Sunderland - Darlington, via Teeside?

[spoony]

Hi, Im wondering if its possible to get a ticket from Sunderland/Heworth to Darlington by the above route. Normally I would go to Newcastle and travel down the ECML, however for a change I fancy doing it via Thornaby. Am I allowed to do this, or is the only valid route to go via Newcastle? Thanks in advance

 

[yorkie]

The shortest route is always valid, so yes a Sunderland to Darlington ticket is valid via Thornaby (and, optionally Middlesbrough).

For Heworth to Darlington the RG needs to be consulted, and it appears that it is also valid via the above route using the appropriate map, ER.