Stourbridge Junction to Wolverhampton

[50010 Monarch]

Does anyone on here know if a return ticket from Stourbridge Junction to Wolverhampton is valid via Birmingham (walking from Snow Hill or Moor Street to New Street).

Assuming the ticket is valid, would an off peak day return get caught by the rule that off peak tickets are not valid on services leaving Birmingham between 16.35 & 18.00 on Mondays to Fridays? Or does this rule only apply to journeys that actually commence at Birmingham?

 

[SS4]

I would say not because you'd be doubling back through Smethwick GB (SGB) (changing at SGB would also be the shortest route) but I'm happy to be corrected. Map WM confirms this as Smethwick Group (of which Stourbridge Junction is a part) to Wolverhampton (WVH) being valid on the "direct" route.

edit: I've not done the fares check here, I assumed Smethwick group would pass and Worcester would not.

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If you wish to travel via Birmingham you'd be better off getting a nNetwork Daytripper from Stourbridge ticket office for £6. It is not affected by the PM peak restrictions and valid from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton as well as on buses (compared to £5.40 for the CDR)

 

[sheff1]

Not sure what the 'rule' is to which you refer. Restrictions depend on which ticket you hold. A Stourbridge Jn - Wolverhampton (or vice versa) Off Peak Day Return has Validity Code G1 which has no afternoon restriction.

As stated though, that ticket is not valid for travel via Birmingham on Mondays to Fridays. For some stange reason, it is valid via New St, but not Snow Hill or Moor St, on Saturdays and Sundays because of this Easement.

Easement 30055
Journeys from south of Droitwich Spa or north of Dudley Port may doubleback between Birmingham New street, Smethwick Rolfe Street and Smethwick Galton Bridge. This easement applies in both directions and on Saturdays and Sundays only.

 

[sonic2009]

You could also catch the bus between Stourbridge and Wolverhampton service 256, which the timetable is located here.

Journey time of around 45 minutes with a daysaver ticket costing £3.90

 

[dvboy]

You could also catch the bus between Stourbridge and Wolverhampton service 256, which the timetable is located here.

Journey time of around 45 minutes with a daysaver ticket costing £3.90

And if travelling in the evening or at weekends when the service is hourly, it's sometimes quicker to get a 257 and change at Kingswinford onto a 255.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Hmmmm......I'm not convinced that it is not valid via Birmingham. Some might say the group stations rule would allow double back through Smethwick Group as neither Stourbridge Junction nor Wolverhampton are a member of that group. However, this would be for 'interchange purposes only', so no break of journey at that point. I doubt that there is much, if any, benefit in going via Birmingham if not intending to break a journey.

 

[50010 Monarch]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I'm aware that the quickest route is by changing at Smethwick Galton Bridge & if you catch the xx.49 from Stour & the xx.08 from Smethwick then the outward trip takes only 30 mins. I was just wondering if a detour via Brum for a beer or two before heading to Wolverhampton was permitted.

The suggestion of the daytripper ticket is useful. Only 60p more than the off peak day return & no restrictions after the morning peak.

 

[sheff1]

Hmmmm......I'm not convinced that it is not valid via Birmingham. Some might say the group stations rule would allow double back through Smethwick Group as neither Stourbridge Junction nor Wolverhampton are a member of that group. However, this would be for 'interchange purposes only', so no break of journey at that point. I doubt that there is much, if any, benefit in going via Birmingham if not intending to break a journey.

Can you clarify how a double back through Birmingham could work. Smethwick Group (i.e. Galton Bridge & Rolfe St) lies between both Stourbridge Jn and Wolverhampton and the Birmingham Group. I cannot understand how you could pass through one Routeing Point Group to double back via another further away especially when Stourbridge Jn is not related to Birmingham Group Routeing Point.

 

[50010 Monarch]

Not sure what the 'rule' is to which you refer. Restrictions depend on which ticket you hold. A Stourbridge Jn - Wolverhampton (or vice versa) Off Peak Day Return has Validity Code G1 which has no afternoon restriction.

As stated though, that ticket is not valid for travel via Birmingham on Mondays to Fridays. For some stange reason, it is valid via New St, but not Snow Hill or Moor St, on Saturdays and Sundays because of this Easement.

Just looking this again. So you are saying that on Saturday or Sunday it would be possible to travel from SBJ to SGB, change there & catch a train to BHM & then travel from BHM to WVH.

It would not be possible however to travel from from SBJ to BSW, walk to BHM & catch a service to WVH?

 

[bb21]

It is permitted via Birmingham New Street at the weekend due to the stated easement.

The easement does not include Moor Street or Snow Hill as it is written. What the intention was is anyone's guess.

 

[sheff1]

Just looking this again. So you are saying that on Saturday or Sunday it would be possible to travel from SBJ to SGB, change there & catch a train to BHM & then travel from BHM to WVH.

It would not be possible however to travel from from SBJ to BSW, walk to BHM & catch a service to WVH?

That's the way I read the easement. As I said, it seems a strange thing to allow ... especially when only at weekends

 

[50010 Monarch]

Does the easement apply to this journey though?

Stourbridge is north of Droitwich & south of Dudley Port whilst the easement applies to south of Droitwich & north of Dudley Port.

Or am I missing something.......

 

[dvboy]

Dudley Port and Stourbridge are on different lines.

I assume the intention of the easement is to allow you catch a train to SGB then another to BHM, then get a train northbound that doesn't call at SGB for example one to Manchester or Scotland, which might be quicker than a further change at Wolverhampton, however I'm not actually sure that there is any benefit to doing this on a weekend that you would get on a weekday, as the service levels are similar as far as I remember.

 

[sheff1]

Or am I missing something.......

Yes - Wolverhampton is north of Dudley Port

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Can you clarify how a double back through Birmingham could work. Smethwick Group (i.e. Galton Bridge & Rolfe St) lies between both Stourbridge Jn and Wolverhampton and the Birmingham Group. I cannot understand how you could pass through one Routeing Point Group to double back via another further away especially when Stourbridge Jn is not related to Birmingham Group Routeing Point.

The Group Stations rule says that you may pass through any station within a group, including double back, provided it is part of a group that is on a permitted route between origin and destination stations (it cannot contain the origin or destination station).

Smethwick Group is between the origin and destination stations. It does not contain Stourbridge Junction or Wolverhampton. Map WM contains Smethwick Group, Birmingham Group and Wolverhampton. A route via Birmingham can be drawn where the only double back is at Smethwick Galton Bridge. Smethwick Galton Bridge is part of Smethwick Group.