destination and for peak one way and off-peak the other.

The other station pairs in this thread (excluding Settle & Giggleswick) are ideal for linear walks, presumably why the easement was first introduced.

I copied this quote back in 2022, I guess from the linked thread by @lyndhurst25

Ticket Interchangeability Between Morecambe and Settle Carlisle Lines.

From 1st January 2014 Northern Rail have agreed to permit limited interchangeabity of tickets between the Morecambe and Settle-Carlisle lines. This means that a passenger travelling from the Leeds direction will be able to purchase a Bentham return ticket and use this to return from Ribblehead or travel to Ribblehead and return from Bentham. Similarly a Clapham return ticket will permit return from Horton [or Clapham].
The simple proviso is that the more expensive return ticket must be purchased this usually being on the Morecambe line.
The existing arrangement for Settle and Giggleswick tickets remains unaltered in that these stations are interchangeable.
This is an extremely useful concession and avoids the necessity of purchasing the more costly single tickets. Thanks are due to Drew Haley of Northern for arranging this.

I note the difference that:

Settle and Giggleswick tickets remains unaltered in that these stations are interchangeable