Using an itinerary to validate a route at a different time.

[blimmo]

If I have an itinerary (from NRE or an accredited retailer) for the route I want to take, can I take the exact same route at a different time (subject to any ticket time restrictions)?

Afaict the routing logic is never dependant on the times of trains, only the stations they pass through. Hence the actual times of the route validated by the journey planner seem to be irrelevant.

This could be useful since journey planner limitations prevent getting an itinerary for the journey I want to make at the time I want to make it but can find it fine at other times.

 

[JB_B]

...Afaict the routing logic is never dependant on the times of trains, ...

That is broadly true. The only exception I can think of is that easements affecting routeing can be tied to specific service IDs and so will be time dependant. 600080 is an example - "Customers holding tickets routed NOT DARLINGTON may travel via Darlington using specific train UIDs (Y23904, Y32903, Y32002, Y32924 and Y32657) only. This easement applies in both directions." (I think that there are very few of these.)

 

[furlong]

The clue is in the name: the Routeing Guide specifies only routes, not trains. Otherwise it would be called the Itinerary Guide and be used to validate itineraries. It isn't. It deals only with routes. Years ago the Rail Regulator confirmed the interpretation that routes were to be based on the normal timetable on the day (and in the direction) of travel. In other words, permitted routes may vary by (a) day of the week and (b) direction of travel.

As long as you have an itinerary showing your route for the actual day(s) of travel, that ought to be sufficient.