What should I say when challenged?

[Rodian]

Using previous advice, I believe that my ticket from Chichester to Merstham is valid via Brighton, Lewes.

It all seemed odd, until somebody explained how it works.


Have I got it wrong? If not, how should I respond if challenged in say Lewes?

When checking the fare between Chichester and Merstham via Lewes, it is the same as the direct fare, (so long as I avoid East Croydon options) so I think I am right.

 

[lightning76]

Your ticket is valid via Brighton & Lewes, and you haven't got it wrong.

It may seem a little odd, but traditionally validities were always fairly flexible along the Sussex Coast, long before the Routeing Guide was ever thought of. Probably due to the large variety of possible routes and service patterns.

If challenged, you can always explain you're following a mapped route on map LB.

 

[Camden]

I wonder if there's any way of getting all these route possibilities into Google Maps.

You can already get point to point train routes, but these are just based on the timetable and suggested routes.

If it could be done, it could make for an interesting and easy to understand way to navigate around the UK by train.

 

[kieron]

I wonder if there's any way of getting all these route possibilities into Google Maps.

You may be able to identify them for this route, but you can't do this for every route. There are parts of the routeing guide (such as the data used to calculate the fare check and the easement details described in a document in this thread) which have not been published.

This means that it is not possible for anyone outside the rail industry to calculate which routes are and aren't valid. You can only find out whether a journey planner considers a specific route to be valid with any ticket it can sell.

If I was challenged about the journey Rodian describes, I'd use an argument along the lines of "it says it's valid on your web site" when questioned about a journey like this. It helps if you're able to provide evidence of this (for instance, if you have internet access at the time, or if you have a copy of a screenshot).

 

[miami]

Well you don't have to do anything, in theory. In practice the railway industry sometimes (rarely in my experience) will argue, and sadly there's nothing you can do at the time, and they won't be punished.

However if you want to help them, go to http://www.southernrailway.com/

Put in "From Chichester", "To Merstham", click "More options", put in "Via Lewes"

https://ticket.southernrailway.com/journeys/CCH/MHM/2016-01-18T11:00//1//?via=LWS&smartcard=no

Select a trip that you like the look of and proceed as if to buy it

you'll get to the page where you have this (but formatted), print it out, then close the page.

Out 11:00 Mon 18 Jan 2016

Depart11:00 Chichester
Arrive13:21 Merstham
Changes 32hr 21m
11:00
Chichester
SOUTHERN
11:48
Brighton
11:52
Brighton
SOUTHERN
12:07
Lewes
Change trains
12:16
Lewes
SOUTHERN
12:55
Gatwick Airport
Change trains
13:08
Gatwick Airport
THAMESLINK
13:21
Merstham