What exactly is a valid route?

[hvshe]

I have been playing around with the routeing guide and have become very confused about what even determines if a route is "valid".


How are the NFM64 fares involved in checking if a route is valid? What is the role of modern fares in that process as well? How do easements have a role in this process?

The specific route+fare that I was checking: EVE (Evesham) <> BRI (Bristol TM), with the route restriction of "VIA WORCESTER [00804]".

In context, for "VIA WORCESTER [00804]", a modern off peak day single between the locations is £25.10, an off peak day return is £25.20, and an off peak return is £38.80;
while for "NOT VIA READING [00810]" a modern super off peak single is £66.20, a super off peak return is £67.20, an off peak single is £90.20 and an off peak return is £91.20.


In the routeing point calculator, when I type in an origin of Evesham, destination of Bristol TM, and a route of 00804, it spits out the following results:

Origin Routeing Points Evaluated​

Worcester Shrub Hill (WORCESTER GROUP)	WOS (G35)	Allowed by any route at NFM64: SOS from WOS to BRI on route 00201: £13.00 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00804: £14.50.
Droitwich Spa (WORCESTER GROUP)	DTW (G35)	Droitwich Spa is a group member that cannot be reached without passing another member of the group.
Worcester Foregate Street (WORCESTER GROUP)	WOF (G35)	Worcester Foregate Street is a group member that cannot be reached without passing another member of the group.
Oxford	OXF	Allowed by route match at NFM64: SOS from OXF to BRI on route 00810: £18.50 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00810: £25.00.
Bromsgrove	BMV	Allowed by any route at NFM64: SOS from BMV to BRI on route 00201: £13.00 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00804: £14.50.

I'm just now very confused, what are those NFM64 fares?

When I searched for the route on National Enquiries, it showed me that if I change at Worcestershire Parkway, a"VIA WORCESTER" ticket would be valid; then when I get redirected to GWR, it showed that the fare is not valid?

When I head onto the GWR website directly and tried to look for the route, the only tickets that they would sell me, if I change at Worcestershire Parkway, is the "NOT VIA READING" ticket? Would a "VIA WORCESTER" ticket be valid passing through Worcestershire Parkway but not through Worcester Shrub Hill, and would it be valid be going through Oxford and Didcot?


Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Hadders]

Modern day fares don't come into it. It's the fares in 1996 (Fares Manual NFM64) that matter. This is because it was decided that the routes in place at the time of privitisation in 1996 should be protected. Changes have been made, of course, but the position in 1996 is supposed to provide a framework as to how routeing works.

'Via Worcester' means you must pass through Worcester Foregate Street, Worcestershire Parkway doesn't count for the purposes of a 'via Worcester' ticket.

 

[sheff1]

'Via Worcester' means you must pass through Worcester Foregate Street.

Why would you need to pass through Foregate St ?

Travelling from Evesham the train would stop at Shrub Hill first and if you continue to Foregate St you would have to return via Shrub Hill to get to Bristol.

 

[yorkie]

I have been playing around with the routeing guide and have become very confused about what even determines if a route is "valid".

This is for journey planners to decide (similar to booking an air fare; the rules for that are even more complex!) and you simply see the end result.

How are the NFM64 fares involved in checking if a route is valid? What is the role of modern fares in that process as well?

This only applies when determining appropriate routeing points, which in turn only applies if the origin and/or destination are not RPs themselves and if you're not on the shortest route (+ 3 miles) or on a through train.

How do easements have a role in this process?

They disallow, or allow, a journey that would otherwise be valid/invalid, where applicable.

The specific route+fare that I was checking: EVE (Evesham) <> BRI (Bristol TM), with the route restriction of "VIA WORCESTER [00804]".

In context, for "VIA WORCESTER [00804]", a modern off peak day single between the locations is £25.10, an off peak day return is £25.20, and an off peak return is £38.80;
while for "NOT VIA READING [00810]" a modern super off peak single is £66.20, a super off peak return is £67.20, an off peak single is £90.20 and an off peak return is £91.20.


In the routeing point calculator, when I type in an origin of Evesham, destination of Bristol TM, and a route of 00804, it spits out the following results:

Origin Routeing Points Evaluated​

Worcester Shrub Hill (WORCESTER GROUP)	WOS (G35)	Allowed by any route at NFM64: SOS from WOS to BRI on route 00201: £13.00 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00804: £14.50.
Droitwich Spa (WORCESTER GROUP)	DTW (G35)	Droitwich Spa is a group member that cannot be reached without passing another member of the group.
Worcester Foregate Street (WORCESTER GROUP)	WOF (G35)	Worcester Foregate Street is a group member that cannot be reached without passing another member of the group.
Oxford	OXF	Allowed by route match at NFM64: SOS from OXF to BRI on route 00810: £18.50 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00810: £25.00.
Bromsgrove	BMV	Allowed by any route at NFM64: SOS from BMV to BRI on route 00201: £13.00 is NOT more expensive than SOS from EVE to BRI on route 00804: £14.50.

I'm just now very confused, what are those NFM64 fares?

When I searched for the route on National Enquiries, it showed me that if I change at Worcestershire Parkway, a"VIA WORCESTER" ticket would be valid; then when I get redirected to GWR, it showed that the fare is not valid?

When I head onto the GWR website directly and tried to look for the route, the only tickets that they would sell me, if I change at Worcestershire Parkway, is the "NOT VIA READING" ticket? Would a "VIA WORCESTER" ticket be valid passing through Worcestershire Parkway but not through Worcester Shrub Hill, and would it be valid be going through Oxford and Didcot?


Thank you so much in advance!

Can you please list the intended itinerary, or route, you wish to take?

NRE does not sell tickets, so will redirect you to a TOC website. Did the GWR website list the exact itinerary you wanted, or were you struggling to get the site to issue your desired itinerary?

 

[Hadders]

Why would you need to pass through Foregate St ?

Apologies, I meant to add Foregate Street or Shrub Hill.

 

[Kite159]

Maybe it's something which hasn't been updated to reflect on the opening of Worcestershire Parkway a few years ago where someone travelling Bristol Temple Meads to Evesham can potentially change at Worcestershire Parkway (especially as there is a hourly XC from Bristol calling there) rather than heading into Shrub Hill.

Maybe the restriction should be changed from 'via Worcester' to something like 'via Pershore'. Especially in the current climate where the majority of the revenue is going into the DfT

 

[Ballyheigue]

I've got a Northern voucher through claiming on the paper copy of delay repay, it asks me to put a starting station and an ending station, can I select Leeds to Sunderland and travel via Carlisle and Newcastle as they're all Northern services?

 

[yorkie]

I've got a Northern voucher through claiming on the paper copy of delay repay, it asks me to put a starting station and an ending station, can I select Leeds to Sunderland and travel via Carlisle and Newcastle as they're all Northern services?

Yes