Chester-Derby via Stoke

[LNW-GW Joint]

I travelled this route today on an Off Peak Return (CDR), using the EMT service from Crewe to Derby.
While cogitating about the return journey, and wanting to avoid the purgatory of another 1-coach 153, I opted to come back via Tamworth, connecting into the WMT/LNWR Euston-Crewe service via Stoke.
My ticket was checked by both XC and LNWR conductors, no problem at all.
But I can't get this route to come up on journey planners.
As far as I can see, I complied with the routeing restriction "Via Stoke-on-Trent Only".
Was I breaking any rules? I'd like to know for next time...
If you were forced to use the direct train it should have said "Via Uttoxeter", I would have thought.

The CDR via Stoke is £13.35 (with railcard), while the Any Permitted SVR is £32.65 and with more time restrictions.

 

[mlt11]

I have a query of a similar nature.

Is a Nottingham to Lllandudno valid via Tamworth? The search engines occasionally suggest this route as the fastest (especially at evenings), but when I input 'via Tamworth' it often doesn't like it.

 

[JB_B]

I travelled this route today on an Off Peak Return (CDR), using the EMT service from Crewe to Derby.
While cogitating about the return journey, and wanting to avoid the purgatory of another 1-coach 153, I opted to come back via Tamworth, connecting into the WMT/LNWR Euston-Crewe service via Stoke.
My ticket was checked by both XC and LNWR conductors, no problem at all.
But I can't get this route to come up on journey planners.
As far as I can see, I complied with the routeing restriction "Via Stoke-on-Trent Only".
Was I breaking any rules? I'd like to know for next time...
If you were forced to use the direct train it should have said "Via Uttoxeter", I would have thought.

The CDR via Stoke is £13.35 (with railcard), while the Any Permitted SVR is £32.65 and with more time restrictions.

Mapped routes for any permitted Derby->Crewe are ..

1) via Stoke and Uttoxeter on map EM (this is also the shortest route and there are no useful other routes within 3m); and

2) Tamworth, Rugeley then Stafford->Crewe direct - (not via Stoke) on map NJ but you were constrained to go via Stoke.

So there are no permitted routes covering your whole journey.

Checking the split-route to your via point (Stoke) only allows Derby->Stoke via Uttoxeter so it doesn't help.

So my tentantive reply would be that no, you were technically off-route and that could be why you can't get journey planners to give it.

On the other hand, it's doesn't seem at all unreasonable to go that way and I'm not surprised you went unchallenged.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Mapped routes for any permitted Derby->Crewe are ..

1) via Stoke and Uttoxeter on map EM (this is also the shortest route and there are no useful other routes within 3m); and

2) Tamworth, Rugeley then Stafford->Crewe direct - (not via Stoke) on map NJ but you were constrained to go via Stoke.

So there are no permitted routes covering your whole journey.

Checking the split-route to your via point (Stoke) only allows Derby->Stoke via Uttoxeter so it doesn't help.

So my tentantive reply would be that no, you were technically off-route and that could be why you can't get journey planners to give it.

On the other hand, it's doesn't seem at all unreasonable to go that way and I'm not surprised you went unchallenged.

I concur; if you were ever challenged then it would be possible to invoke the "Disputed Route Procedure" which I would have hoped would result in the route via Stoke-on-Trent becoming permitted (well, several months/years later!).

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Is a Nottingham to Lllandudno valid via Tamworth?

Yes - it is valid via Tamworth (but not Birmingham) on map NJ. That being said, the fastest route during the Monday-Saturday daytime service pattern is mostly to change at Derby, Crewe and Chester, though it is possible to reduce that to just one change at Manchester Piccadilly if you are prepared to have a slightly longer journey. The journey is not possible, as far as I can tell, on a Sunday!