Ipswich-Cambridge - not valid via Ely?

[XmaX]

I am looking at off-peak return tickets between Cambridge and Saxmundham which normally require a change at Ipswich. However, for the return journeys it's actually 18 minutes quicker to go Saxmundham-Ipswich-Ely-Cambridge rather than Saxmundham-Ipswich-Ely (all travel is on GA). National Rail website says they can't price the journey if I go via Ely, and Greater Anglia website doesn't even list it. Is the route valid or not?

 

[alistairlees]

No, it's not valid via Ely.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Assuming the OP is travelling on a same day return basis, could they instead purchase the slightly more expensive Saxmundham -> Ely off peak day return (CDR) ticket (70p more?), and then break journey at Cambridge, so as to allow same day return travel via Ely?

 

[XmaX]

Assuming the OP is travelling on a same day return basis, could they instead purchase the slightly more expensive Saxmundham -> Ely off peak day return (CDR) ticket (70p more?), and then break journey at Cambridge, so as to allow same day return travel via Ely?

That's a good idea! I was thinking of using the Anglia Plus Ranger, but this is a cheaper option.

Is there any rationale for Cambridge-Ipswich not being valid via Ely, but Ely-Ipswich being valid via Cambridge? The distance is roughly the same, the only difference I can see is that Ipswich-Ely train runs once every 2h as opposed to every 1h for Ipswich-Cambridge.

 

[alistairlees]

Is there any rationale for Cambridge-Ipswich not being valid via Ely, but Ely-Ipswich being valid via Cambridge? The distance is roughly the same, the only difference I can see is that Ipswich-Ely train runs once every 2h as opposed to every 1h for Ipswich-Cambridge.

It’s not a mapped route in the routing guide. Probably for very historic reasons when there were almost no trains between Ely and Bury St Edmunds. It’s more than 3 miles longer than the shortest route by rail, and it’s not a direct train.

 

[gingerheid]

It could be worth asking GA about this! After a relatively tiny amount of prompting a few years ago they made Cambridge North to Ipswich via Ely fares appear

 

[freddie1729]

It could be worth asking GA about this! After a relatively tiny amount of prompting a few years ago they made Cambridge North to Ipswich via Ely fares appear

If Cambridge North to Ipswich is valid via Ely, could one rely on easement 700714 and buy the ticket to Cambridge North?

Tickets to/from Cambridge are also valid at Cambridge North and tickets to/from Cambridge North are also valid at Cambridge. This easement covers all tickets, including season tickets, except Advance tickets.

 

[30907]

It could be worth asking GA about this! After a relatively tiny amount of prompting a few years ago they made Cambridge North to Ipswich via Ely fares appear

Can't see them ATM

 

[Haywain]

After a relatively tiny amount of prompting a few years ago they made Cambridge North to Ipswich via Ely fares appear

There are no such fares showing in BRFares, only tickets routed 'Any Permitted'.

 

[JB_B]

If Cambridge North to Ipswich is valid via Ely, could one rely on easement 700714 and buy the ticket to Cambridge North?

Any permitted tickets from Cambridge North to Saxmundham (and Ipswich* ) and v.v. are indeed valid via Ely so that looks like it could be a solution.

* - thread title ( Ipswich-Cambridge ) doesn't quite match the journey the OP is presumably looking at (Saxmunham-Cambridge).

There are no such fares showing in BRFares, only tickets routed 'Any Permitted'.

That's true - I assume that @gingerheid must be referring to other routeing guide changes that made the route via Ely possible.