Thanks a lot. Seems that's another case of faster but not valid (despite no routing restrictions).
The permitted routes are all via Manchester, then via Stalybridge or via Hebden Bridge, then via Leeds or via Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate (using the peak-only Huddersfield-Castleford service, or the handful of Grand Central services).
No, it isn't. The problem is that the fastest route is not a permitted route and therefore no through fares are available.
That's not how trainsplit works though; it doesn't need the itinerary to be a permitted route as it will just offer splits. The fact those results in red are showing at all means that there are services involved that are sold out.
It's valid on the long way round (Leeds - Church Fenton) but not the shorter via Sheffield one.
Possibly because they are going from Stockport?
Ah. Thanks. I need to put my glasses on. That makes the reply to my Baghill question even stranger.
If those are the best tickets for the job, Trainsplit will offer them; indeed I tried it just now and Trainsplit was happy to offer this combination for a journey departing later today.
Although you've not specified this, I can see that you have this in fast mode with splits turned off.
I was putting in mind about doing a circular trip so, to avoid being fixed to one route (if there are more than one routes), so to not to limit the route due to splitting.
I don't think anyone in the industry is interested in this concept; there are so many examples of the fastest itineraries not being permitted. The entire industry is simply propped up by taxpayers, so there is no incentive.
Well if you know of any journalists who want to make a story out of this, I can come up with many examples and of course we can demonstrate how the TOCs are misleading people while third party sites lead the way. I am not sure if that's newsworthy or not, but it should be.
In this case the through fare is very restrictive; splitting is therefore required if you want to travel by a wider variety of routes.
The through fare (actually 29.10 for the Off Peak Return or 28.10 for the Off Peak Day Return; no doubt you are quoting the Railcard discounted price) is offered on Trainsplit, but your screenshot didn't show many valid itineraries as you were restricting the search to the fast mode.
Thanks. Was thinking the case would likely be too niche and even conductors may struggle to think of the validity.
With these fastest but not permitted routes, unless it's going via somewhere that the ticket says NOT VIA, I'd be very surprised if anyone knows or cares if you use it
If memory serves me right, services to Baghill are the worst by far of any to Pontefract. Which makes the rules seem more reasonable when they focus travel onto the usable stations.
I’m not so much suggesting it’s reasonable, as a logical consequence of the service pattern now favouring the route via Monkhill & Tanshelf as the S&K has been wound down over decades.
It is, as it's the shortest route. What has confused various web sites (and, I suspect, some of the people here) is the fact that the data the web sites use includes a route via Denton. This doesn't appear in the NRT distance table at all, so isn't part of the shortest route to anywhere. The route via Sheffield is a bit shorter than the one via Manchester and Church Fenton (61.5 miles rather than 64.25).
Good point; on a contractual basis you could travel via what is actually the shortest route and, in the unlikely event you are questioned, simply state you are travelling via the shortest route on scheduled services (as per the Conditions of Travel).
