greaterangrier
Member
Since the inception of the Routeing Guide in 1996, it has been allowed to take direct trains to and from a common routeing point.
This is a sensible rule for multiple reasons. Namely, routeing points are normally larger stations, specifically designed with interchanges in mind and therefore tend to have waiting rooms, food/drink facilities and better staff presence. These larger stations also have the passenger numbers to justify investment in accessible access e.g. lifts. Additionally, the nature of the rule as it stood meant that customers would only have to make one change at a maximum - highly convenient for the passenger and not open to abuse on wild circuitous routes around the country (especially compared to almost every other aspect of the routeing guide).
However, with the withdrawal of Routeing Guide routes being "permitted" in the National Rail Conditions of Travel, only routes that can be shown on a journey planner are valid, and journey planners do not seem to have this rule implemented.
The crux of the issue seems to be that the existence of the "shortest route rule" permits these journeys in most cases, and masks the lack of this rule's implementation in journey planners. Therefore, you fail to see these journeys validate wherever two lines merge and there is an intermediate station between the merge point and the routeing point station. (i.e. >3 miles)
Examples include:
It is especially interesting because the very example in the Routeing Guide used to demonstrate this rule, Stratford-Upon-Avon to Leamington Spa is no longer valid (via Birmingham). Additionally, the protection of this right to not always follow the "blind" shortest journey rule was the original reason easements were introduced in the first place!
What happened to this rule - how come this rule didn't get added to journey planner logic?
Ought this be changed? it is admittedly covered in many cases by appropriate VIA points allowing a split route check, easements, and some just making it under the 3-mile rule, however the only way to guarantee these routes always show is by implementing this rule.
Despite the fact you are highly unlikely to be challenged when travelling on these very reasonable routes, what recourse do you have if stopped and challenged?
This is a sensible rule for multiple reasons. Namely, routeing points are normally larger stations, specifically designed with interchanges in mind and therefore tend to have waiting rooms, food/drink facilities and better staff presence. These larger stations also have the passenger numbers to justify investment in accessible access e.g. lifts. Additionally, the nature of the rule as it stood meant that customers would only have to make one change at a maximum - highly convenient for the passenger and not open to abuse on wild circuitous routes around the country (especially compared to almost every other aspect of the routeing guide).
However, with the withdrawal of Routeing Guide routes being "permitted" in the National Rail Conditions of Travel, only routes that can be shown on a journey planner are valid, and journey planners do not seem to have this rule implemented.
The crux of the issue seems to be that the existence of the "shortest route rule" permits these journeys in most cases, and masks the lack of this rule's implementation in journey planners. Therefore, you fail to see these journeys validate wherever two lines merge and there is an intermediate station between the merge point and the routeing point station. (i.e. >3 miles)
Examples include:
- Any station on the Hertford East branch to Roydon to Bishops Stortford via Cheshunt, by which if you go further north you begin to use the more reasonable mapping rules
- Okehampton to the remainder of the Barnstaple branch via Exeter.
- Burton-on-Trent, Willington to Longton, Blythe Bridge, Uttoxeter, Tutbury & Hatton via Derby
- Stations from the Norwich-Lowestoft line to and from the Great Yarmouth branch via Ipswich also wouldn't validate, were it not for the existence of the first ever routeing easement.
- Stations on the Ipswich-Lowestoft line changing to the Ipswich-Felixstowe line wouldn't validate, were it not for an easement existing.
- (generally) Any pair of stations, with a common routeing point, where the junction station is not a routeing point
It is especially interesting because the very example in the Routeing Guide used to demonstrate this rule, Stratford-Upon-Avon to Leamington Spa is no longer valid (via Birmingham). Additionally, the protection of this right to not always follow the "blind" shortest journey rule was the original reason easements were introduced in the first place!
What happened to this rule - how come this rule didn't get added to journey planner logic?
Ought this be changed? it is admittedly covered in many cases by appropriate VIA points allowing a split route check, easements, and some just making it under the 3-mile rule, however the only way to guarantee these routes always show is by implementing this rule.
Despite the fact you are highly unlikely to be challenged when travelling on these very reasonable routes, what recourse do you have if stopped and challenged?
