ChrisC
Established Member
In a couple of weeks time I’m planning on travelling from Mansfield to Hull. As with most journeys travelling northwards from Mansfield, splitting at Shirebrook, Worksop or Sheffield can often save a considerable amount of money. In the past I have often changed at Worksop and Retford when travelling to destinations north on the ECML. Since the revised timetable was introduced on the ECML connections to the north at Retford have been very poor, often with a wait in excess of 1 hour. It is now usually quicker and more convenient to travel via Sheffield.
This has not caused me any great problems as any permitted Off Peak Returns from Worksop to York, the NE and Scotland are valid via both Retford and Sheffield. There is also a Worksop to Doncaster fare which is available via Sheffield. However, I have come across a problem with the any permitted fare to Hull.
With my Senior Railcard the any permitted Off Peak Return from Worksop to Hull is priced at £27.50 but for some reason it does not seem to permit travelling via Sheffield. Interestingly the same £27.50 fare from nearby Shireoaks does allow travelling via both Retford and Sheffield.
To arrive in Hull mid afternoon there are only two trains available via Retford departing from Worksop at 1207 and 1406, but both of these have a long wait of around 70 minutes for a connection at Retford. The 1306 departure from Worksop does not meet the minimum connection time at Retford and if there was a delay and the Hull train was missed it would result in a wait of over 2 hours at Retford. There is no problem returning on the Saturday morning as there is quite a good connection at Retford. Now that the ECML timetable has changed resulting in such poor connections at Retford surely a ticket from Worksop to Hull should permit travel via Sheffield where the connection is very good.
This has not caused me any great problems as any permitted Off Peak Returns from Worksop to York, the NE and Scotland are valid via both Retford and Sheffield. There is also a Worksop to Doncaster fare which is available via Sheffield. However, I have come across a problem with the any permitted fare to Hull.
With my Senior Railcard the any permitted Off Peak Return from Worksop to Hull is priced at £27.50 but for some reason it does not seem to permit travelling via Sheffield. Interestingly the same £27.50 fare from nearby Shireoaks does allow travelling via both Retford and Sheffield.
To arrive in Hull mid afternoon there are only two trains available via Retford departing from Worksop at 1207 and 1406, but both of these have a long wait of around 70 minutes for a connection at Retford. The 1306 departure from Worksop does not meet the minimum connection time at Retford and if there was a delay and the Hull train was missed it would result in a wait of over 2 hours at Retford. There is no problem returning on the Saturday morning as there is quite a good connection at Retford. Now that the ECML timetable has changed resulting in such poor connections at Retford surely a ticket from Worksop to Hull should permit travel via Sheffield where the connection is very good.
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