(There is already a long Halton Curve thread in the Infrastructure & Stations subforum, however my post relates specifically to fares and ticketing rather than the infrastructure, so I hope starting a new thread here is OK)
I found an article on Cheshire Live about the new Transport for Wales (TFW) Liverpool-Chester service via the Halton Curve, which starts on 19th May. I won't quote the whole thing because it doesn't really say anything new, except for this bit about the fares:
Interestingly, this claim doesn't seem to match what the ticket websites are currently offering. Looking on TFW Rail's booking engine for 19 May, it quotes £11.50 as the best price for a single Chester-Liverpool via the curve.
Assuming the article is correct, I guess these new, cheaper fares will be added at the next fares update in May, before the new service starts?
Secondly, I've been playing around, seeing what the best journey times will be for a trip to North Wales from my nearest "big" station, Liverpool South Parkway. However I cannot seem to convince any booking engines to route me via the Halton Curve.
Example: on TFWrail.wales, I searched Liverpool South Parkway to Llandudno Junction, departing 19 May at 09:30. All the journeys offered put me on Merseyrail via Liverpool Central and Birkenhead. If I put in Helsby as a via point to force a routing via the curve, I get "no journeys available". Similar results on GWR and Southern's websites. The National Rail journey planner will give times via Helsby but insists I need to split tickets. This despite the fact that going via Helsby is about 20 minutes faster.
My guess is the existence of the Halton Curve is not reflected in the routeing data yet? If so, what is the likelihood of this being fixed before May 19th? Would be sad if the new journey opportunities on the Curve are limited by problems with ticket booking.
I found an article on Cheshire Live about the new Transport for Wales (TFW) Liverpool-Chester service via the Halton Curve, which starts on 19th May. I won't quote the whole thing because it doesn't really say anything new, except for this bit about the fares:
The fare structure has not been announced but the proposed fare for a single from Chester to Liverpool Lime Street is £5.90 with a day return priced £7.50 and a cheap day return at £6.
Interestingly, this claim doesn't seem to match what the ticket websites are currently offering. Looking on TFW Rail's booking engine for 19 May, it quotes £11.50 as the best price for a single Chester-Liverpool via the curve.
Assuming the article is correct, I guess these new, cheaper fares will be added at the next fares update in May, before the new service starts?
Secondly, I've been playing around, seeing what the best journey times will be for a trip to North Wales from my nearest "big" station, Liverpool South Parkway. However I cannot seem to convince any booking engines to route me via the Halton Curve.
Example: on TFWrail.wales, I searched Liverpool South Parkway to Llandudno Junction, departing 19 May at 09:30. All the journeys offered put me on Merseyrail via Liverpool Central and Birkenhead. If I put in Helsby as a via point to force a routing via the curve, I get "no journeys available". Similar results on GWR and Southern's websites. The National Rail journey planner will give times via Helsby but insists I need to split tickets. This despite the fact that going via Helsby is about 20 minutes faster.
My guess is the existence of the Halton Curve is not reflected in the routeing data yet? If so, what is the likelihood of this being fixed before May 19th? Would be sad if the new journey opportunities on the Curve are limited by problems with ticket booking.