National Routeing Guide update

kieron · 25 May 2024

An updated version of the routeing guide was published on Thursday.

Changes from 20 May 2024 (499) to 23 May 2024 (500).

Station Association changes:

British Steel Redcar (RBS) is no longer associated with Middlesbrough Group (G42).

IBM Halt (IBM) is no longer associated with Port Glasgow (PTG).

Station link changes:

Branchton (BCN) to Inverkip (INP) now has a distance of 3.68.

Branchton (BCN) to IBM Halt (IBM) no longer has a distance of 1.18.

IBM Halt (IBM) to Inverkip (INP) no longer has a distance of 2.50.

Redcar Central (RCC) to South Bank (SBK) now has a distance of 5.30.

British Steel Redcar (RBS) to Redcar Central (RCC) no longer has a distance of 2.10.

British Steel Redcar (RBS) to South Bank (SBK) no longer has a distance of 3.20.

This removes IBM Halt and British Steel Redcar from the "routeing guide" data. The stations last saw a train in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Permitted Route changes:

Leamington Spa (LMS) to London Group (G01) gain SM+EN

No effect.

London Group (G01) to Stratford U Group (G72) gain EN+SM

London Group (G01) to Warwick Group (G73) gain EN+SM

These journeys now have mapped routes via Rugby.

London Group (G01) to Tyseley (TYS) gain EB+BI lose TV+WM

This journey no longer has mapped routes:
via Tamworth; or
via Bedworth.

Easement changes:

Added:

701205 (Fare route) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

There are no trains between Bicester and Leamington then. This easement lets you avoid the buses with some "via Banbury" tickets but not others.

It helps with London-Stratford-upon-Avon (thanks to the map change above) but not Slough-Windermere (where the only valid routes to or via Leamington I can see are via Banbury) or Oxford-University (where you'd really want to go via Worcester).

Another oddity is that there are no trains or replacement buses to Bicester North, but the notices I checked didn't say what someone with a ticket to the station should do. A few notices on the day may be all they need, but it's odd not to see anything in advance.

RailUK Forums

kieron · 5 Jun 2024

The routeing guide has been updated three times over the last week Some easements have been changed more than once.

Last Wednesday, the following changes were published:

Changes from 23 May 2024 (500) to 29 May 2024 (501).

Permitted Route changes:

Darlington (DAR) to Wakefield Group (G30) gain HT+YI+JL

Middlesbrough Group (G42) to Wakefield Group (G30) gain NT+YI+JL

Newcastle (NCL) to Wakefield Group (G30) gain YI+JL

Northallerton (NTR) to Wakefield Group (G30) gain HT+YI+JL

These journeys now have mapped routes via Pontefract Group (Pontefract or Castleford).

Hull (HUL) to Stirling (STG) gain HL+YS

This journey now has mapped routes via Leeds.

Leamington Spa (LMS) to London Group (G01) lose RB+EB

This journey no longer has mapped routes via Birmingham or Nuneaton.

Easement changes:

Removed:

701181 (Map) During engineering divisions until 23 February 2024, and between 22 and 26 April 2024; 29 April to 03 May 2024; 06 to 10 May 2024; 13 to 17 May 2024, customers travelling on TPE services from or via Leeds to Liverpool, may travel via Wakefield. This map easement applies in both directions

701196 (Map) During engineering closure of the Severn Tunnel on 19 May 2024 to 14.25 on each day. This map easement will create temporary map permissions from Bristol to Newport via Gloucester. It will apply in both directions.

701197 (Local) The Severn Tunnel will be closed on 19 May 2024, until 14.25. Customers from Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney travelling to Cam & Dursley, Yate, Bristol Parkway , Filton Abbeywood, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road and Bristol Temple Meads, or to destinations via Bristol Parkway may travel on trains via Gloucester to avoid using the rail replacement bus service. This Local easement applies in both directions.

701199 (Map) Chiltern Railways are running longer trains on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May 2024 due to the WCML blockade. These services are unable to call at Warwick in the Northbound direction. To facilitate journeys via Leamington Spa. This map easement will create temporary permitted routes and will operate in both directions.

These were temporary easements, and the dates have now passed.

Added:

701206 (Fare route) On Sundays journeys from Dalmeny to Perth priced on (00237) VIA KIRKCALDY are valid for travel via Stirling. this fare route easement applies in both directions

There's only one train each way between Kirkcaldy and Perth on Sundays (there are regular trains to Dundee, but the tickets aren't valid that way). Only "via Kirkcaldy" tickets are available for Dalmeny-Perth, so this easement makes the ticket more usful then.

It doesn't affect other tickets with the same route code, such as ones between Perth (and a couple of neighbouring stations) and most of the stations in Fife.

701207 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and (00911 VIA SEVERN TUNNL, to South Wales will be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This fare route easement applies in both directions

This easement includes the dates for easement 701201 as well as an extra weekend. It allows "via Severn Tunnel Junction" tickets to be used via Gloucester. It also affects "via Severn Tunnel" tickets, but there don't appear to be any.

701208 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services diverted via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

This allows journeys between Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney and "local" stations (such as ones in Bristol or between Bristol and Taunton, Bath or Swindon) via Gloucester (but not necessarily Cheltenham) and Bristol Parkway.

701209 (Local) Any customer travelling from Brithdir,Tir Phil or Pontlottyn, is allowed to travel north towards Rhymney and then double back to reach stations south of Brithdir.

There are two trains an hour from Rhymney on weekdays, only one of which stops at Brithdir, Tir Phil or Pontlottyn. It's usually quicker to double back rather than wait for the next direct train.

This easement is intended to allow a double back if you're travelling from (but not to) one of those stations. When I tried I couldn't get nre.co.uk (as an example) to apply it at all, though.

701210 (Fare route) During engineering works from Saturday June 1st until Sunday August 11th inclusive, tickets priced on (00700) NOT VIA LONDON from Westcombe Park travelling to Lewisham, Blackheath or Kidbrooke may travel via London Bridge. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

This lets you go via London with a "not via London" ticket between the above stations on dates when the line between Charlton and Blackheath is closed. The data also covers stations as far as Abbey Wood, but you can't buy "not via London" tickets for many of the journeys.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701191 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

This adds extra dates. The data version of the easement also permits travel on Crosscountry trains, where the previous version only listed GWR.

701195 (Circuitous Route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00824) VIA NEWPORT to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services for journeys diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This circuitous route easement applies in both directions

This adds extra dates.

701202 (Local) Customers travelling from Bolton, Westhoughton, Hindley, Ince and Wigan Wallgate to Hall Road, Blundellsands, Waterloo (Merseyside) and Seaforth & Litherland may travel via Southport. This local easement applies in both directions.

This adds Bolton and Westhoughton to the permitted stations at the eastern end of the route. It's not a huge change as the "via Wigan" tickets were already covered.

701193 (Map) On the 13 April, 04 to 05 May, 11 to 12 May and 02 June 2024,, when the route between Reading and Guildford is closed. Customers travelling with tickets priced on (00615) VIA GOMSHALL will be valid for travel via Basingstoke and Redhill. And via East Croydon, Clapham Junction and Basingstoke. This map easement applies in both directions.

701204 (Routeing Point) During engineering works from Saturday June 1st until Sunday August 11th inclusive, tickets from Westcombe Park travelling to Lewisham, Blackheath or Kidbrooke do not have to travel via ~~Charleton.~~ Charlton. This routeing point easement applies in both directions.

These just fix typos.

In addition, the data for easement 701205 has changed again. The text remains

701205 (Fare route) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

I'd misunderstood this easement. The intent seems to be to let people use "via Banbury" tickets on replacement buses which don't stop in Banbury, rather than to help people avoid the buses. There have been various changes to increase the focus web sites have on this. The text remains unchanged.

These changes were published on Friday:

Changes from 29 May 2024 (501) to 31 May 2024 (502).

Easement changes:

Added:

701211 (Routeing Point) Customers from March traveling to Cosham, Hilsea or to destinations via those two locations may travel via Ely. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking, and will apply in both directions.

The shortest route between March and Cosham or Hilsea is via Ely, Streatham and Guildford. Other routes via Ely are permitted. I don't know if this easement is responsible, though, as (for example) March-Tisbury tickets appear similar, but are valid without an equivalent easement.

701212 (Routeing Point) During engineering works from Saturday June 1st until Sunday August 11th inclusive, Customers from Kidbrooke with tickets priced on (01000) ANY PERMITTED (00700) NOT VIA LONDON travelling to Westcombe Park, Charlton, Plumstead, Woolwich Arsenal, Abbey Wood and Woolwich Dockyard via London Bridge, may travel via Blackheath. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking for the duration of the engineering works. It will apply in both directions.

This states that Blackheath is a valid routeing point for Kidbrooke for a journey to stations between Westcombe Park and Abbey Wood inclusive. It doesn't do all of that as it's a routeing point easement. Stations west of Charlton all have a common routeing point with Kidbrooke (so no fare check is carried out) and Charlton-Kidbrooke is normally valid via Blackheath anyway. There's no fare listed in the NFM64 data for Westcombe Park-Kidbrooke, so the fare check can't be completed even with this easement. This may not matter as easement 701210 lets you travel via London anyway.

701213 (Map) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, Rail Replacement services run direct between Leamington Spa and Oxford without travelling via Banbury. This map easement will apply in both directions.

This creates a map link between Leamington and Oxford on 9th June to support the direct buses.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701207 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and (00911 VIA SEVERN TUNNL, ~~to South Wales~~ to Chepstow and Lydney will be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services diverted via Gloucester~~, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales)~~. This fare route easement applies in both directions

This is quite a lot less general than before, only affecting journeys between Chepstow and Lydney at one end and Bristol Group at the other.

There are a few easements where the data has changed but not the text:

700377 (Local) Customers travelling from or via Wokingham to Aldershot, Farnham, Bentley or Alton may travel via Ascot. This easement applies in both directions.

This had allowed "local" journeys from, to or via Aldershot, Farnham, Bentley or Alton which go from, to or via Wokingham (but not Virginia Water) to go via Ascot.

It's changed to allow "local" journeys from or to Aldershot, Farnham, Bentley or Alton which go from, to or via Ascot and Wokingham (but not Virginia Water) to go via Wokingham.

I don't know what effect this has, but it still seems to work for journeys (as an example) between Aldershot and Wokingham or Winnersh.

701203 (Map) During engineering works from Saturday June 1st until Sunday August 11th inclusive, tickets starting between Lewisham and Kidbrooke and ending between Westcombe Park to Abbey Wood will be valid for travel via London Bridge. This map easement applies in both directions.

Charlton has been added to the list of routeing points which this data adss to the easement on the above dates. Whether or not this is responsible, Plumstead-Blackheath tickets are now shown as being valid via London.

701208 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

This allowed journeys from or to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney which go via Yate to go via Bristol Parkway on the specified dates.

It has changed to allow journeys from or to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney which go via both Gloucester and Yate to go via Bristol Group (the stations between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads inclusive).

And these changes were published on Monday.

Changes from 31 May 2024 (502) to 03 Jun 2024 (503).

Added:

701214 (Local) During engineering works from Saturday June 1st until Sunday August 11th inclusive, Customers from Kidbrooke with tickets priced on (01000) ANY PERMITTED (00700) NOT VIA LONDON travelling to Westcombe Park, Charlton, Plumstead, Woolwich Arsenal, Abbey Wood and Woolwich Dockyard via London Bridge, may travel via Blackheath. This local easement will overcome shortest local journey rules for the duration of the engineering works. It will apply in both directions.

This is a local version of easement 701212. It means that tickets between Kidbrooke and stations between Woolwich Dockyard and Abbey Wood inclusive can be used via London until 11th August.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701191 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets to South Wales will ~~only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services~~ be diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

This removes the operator restrictions from the easement. The data still restricts the extra ticket validity to GWR and Crosscountry for the final weekend.

701195 (Circuitous Route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel ~~from 03 to 18 and~~ on 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00824) VIA NEWPORT to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services for journeys diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This circuitous route easement applies in both directions

This easement prevents TfW trains from being used via Newport, Gloucester and Bristol Parkway. The restriction now only applies for a weekend.

701207 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and (00911 VIA SEVERN TUNNL, to Chepstow and Lydney will be valid on ~~Great Western and Cross Country~~ services diverted via Gloucester. This fare route easement applies in both directions

701208 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on ~~Great Western and Cross Country~~ services diverted via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

These no longer include operator restrictions. The data for the easements already omitted them.

In addition, the data for easement 701205 has changed again. The text remains:

701205 (Fare route) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

The purpose still seems to be to allow tickets to be used on buses which don't stop in Banbury, and it seems to achieve this.

The following post was made on 7th June 2024.

The following changes were published yesterday:

Changes from 03 Jun 2024 (503) to 06 Jun 2024 (504).

Permitted Route changes:

Edinburgh Group (G11) to Hull (HUL) gain YS+HL

This journey now has mapped routes which go via both Newcastle and Leeds.

Easement changes:

Added:

701215 (Map) During engineering works between 24 - 28 June 2024, TPE services between Leeds and Huddersfield will be diverted via Wakefield Kirkgate. This map easement will apply in both directions.

The easement adds Wakefield Kirkgate, Huddersfield Group and Leeds to any mapped route which involves TPE trains. Some tickets (such as Leeds-Manchester) permitted this route anyway. Others (such as Leeds-Salford Crescent) did not.

The following were published this afternoon:

Changes from 06 Jun 2024 (504) to 07 Jun 2024 (505).

Easement changes:

Added:

701216 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel between 03 - 18 and the 27 - 28 July 2024, customers from Yate travelling to or via Newport (South Wales) may travel via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking during the disruption dates.

This easement means that tickets to and from Yate which go to Newport or beyond are valid with Gloucester as the associated routeing point on the above dates. No easement is needed for Cam & Dursley as all tickets between there and South Wales are valid via Gloucester anyway.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701207 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and ~~(00911~~ (00911) VIA SEVERN TUNNL, to Chepstow and Lydney will be valid on services diverted via Gloucester. This fare route easement applies in both directions

This corrects a typo.

There's an unrelated change to the data. An unadvertised restriction means that web sites only apply it to journeys between Chepstow or Lydney and stations in Bristol Group. This has been changed to "Bristol Group or Yate".

kieron · 17 Jun 2024

The routeing guide was updated twice last week.

The following changes were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday:

Changes from 07 Jun 2024 (505) to 12 Jun 2024 (506).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701205 (Fare route) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

This was a temporary easement, and the dates have now passed.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

700997 (Local) Customers travelling from Cardenden, Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Queen Margaret, Dunfermline City and Rosyth to Kirkcaldy, Cameron Bridge, Leven, Glenrothes with Thornton, Markinch, Dalgetty Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn and Ladybank may travel via Inverkeithing. This local easement applies in both directions.

This adds Cameron Bridge and Leven to this easement. There are regular trains between Leven, Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing but very few between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes and none at all between Leven and Glenrothes. As the shortest route between (say) Leven and Cowdenbeath goes through Glenrothes, this easement lets you use a more practical route.

The following were published on Saturday:

Changes from 12 Jun 2024 (506) to 15 Jun 2024 (507).

Permitted Route changes:

Barnt Green (BTG) to Havant (HAV) gain BI+RB+BB

This adds mapped routes which go via Oxford and Basingstoke.

Easement changes:

Removed:

701165 (Fare route) During engineering works between the 24 and 27 March 2024 and the 22 to 26 April 2024 tickets from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM, (00827) LONDON STRD/EVSHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Birmingham New Street for journeys via Watford Junction. Or valid via Birmingham Moor Street for journeys via High Wycombe. Fares priced on (00799) and (00805) will also be valid via Bristol Parkway and Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions

701166 (Local) During engineering works between 24 to 27 March 2024 and 22 to 26 April 2024tickets from Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Birmingham New Street for journeys via Watford Junction. Or valid via Birmingham Moor Street for journeys via High Wycombe. Or Cheltenham Spa for journeys via Swindon. This local easement applies in both directions

701167 (Map) During engineering between 24 and 27 March and 22 to 26 April 2024, customers travelling to or via London from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore Evesham, on tickets priced on (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00803 EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00827) LONDON STRD/EVSHAM . May travel via Birmingham and either High Wycombe or Watford Junction. This map easement applies in both directions.

701170 (Map) During engineering works between the 24 and 27 March and 22 to 26 April 2024, tickets from Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00433) AP EVESHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Yate, Cam & Dursley and Bristol Parkway for journeys via Swindon. This map easement applies in both directions

701173 (Fare route) During engineering works between the 24 and 27 March and 22 to 26 April 2024, tickets from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, priced on (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00433) AP EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM, for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Stroud and Swindon. This fare route easement to apply in both directions.

701213 (Map) Due to engineering works on Sunday 09 June 2024, Rail Replacement services run direct between Leamington Spa and Oxford without travelling via Banbury. This map easement will apply in both directions.

These were all temporary easements for dates which have passed.

Added:

701217 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures, on 17 to 19 September 2024, of the line between Westbury and Castle Cary. Customers with tickets priced on (00063) VIA NEWBURY and (00494) AP NEWBURY may travel via Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions.

These easements have been published over 13 weeks in advance, and there's no information about them in the engineering works pages on nre.co.uk or gwr.com.

This easement allows tickets with either "via Newbury" route code (Hungerford-Reading ones, say) to be used via Swindon on the above dates.

701218 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures, on 17 to 19 September 2024, of the line between Westbury and Castle Cary. Customers travelling from Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham, Thatcham, Newbury, Kintbury, Hungerrford, Bedwyn and Pewsey with tickets priced on (00810 NOT VIA READING, may travel via Reading . This fare route easement applies in both directions.

This lets "not via Reading" tickets from most of the stations between Reading West and Westbury (but not Newbury Racecourse) to be used via Reading.

The following was posted on 21st June.

The following changes were made to the routeing guide on Wednesday:

Changes from 15 Jun 2024 (507) to 19 Jun 2024 (508).

Permitted Route changes:

Motherwell Group (G67) to Mount Florida (MFL) gain AG

This journey now has mapped routes via central Glasgow.

Easement changes:

Added:

701219 (Map) Customers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond, whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carlisle during engineering works on the weekends of the 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29 September 2024. This map easement applies in both directions

This easement was created before any information about the works appears on nre.co.uk or lner.co.uk (the LNER one being hidden inside an "industrial action" section, as if the RMT decreed that the track was buckled).

In any case, it adds Newcastle, Carlisle, Carstairs and Edinburgh Group to any mapped routes which can make use of them.

701220 (Local) Customers from Cumbernauld and Greenfaulds travelling to Bellshill, may travel via Newton Lanarkshire. This local easement operates in both directions.

The shortest route is via Motherwell, but there are no trains that way on Sundays, so this easement lets you go via central Glasgow instead. It refers to Newton, but you don't need to catch a train which goes through the platform lines there.

701221 (Routeing Point) Customers from Cumbernauld and Greenfaulds travelling to Bellshill, may travel via Motherwell. This routeing point easement operates in both directions.

This is a "routeing point" version of 701220. The stations all have a common routeing point (namely Motherwell Group), so I don't know what effect this has.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701218 (Fare route) Due to engineering closures, on 17 to 19 September 2024, of the line between Westbury and Castle Cary. Customers travelling from Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham, Thatcham, Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, Kintbury, ~~Hungerrford,~~ Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey with tickets priced on (00810 NOT VIA READING, may travel via Reading . This fare route easement applies in both directions.

This adds Newbury Racecourse to the list of stations and fixes a typo.

And an easement was added this afternoon.

Changes from 19 Jun 2024 (508) to 21 Jun 2024 (509).

Easement changes:

Added:

701222 (Routeing Point) This routeing point easement, will allow customers from Cumbernauld and Greenfaulds travelling to Bellshill,to travel via Springburn, and on the return via Newton (Lanarkshire).

This is similar to easement 701221, but it tries to make Springburn and Newton valid routeing points rather than Motherwell. As with 701221, I don't know if this has any effect.

kieron · 27 Jun 2024

Some more changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.

Changes from 21 Jun 2024 (509) to 26 Jun 2024 (510).

Permitted Route changes:
Grays (GRY) to Stratford London Gp (G74) gain GR+UP

This journey now has mapped routes which go via Barking and avoid central London.

Easement changes:

Added:

701223 (Fare route) Customers travelling to Edinburgh and beyond, whose normal route is via Newcastle and Berwick upon Tweed, may travel via Carstairs with tickets priced on (00421) AP BERWICK, during engineering works on the weekends of the 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29 September 2024. This map easement applies in both directions

This is to do with the same line closure as easement 701219. This easement lets some types of LNER advance tickets be used on the diversion via Carlisle. I don't think any have been released for those dates yet.

In addition, the data for easement 701222 has been changed so that both Newton and Springburn are included for journeys in either direction, rather than one in each direction. The text remains:

701222 (Routeing Point) This routeing point easement, will allow customers from Cumbernauld and Greenfaulds travelling to Bellshill,to travel via Springburn, and on the return via Newton (Lanarkshire).

miklcct · 28 Jun 2024

kieron said:
Some more changes to the routeing guide were published yesterday.
Changes from 21 Jun 2024 (509) to 26 Jun 2024 (510).

Permitted Route changes:
Grays (GRY) to Stratford London Gp (G74) gain GR+UPThis journey now has mapped routes which go via Barking and avoid central London.

Thanks. It will allow tickets to Stratford be sold using c2c trains only, as people complained before when engineering works took place.

Chrius56000 · 3 Jul 2024

. . .Are these number codes (e.g., (00421) "AP BERWICK" printed on the actual tickets for the passenger to cross reference with the Routeing Guide?

Bletchleyite · 3 Jul 2024

No need to cross reference routes on Advance tickets with anything, because you can only use the booked trains - only the electronic restrictions which are used to generate the itineraries are of importance.

On a walk-up ticket, the route is printed on the ticket.

kieron · 5 Jul 2024

Some more changes to the routeing guide were published on Wednesday.

Changes from 26 Jun 2024 (510) to 03 Jul 2024 (511).

Easement changes:

Added:

701224 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking and applies in both directions

This is for the same closure as easement 701191 (and the rest). It makes Gloucester a valid routeing point for (say) a Chepstow-Bath ticket. The data doesn't refer to Bristol, so you should be able to get itineraries via Gloucester for other tickets such as Chepstow-Basingstoke ones.

701225 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from Yate and Cam & Dursley will be valid on trains via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

Like easement 701208, this is a "local" easement. The text lets you travel via Gloucester with (say) a Severn Tunnel Junction-Yate ticket. I wasn't able to find itineraries via Gloucester on nre.co.uk when I looked, however.

Changed (added sections in red, removed ones in green):

701215 (Map) During engineering works ~~between 24 - 28 June 2024,~~ , TPE services between Leeds and Huddersfield will be diverted via Wakefield Kirkgate. This map easement will apply in both directions.

This easement is apparently now permanent. As before, the data adds Wakefield Hirkgate, Huddersfield Group and Leeds to any mapped route where TPE trains are used.

kieron · 12 Jul 2024

Some changes were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday.

Changes from 03 Jul 2024 (511) to 10 Jul 2024 (512).

Easement changes:

Added:

701226 (Routeing Point) During engineering work closures between 23 - 29 September 2024, impacting journeys to and via Dorchester South from or via Yeovil Junction, Sherborne, Templecombe, Gillingham (Dorset) and Tisbury. Customers with tickets routed on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00955) GWR ONLY, (00829) VIA YEOVIL, (00818) NOT VIA BRISTOL and (00817 VIA BRISTOL will be able to travel via Salisbury and Brockenhurst. This routeing point easement to apply in both directions.

There are no trains between Castle Cary and Weymouth then, so there are a few easements designed to let people avoid the buses.

This one says that Salisbury is a valid routeing point for journeys via Brockenhurst using a ticket which has one of the above route codes or (01000) (sometimes shown as a dot). It affects the stations between Yeovil and Salisbury, but also affects travel to any other station (which has Salisbury as an associated routeing point) if you go via Yeovil.

701227 (Fare route) Due to engineering work closures between 23 - 29 September 2024, journeys to or via Yeovil on tickets routed on (00829) VIA YEOVIL will be able to travel via Brockenhurst. Tickets priced on route (00955) GWR ONLY will be able to travel via Yeovil Junction and Salisbury. These fare route easements will apply in both directions

This one permits a longer route with "via Yeovil" tickets (Menheniot-Dorchester ones, for instance), provided you also go through Yeovil Junction, and removes two of the unpublished restrictions ("not Yeovil Junction" and "not Salisbury") for the Family Train Tickets' "GWR only" route code.

701228 (Map) During engineering work closures between 23 - 29 September 2024, impacting journeys to and via Dorchester and Yeovil to the West Country, Bristol and beyond. Customers with tickets routed on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00955) GWR ONLY, (00829) VIA YEOVIL, (00818) NOT VIA BRISTOL and (00817 VIA BRISTOL will be able to travel via Southampton and Salisbury. This map easement to apply in both directions

This adds Eastleigh, Southampton Group, Dorchester West and Weymouth from Weymouth Group, Exeter Group, Castle Cary and Westbury Group to mapped routes which avoid Basingstoke and Fareham and have one of the above route codes or (01000). It doesn't add Taunton, but the map combinations usually include it anyway.

701229 (Fare route) During engineering works between the 27 and 28 July 2024 tickets from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00803) EVESHAM/STROUD, (00805) VIA EVESHAM, (00827) LONDON STRD/EVSHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Birmingham New Street for journeys via Watford Junction. Or valid via Birmingham Moor Street for journeys via High Wycombe. Fares priced on (00799) and (00805) will also be valid via Bristol Parkway and Swindon. This fare route easement applies in both directions

There are no trains between Oxford and Didcot on that weekend.

This easement lets people avoid Oxford when using some types of ticket. The text requires travel from, to or via London but the data for it doesn't mention this.

"via London" route restrictions are handled in a different way to other restrictions, and I suspect fare route easements may not actually override this. A Stratford-Worcester journey I put into nre.co.uk was only validated for a "via London and Evesham" ticket on one of the above dates if the route I selected went through central London.

701230 (Local) During engineering works between 27 - 28 July 2024 tickets from Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Birmingham New Street for journeys via Watford Junction. Or valid via Birmingham Moor Street for journeys via High Wycombe. Or Cheltenham Spa for journeys via Swindon. This local easement applies in both directions

This is a local easement for journeys to and from one of the above stations, which covers flexible tickets with one of the above route codes or (in the data) (01000), meaning that (for example) a flexible Worcestershire Parkway-Appleford ticket can be used via Bristol Parkway.

701231 (Map) During engineering works between the 27 - 28 July 2024, tickets from Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore and Evesham priced on (00000) ANY PERMITTED, (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00805) VIA EVESHAM and (00433) AP EVESHAM for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Yate, Cam & Dursley and Bristol Parkway for journeys via Swindon. This map easement applies in both directions

This adds Worcester Foregate Street and Shrub Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Bristol Parkway to journeys via Swindon from or to the above stations with tickets with the above route codes.

701232 (Fare route) During engineering works between the 27-28 July 2024, tickets from Hereford, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, priced on (00799) LONDON EVESHAM, (00433) AP EVESHAM and (00805) VIA EVESHAM, for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Stroud and Swindon. This fare route easement to apply in both directions.

This is a fare route easement which permits travel via Stroud and Swindon for tickets to and from one of the above places with one of the above route codes.

701233 (Routeing Point) During engineering works between 27-28 July 2024,
tickets from Evesham, Pershore and Worcestershire Parkway, for journeys to or via London, will be valid via Cheltenham Spa and Swindon. This routeing point easement to apply in both directions.

This easement is intended to make Cheltenham a valid routeing point for some journeys from those stations. I don't think it does anything for Evesham or Pershore, however, as the Cheltenham routeing point isn't associated with them. As with the other easements for these dates, the data does not mention London.

701234 (Map) During engineering works on 20 October 2024, customers travelling from Shelford (Cambs), Whittlesford Parkway, Great Chesterford, Audley End, Newport (Essex), Elsenham (Essex), Stansted Mountfitchet and Stansted Airport to or via London may travel via Cambridge. This map easement applies in both directions

This is an easement for October, and there's nothing on nre.co.uk or greateranglia.co.uk about these engineering works yet.

The data for this easement adds Stansted Group and the routeing points between Cambridge and London via Stevenage (London Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, St Pancras and Moorgate, Highbury & Islington, Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Stevenage, Hitchin and Cambridge) to mapped routes which can make use of them.

701235 (Routeing Point) During engineering works on 20 October 2024, customers travelling from Shelford (Cambs), Whittlesford Parkway, Great Chesterford, Audley End, Newport (Essex),and Elsenham (Essex), to or via London may travel via Cambridge. This routeing point easement applies in both directions

The data for this easement makes Cambridge a valid routeing point for tickets from the stations between there and Stansted on the above date, so long as the journey goes via Finsbury Park.

Finally, a permanent easement has been added.

701236 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Larbert to Holytown may travel via Glasgow Queen Street. This routeing point easement overrides NFM64 fares checking and works in both directions.

There are no fares in the NFM64 list between Larbert and Holytown, so this easement permits some mapped routes. Going via Glasgow is somewhat faster than using the shortest route (via Camelon, Coatbridge, Motherwell and Bellshill) would be.

kieron · 20 Jul 2024

Some easements were added to the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 10 Jul 2024 (512) to 19 Jul 2024 (513).

Easement changes:

Added:

701237 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets to South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

The Severn Tunnel is shut again then with some trains diverted via Gloucester. A few easements have been added to help with this.

This easement is the same as easement 701191 except for the dates. As such, the data adds Bristol Group, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Newport to any mapped route which can benefit from them, but only permits this if you use GWR or Crosscountry trains for the purpose.

701238 (Circuitous Route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel on 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets priced on (00824) VIA NEWPORT to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services for journeys diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This circuitous route easement applies in both directions

This is like easement 701195. The data prevents TfW trains from being used via Newport, Gloucester and Bristol Parkway.

701239 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and (00911) VIA SEVERN TUNNL, to Chepstow and Lydney will be valid on services diverted via Gloucester. This fare route easement applies in both directions

This is like easement 701207. The data lets "via Severn Tunnel Junction" fares be used via Gloucester for journeys between Chepstow and Lydney at one end and Bristol Group at the other.

701240 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

This is like easement 701208. The data allows journeys from or to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Lydney which go via both Gloucester and Yate to go via Bristol Group (the stations between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads inclusive).

701241 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel between the 24 - 25 August 2024, customers from Yate travelling to or via Newport (South Wales) may travel via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking during the disruption dates.

This is like easement 701216. This data means that tickets to and from Yate which go to Newport or beyond are valid with Gloucester as the associated routeing point on the above dates.

701242 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking and applies in both directions

This is like easement 701224. The data makes Gloucester a valid routeing point for journeys to and from Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot, and Severn Tunnel Junction.

701243 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets to South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

This is identical to easement 701237, and has no additional effect.

701244 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from Yate and Cam & Dursley will be valid on trains via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

This is like easement 701225. The data is intended to let tickets be used via Gloucester so long as they are between Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot, and Severn Tunnel Junction on the one hand, and Cam & Dursley and Yate on the other, and have an "any permitted", "via Severn Tunnel Junction", or (01000) (sometimes shown as .) route code.

Like with the existing easement, nre.co.uk does not show a Severn Tunnel Junction-Yate journey as being valid via Gloucester.

The following post was created on 24th July 2024.

Some changes were published in the routeing guide this afternoon.

Changes from 19 Jul 2024 (513) to 24 Jul 2024 (514).

Easement changes:

Added:

701245 (Fare route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

The line between Leamington and Bicester is closed for a few days from Saturday. This easement is intended to let buses which don't stop in Banbury (such as some of the Leamington-Oxford ones) be used with "via Banbury" tckets.

701246 (Map) Due to engineering works between 27 - 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This map easement will support rail replacement services that are not timed to travel via Banbury and will apply in both directions.

This is a map easement for 701245. The data adds Leamington and Oxford to maps used with "via Banbury" tickets. I don't know what effect this has.

In addition to the above, the distance between Minster and Ramsgate has been deleted. This was redundant as distances between each and Thanet Parkway were added last month.

There's also a new "AP Great Northern Only" route code. Nothing had used it when I checked.

MrJeeves · 25 Jul 2024

kieron said:
701245 (Fare route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

The line between Leamington and Bicester is closed for a few days from Saturday. This easement is intended to let buses which don't stop in Banbury (such as some of the Leamington-Oxford ones) be used with "via Banbury" tckets.

Oh no, this is going to cause trouble again...

The actual data from the easement means that OJPs will (should) ignore any of the location restrictions on route 00267, meaning that any itinerary via Leamington will be considered valid if it's a permitted route, which will result in itineraries on CrossCountry/WMT to Coventry then Avanti to Euston.

This is not its intention.

CyrusWuff · 25 Jul 2024

MrJeeves said:
Oh no, this is going to cause trouble again...

The actual data from the easement means that OJPs will (should) ignore any of the location restrictions on route 00267, meaning that any itinerary via Leamington will be considered valid if it's a permitted route, which will result in itineraries on CrossCountry/WMT to Coventry then Avanti to Euston.

It seems to depend on the journey planner as to how the easement is being interpreted.

Whilst most are treating it as a free for all, Worldline WebTIS and Avanti seem to still be enforcing the other geographic restrictions attached to the route code (i.e. Milton Keynes Central being an excluded location.)

kieron · 27 Jul 2024

Some more changes were published in the routeing guide on Thursday.

Changes from 24 Jul 2024 (514) to 25 Jul 2024 (515).

Easement changes:

Added:

701247 (Circuitous Route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may not travel via London Euston and Coventry. This circuitous route easement will apply in both directions.

The data for this easement states that "via Banbury" tickets can't be used on journeys via Milton Keynes which go as far as London Euston or Coventry.

701248 (Map) During engineering works between Reading and Didcot until 12;50 on the 01 September 2024. Customers travelling from or via Swindon to or via London Paddington may travel and interchange at Bath Spa. This map easement applies in both directions

There's engineering work between Reading and Didcot then, with Pangbourne having no trains all day.

The easement adds Reading Group, Westbury Group, Bath, Chippenham and Swindon (but not Didcot) to any mapped route which can make use of them on that Sunday.

701249 (Local) Customers travelling to Kirkstall Forge from Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley in Wharfedale, Menston and Guiseley may travel via Shipley. This local easement will overcome the shortest distance rule and apply in both directions

The text for this is essentially the same as easement 700889 (needed because trains to Ilkley don't normally stop in Kirkstall Forge). Travel between Kirkstall Forge and the Ilkley line is now shown as being valid via Shipley.

In addition, the data for easements 701245 and 701246 has been altered so as not to apply to journeys from, to or via London Euston. The text remains:

701245 (Fare route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

701246 (Map) Due to engineering works between 27 - 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This map easement will support rail replacement services that are not timed to travel via Banbury and will apply in both directions.

Further changes were also published yesterday (Friday).

Changes from 25 Jul 2024 (515) to 26 Jul 2024 (516).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701195 (Circuitous Route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel on 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00824) VIA NEWPORT to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services for journeys diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This circuitous route easement applies in both directions

701238 (Circuitous Route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel on 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets priced on (00824) VIA NEWPORT to South Wales will only be valid on Great Western and Cross Country services for journeys diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This circuitous route easement applies in both directions

These prevented travel via Newport, Gloucester and Bristol using TfW trains on dates when the Severn Tunnel is closed. The restriction has been removed.

There were three related easements which also excluded TfW services (701191, 701237 and 701243). The data for these has been changed so they no longer do so.

In addition, easement 700119 has been reversed on 20th October. This seems to be to let people avoid the buses when the line between Stansted and Waltham Cross is closed, but there's no description of the works on nre.co.uk yet. The text remains:

700119 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling from Shelford via Royston to London Kings Cross, London St Pancras, Faringdon or via Faringdon, may not travel via Cambridge. This easement applies in both directions.

As well as this, the train company restrictions in the data for "via High Wycombe and Birmingham" and "via High Wycombe and Shrewsbury" tickets have been removed.

There is still a route restriction for "via High Wycombe and Birmingham" tickets which doesn't appear on the ticket. They're only treated as valid if you go via Birmingham Moor Street and High Wycombe. Travelling via Birmingham New Street doesn't count.

CyrusWuff · 27 Jul 2024

kieron said:
Some more changes were published in the routeing guide on Thursday.

Changes from 24 Jul 2024 (514) to 25 Jul 2024 (515).
Easement changes:

Added:
701247 (Circuitous Route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may not travel via London Euston and Coventry. This circuitous route easement will apply in both directions.
The data for this easement states that "via Banbury" tickets can't be used on journeys via Milton Keynes which go as far as London Euston or Coventry.

In addition, the data for easements 701245 and 701246 has been altered so as not to apply to journeys from, to or via London Euston. The text remains:

701245 (Fare route) Due to engineering works between 27 and 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This fare route easement will apply in both directions.

701246 (Map) Due to engineering works between 27 - 31 July 2024, customers with tickets priced on (00267) VIA BANBURY, may travel via Leamington Spa. This map easement will support rail replacement services that are not timed to travel via Banbury and will apply in both directions.

No doubt trying to fix the problem of Chiltern's "via Banbury" tickets between London and stations between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon (inclusive) being shown as valid on Avanti services from Euston via Coventry/Birmingham thanks to the CrossCountry easement.

Further changes were also published yesterday (Friday).

Changes from 25 Jul 2024 (515) to 26 Jul 2024 (516).
As well as this, the train company restrictions in the data for "via High Wycombe and Birmingham" and "via High Wycombe and Shrewsbury" tickets have been removed.

There is still a route restriction for "via High Wycombe and Birmingham" tickets which doesn't appear on the ticket. They're only treated as valid if you go via Birmingham Moor Street and High Wycombe. Travelling via Birmingham New Street doesn't count.

Presumably an attempt to rectify the issue reported in this thread where journey planners were struggling to sell tickets from Gobowen to Hayes & Harlington on route +High Wycombe & Shrewsbury. Does force either a walk from Moor Street to New Street or a change at Smethwick Galton Bridge though, presumably to avoid additional loads on CrossCountry between Leamington Spa and Birmingham.

mikeg · 27 Jul 2024

There is still a route restriction for "via High Wycombe and Birmingham" tickets which doesn't appear on the ticket. They're only treated as valid if you go via Birmingham Moor Street and High Wycombe. Travelling via Birmingham New Street doesn't count.

Id love to know how that's even remotely enforceable if it doesn't appear on the ticket.

MrJeeves · 27 Jul 2024

mikeg said:
Id love to know how that's even remotely enforceable if it doesn't appear on the ticket.

It's not in practice. It's just in place to try and prevent unintended itineraries on online journey planners.

CyrusWuff · 27 Jul 2024

MrJeeves said:
It's not in practice. It's just in place to try and prevent unintended itineraries on online journey planners.

Plus a quick look at the fares data shows that via High Wycombe + Birmingham is (currently) used for flows to/from the Kidderminster (Cradley Heath - Stourbridge Jn/Town - Hartlebury inclusive) and Worcester (Bromsgrove - Worcestershire Parkway) areas. In most cases, I'd expect people to stay with Chiltern to Solihull or Moor Street and switch to West Mids there unless they were heading to Bromsgrove or Worcestershire Parkway.

kieron · 28 Jul 2024

CyrusWuff said:
In most cases, I'd expect people to stay with Chiltern to Solihull or Moor Street and switch to West Mids there unless they were heading to Bromsgrove or Worcestershire Parkway.

Chiltern to Birmingham is usually quicker for most people. The line's closed for the next few days, though, so a typical itinerary from a web site is train from London to Bicester Village, a bus to Leamington, and trains to Birmingham New Street and then Bromsgrove.

For this you're offered a more expensive "via Birmingham" ticket while taking 2 hours longer than someone travelling via Rugby with the same ticket would do.

The following post was made on 2nd August 2024.

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 26 Jul 2024 (516) to 01 Aug 2024 (517).

Easement changes:

Removed:

701191 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets to South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

701201 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July 2024, journeys to South Wales from Bristol, Bath Spa and Westbury will be valid via Swindon. This map easement applies in both directions

701207 (Fare route) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 and 27 to 28 July 2024, tickets priced on (00843) VIA SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION and (00911) VIA SEVERN TUNNL, to Chepstow and Lydney will be valid on services diverted via Gloucester. This fare route easement applies in both directions

701208 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

701216 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel between 03 - 18 and the 27 - 28 July 2024, customers from Yate travelling to or via Newport (South Wales) may travel via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking during the disruption dates.

701224 (Routeing Point) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from local stations in Bristol for travel via Bristol Parkway will be valid on diverted via Gloucester. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checking and applies in both directions

701225 (Local) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 03 to 18 July and 27 to 28 2024, tickets to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicott, Chepstow and Lydney from Yate and Cam & Dursley will be valid on trains via Gloucester. This local easement applies in both directions

These were temporary easements, and the dates have now passed.

Added:

701250 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling from Windsor & Eton Riverside to or via London Terminals may not travel via Windsor & Eton Central. This easement applies in both directions.

There are already easements which are designed to restrict how tickets from Windsor & Eton Central and Datchet can be used when the route involves a walk through Windsor, specifically 700084, 700085 and 700226.

This easement is the first one to restrict tickets from Windsor & Eaton Riverside.

In addition, the data has changed for easement 701243. It used to add all of Bristol Group apart from Bristol Parkway to mapped routes, as well as Cheltenham, Gloucester and Newport. It has been changed to also add Bristol Parkway. The text remains:

701243 (Map) During the closure of the Severn Tunnel from 24 to 25 August 2024, tickets to South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport (South Wales). This map easement applies in both directions

As well as the easement changes, the data for a few ticket routes has changed.

The data for "via High Wycombe & Birmingham" (00363) tickets now requires travel via Birmingham Stations rather than specifically Birmingham Moor Street.

The data for "Chiltern & TFW only" (00364) and "Chiltern only" (00046) tickets used to include location restrictions. These have been removed and they now only have operator restrictions.

MrJeeves · 2 Aug 2024

kieron said:
The data for "via High Wycombe & Birmingham" (00363) tickets now requires travel via Birmingham Stations rather than specifically Birmingham Moor Street.

The data for "Chiltern & TFW only" (00364) and "Chiltern only" (00046) tickets used to include location restrictions. These have been removed and they now only have operator restrictions.

Someone must be reading these threads

kieron · 9 Aug 2024

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 01 Aug 2024 (517) to 08 Aug 2024 (518).

Permitted Route changes:

Crystal Palace (CYP) to Portsmouth Group (G23) gain VH+EF+LE+HE

This lets you go via Woking without also going via central London.

This is often the quickest way between Crystal Palace and Portsmouth. There was already a permitted route which was the same as this one except it also included a detour from Clapham Junction to London Waterloo and back.

I notice that Crystal Palace-Havant tickets already permitted this route (as far as Havant, anyway), but this is a mixed blessing as that journey doesn't permit travel via Crawley (another fast route) whereas this one does.

Easement changes:

Added:

701251 (Doubleback) Fare route easement 030039 permits Journeys priced on routes (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, (00362) VIA HIGH WYC&SHR, (00363) VIA HWYC & BHM, (00402) AP HIGH WYCOMBE, (00432) AP HWY & SHR to travel via Aylesbury. This easement will overcome journey planners finding a doubleback at Princes Risborough on some itineraries using these routes.

There are some trains which go between Aylesbury and London via High Wycombe. If you wished to travel (say) between Bicester and London and to stop in Aylesbury on the way, this easement means that you don't have to know which way the train between Aylesbury and London goes.

When I looked, nre.co.uk didn't show a valid itinerary for this route. This may be because, while the easement data includes Princes Risborough as somewhere to double back through, it doesn't mention the stations between there and Aylesbury (Little Kimble and Monks Risborough) which you would also go through twice.

kieron · 22 Aug 2024

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 08 Aug 2024 (518) to 21 Aug 2024 (519).

Easement changes:

Added:

701252 (Doubleback) Customers travelling from Minster to Sandwich or via Sandwich, may travel via Ramsgate. This doubleback easement applies in both directions.

Thanet Parkway is between Minster and Ramsgate, but trains to Sandwich don't stop there. As Thanet Parkway isn't a mandatory timing point, web sites treat trains which pass through the station non-stop in the same way as ones which don't go there at all.

The text permits you to double back through Thanet Parkway for journeys between Minster and Sandwich and beyond. I suspect the data isn't applied as widely (as Minster-Sandwich counts as a local journey), but it doesn't need to be with the current timetable.

701253 (Routeing Point) Customers travelling from Skegness, Havenhome, Wainfleet, Thorpe Culvert, Boston, Hubberts Bridge, Swineshead, Heckington, Sleaford, Rauceby and Ancaster to Wellingborough, may travel via Kettering. This routeing point easement will overcome NFM64 fares checks which are preventing journeys showing valid. It will apply in both directions

This easement permits a route via Nottingham and Grantham for the above journeys.

This wasn't already permitted as the NFM64 fare list doesn't allow a valid routeing point for Wellingborough for any of the journeys, the shortest route involves one of the few Nottingham-Skegness trains which doesn't stop in Grantham, and the tickets are all "any permitted" ones.

701254 (Map) During closure of London Paddington station on 17 November 2024 and 27-29 December 2024, some GWR services will be diverted into London Euston. This map easement will create temporary permission between Ealing Broadway and London Euston via Willesden Junction. It will apply in both directions.

The diverted trains are due to go via Acton Main Line and Willesden Junction. This easement permits travel via Ealing Broadway, Willesden Junction and London Euston for any mapped route which can make use of them.

701255 (Map) From 28 to 31 October 2024, the line between Bath Spa and Bristol is closed for engineering works. For customers travelling from Chippenham and Melksham to Bristol, this map easement will create temporary permissions via Swindon. It will apply in both directions.

This easement adds Bristol Group, Chippenham, Swindon and Westbury Group to mapped routes which can make use of them.

701256 (Routeing Point) Customers from Bedford St Johns travelling via Dorking, or Earlswood (Surrey) may travel via Bletchley. This routeing point easement overcomes NFM64 fares checking, which is preventing journeys being shown. It will apply in both directions.

Bletchley is a valid routeing point for Bedford St Johns for journeys to most non-"local" stations, but not to two south of Dorking (Holmwood and Ockley) or some south of Earlswood (including the stations between there and Brighton).

This easement makes it easier to validate an itinerary between these stations. You may be able to find one which doubles back via the main Bedford station before going to Bletchley with a ticket which lets you miss out the first bit, but it's easier if you don't need to.

701257 (Routeing Point) Customers from Dore & Totley travelling on tickets priced on (00485) AP TPE ONLY to destinations via Stockport, may travel via Chinley. This routeing point easement overcomes NFM64 fares checks, that are preventing journeys being valid. It will apply in both directions

The routeing guide rules don't take into account the route codes contained in the NFM64 data, but retailers do when they try to apply it. As a result, they do not consider Chinley to be a valid routeing point for Dore for a journey between Dore and Penrith or anywhere TPE's WCML trains serve north of Carstairs.

This easement means that they are, but only for TPE-only advance tickets.

kieron · 5 Sep 2024

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 21 Aug 2024 (519) to 04 Sep 2024 (520).

Easement changes:

Added:

701258 (Map) Due to engineeering works between Byfleet & New Haw and Clapham junction on the 07 and 08 September 2024, some journeys are impacted by diversions via Staines. This map easement will create temporary permissions, and apply in both directions.

No trains are due to run via Earlsfield this weekend.

The data for this easemnent adds the routeing points between Clapham Junction and Staines, as well as Weybridge Group and Woking, to any mapped route which can make use of them.

701259 (Map) Due to engineering works on 13 October 2024, journeys from Guildford to Swanley may travel via Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill, Nunhead and St Mary Cray. This map easement applies in both directions

The usual Guildford-Swanley route on Sundays involves changing trains at Clapham Junction and London Victoria. The (Southern) Clapham Junction-London trains aren't running on 13th October, so this lets people use London Overground instead.

The route is already permitted on a Guildford-Swanley ticket (LONDON is a permitted route, London-Swanley is valid via Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill and Nunhead, and no tickets are available which forbid break of journey). Retailers are not allowed to suggest this, although some show this route as being valid anyway.

The data is broader (so Guildford-Longfield travellers aren't left out), adding Wimbledon, Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Shortlands, Bromley South group and Swanley to mapped routes which can make use of them.

In addition, the data for easement 701227 has been expanded so it now permits travel via Brockenhurst for "via Yeovil" tickets to or from Warminster. This means someone could avoid the buses with a Warminster-Weymouth ticket without having to pay extra for a "via Salisbury" one. The text remains:

701227 (Fare route) Due to engineering work closures between 23 - 29 September 2024, journeys to or via Yeovil on tickets routed on (00829) VIA YEOVIL will be able to travel via Brockenhurst. Tickets priced on route (00955) GWR ONLY will be able to travel via Yeovil Junction and Salisbury. These fare route easements will apply in both directions

Some changes were published in the routeing guide yesterday.

Changes from 21 Aug 2024 (519) to 04 Sep 2024 (520).

Easement changes:

Added:

701258 (Map) Due to engineeering works between Byfleet & New Haw and Clapham junction on the 07 and 08 September 2024, some journeys are impacted by diversions via Staines. This map easement will create temporary permissions, and apply in both directions.

No trains are due to run via Earlsfield this weekend.

The data for this easement adds the routeing points between Clapham Junction and Staines, as well as Weybridge Group and Woking, to any mapped route which can make use of them.

701259 (Map) Due to engineering works on 13 October 2024, journeys from Guildford to Swanley may travel via Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill, Nunhead and St Mary Cray. This map easement applies in both directions

The usual Guildford-Swanley route on Sundays involves changing trains at Clapham Junction and London Victoria. The (Southern) Clapham Junction-London trains aren't running on 13th October, so this lets people use London Overground instead.

A Guildford-Swanley ticket already permits this route (LONDON is a permitted route, London-Swanley is valid via Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill and Nunhead, and no tickets are available which forbid break of journey). Retailers are not allowed to suggest this, although some show this route as being valid anyway.

The data is broader (so Guildford-Longfield travellers aren't left out), adding Wimbledon, Clapham Junction, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Shortlands, Bromley South group and Swanley to mapped routes which can make use of them.

In addition to the above, the data for easement 701227 has been expanded so it now permits travel via Brockenhurst for "via Yeovil" tickets to or from Warminster. The text remains:

701227 (Fare route) Due to engineering work closures between 23 - 29 September 2024, journeys to or via Yeovil on tickets routed on (00829) VIA YEOVIL will be able to travel via Brockenhurst. Tickets priced on route (00955) GWR ONLY will be able to travel via Yeovil Junction and Salisbury. These fare route easements will apply in both directions

In theory, this could lead to someone being offered an itinerary via Southampton for a "via Yeovil" Warminster-Weymouth ticket. I don't know if it does.

kieron · 13 Sep 2024

Some changes were published in the routeing guide on Wednesday.

Changes from 04 Sep 2024 (520) to 11 Sep 2024 (521).

Easement changes:

Removed:

700116 (Local) Customers travelling from March, Manea, Kennett,Bury St Edmunds, Thurston and Elmswell to or via Ely, may travel via Cambridge. This positive local easement applies in both directions.

The main difficulty with travel in this area is with Kennett, which lies between Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge or Ely. It has a limited rail service to Cambridge and Bury, along with one train a day to Soham and Ely on weekdays, but none at all from Ely.

To accommodates this, the National Rail Timetable does not list a distance between Kennett and Soham or Ely. Retailers are not allowed to use the distances in the National Rail Timetable to calculate shortest routes, so they don't show that routes such as March-Newmarket and Kings Lynn-Kennett are valid via Cambridge.

Removing this easement means that, looking at a weekday on nre.co.uk, there are no valid March-Newmarket or Kings Lynn-Kennett itineraries, and there is only 1 valid itinerary every 2 hours for Bury St Edmunds-Kings Lynn or Elmswell-Kings Lynn rather than 2.

Added:

701260 (Fare route) From 28 to 31 October 2024, the line between Bath Spa and Bristol is closed for engineering works. For customers travelling with tickets priced on (00831) VIA BATH SPA, this fare easement will create temporary permissions via Swindon. It will apply in both directions.

There are no trains between Bath & Bristol, and trains which would go that way are due to be curtailed rather than diverted. This easement means that (say) a Melksham-Patchway ticket can be used via Swindon on those dates.

701261 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling to Wembley Stadium from or via Banbury with tickets priced on (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, may not travel via London Marylebone. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions.

For almost all of the tickets this affects, there's a more expensive alternative ticket which still permits travel via London; either a "via London" or "via Birmingham" ticket or, for season tickets, a travelcard.

Wembley Stadium-Banbury is the exception. The tickets available have either "via High Wycombe" ticket or "not via London" route codes, so your only alternative would be to buy more than one ticket. There are roughly half as many southbound journey opportunities for this journey if you avoid travel via London instead of using the fastest route each time.

CyrusWuff · 13 Sep 2024

kieron said:
701261 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling to Wembley Stadium from or via Banbury with tickets priced on (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, may not travel via London Marylebone. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions.
For almost all of the tickets this affects, there's a more expensive alternative ticket which still permits travel via London; either a "via London" or "via Birmingham" ticket or, for season tickets, a travelcard.

Wembley Stadium-Banbury is the exception. The tickets available have either "via High Wycombe" ticket or "not via London" route codes, so your only alternative would be to buy more than one ticket. There are roughly half as many southbound journey opportunities for this journey if you avoid travel via London instead of using the fastest route each time.

I have a suspicion there are a couple of key words missing from that easement, those being "North of Banbury", which would resolve that issue.

Watershed · 13 Sep 2024

kieron said:
700116 (Local) Customers travelling from March, Manea, Kennett,Bury St Edmunds, Thurston and Elmswell to or via Ely, may travel via Cambridge. This positive local easement applies in both directions.The main difficulty with travel in this area is with Kennett, which lies between Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge or Ely. It has a limited rail service to Cambridge and Bury, along with one train a day to Soham and Ely on weekdays, but none at all from Ely.

To accommodates this, the National Rail Timetable does not list a distance between Kennett and Soham or Ely. Retailers are not allowed to use the distances in the National Rail Timetable to calculate shortest routes, so they don't show that routes such as March-Newmarket and Kings Lynn-Kennett are valid via Cambridge.

Removing this easement means that, looking at a weekday on nre.co.uk, there are no valid March-Newmarket or Kings Lynn-Kennett itineraries, and there is only 1 valid itinerary every 2 hours for Bury St Edmunds-Kings Lynn or Elmswell-Kings Lynn rather than 2.

Travel via Cambridge is perfectly reasonable for these journeys given the paucity of service via Soham, and I cannot see any obvious loopholes that allowing travel via Cambridge opened up. No obvious reason for this easement to be removed, as far as I can tell?

kieron said:
701261 (Circuitous Route) Customers travelling to Wembley Stadium from or via Banbury with tickets priced on (00305) VIA HIGH WYCOMBE, may not travel via London Marylebone. This circuitous route easement applies in both directions.For almost all of the tickets this affects, there's a more expensive alternative ticket which still permits travel via London; either a "via London" or "via Birmingham" ticket or, for season tickets, a travelcard.

Wembley Stadium-Banbury is the exception. The tickets available have either "via High Wycombe" ticket or "not via London" route codes, so your only alternative would be to buy more than one ticket. There are roughly half as many southbound journey opportunities for this journey if you avoid travel via London instead of using the fastest route each time.

Travel via London has long been reasonable for such journeys due to the calling patterns - except on match/event days, only 1 train a day from Banbury or beyond calls at Wembley, and thus many of the fastest itineraries involve doubling back via Marylebone (even more would do if it weren't for High Wycombe having an artificially low 1 min MCT, and Marylebone an artificially high 10 min MCT).

As a bare minimum, there should still be a fare that permits travel via London.

Bletchleyite · 13 Sep 2024

Watershed said:
Travel via Cambridge is perfectly reasonable for these journeys given the paucity of service via Soham, and I cannot see any obvious loopholes that allowing travel via Cambridge opened up. No obvious reason for this easement to be removed, as far as I can tell?

Travel via London has long been reasonable for such journeys due to the calling patterns - except on match/event days, only 1 train a day from Banbury or beyond calls at Wembley, and thus many of the fastest itineraries involve doubling back via Marylebone (even more would do if it weren't for High Wycombe having an artificially low 1 min MCT, and Marylebone an artificially high 10 min MCT).

As a bare minimum, there should still be a fare that permits travel via London.

What I don't get is why the railway loves to say "ner ner ne ner ner, you can't do that" rather than letting people do the journeys they want in the way they want and simply charging a fair price for them.

I suppose it's part of the instituional anti-customer attitude problem it has.

1 minute at HWY? Crikey. To get from the London bound platform to the bay if you're sat at the front would probably suggest that the MCT there should be above the standard 5, not below it!

swt_passenger · 13 Sep 2024

Perhaps travel to/from Wembley Stadium is under the Chiltern microscope, given the surprising number of appearances in the disputes section…

Watershed · 13 Sep 2024

Bletchleyite said:
What I don't get is why the railway loves to say "ner ner ne ner ner, you can't do that" rather than letting people do the journeys they want in the way they want and simply charging a fair price for them.

I suppose it's part of the instituional anti-customer attitude problem it has.

Indeed. On almost every other railway out there, there is a fare for every journey opportunity, even if it's higher for journeys involving double-backs. In Britain? Get on yer bike. Or, most likely, your car!

Bletchleyite said:
1 minute at HWY? Crikey. To get from the London bound platform to the bay if you're sat at the front would probably suggest that the MCT there should be above the standard 5, not below it!

I think it was devised with the intention of maintaining an official connection off ex-London stoppers onto northbound (semi)fast services despite stoppers typically having "padding" on arrival (+1 or +2). That connection is, of course, trivial as it's cross-platform.

What they seem to have forgotten is that this affects all connections, and that due to most services calling at High Wycombe but skipping certain other stations, you get unusual outcomes. For example sometimes northbound journeys from Saunderton are fastest via High Wycombe. I recall there was once a timetable in which there was a 1 minute connection off an ex-Saunderton service onto a northbound fast. Completely impossible in practice, of course.

MrJeeves · 13 Sep 2024

From what I can see High Wycombe did get increased to 3 mins, but given these MCTs should really cater for a passenger who has never been to a station before, while being in the most inconvenient spot on the train, it does still seem rather low.

CyrusWuff · 13 Sep 2024

Watershed said:
Travel via London has long been reasonable for such journeys due to the calling patterns - except on match/event days, only 1 train a day from Banbury or beyond calls at Wembley, and thus many of the fastest itineraries involve doubling back via Marylebone (even more would do if it weren't for High Wycombe having an artificially low 1 min MCT, and Marylebone an artificially high 10 min MCT).

As a bare minimum, there should still be a fare that permits travel via London.

My suspicion is that someone's made a mistake when setting up the "easement" and it should actually be "North of Banbury."

Looking at Leamington Spa, for example, there are fares to Wembley Stadium routed "via London" and "via High Wycombe."

Comparing the latter fares to those to London Terminals may give an idea as to what Chiltern appear to be trying to prevent.

National Routeing Guide update

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