Sounds like one of two things.
Firstly the directs to Hon/Velag might not have been tied up with the TC Midlands controller yet so if you hadn't filed Rapid - Welin then sorry.
Or the TC mids or TC east controller said no to the directs when Cln asked them. As its an ad- hoc procedure they are within their rights to do so. I've never had it turned down when i do night's though. Maybe the TC bod was having a bad day or doesn't like the procedure?
Hope this helps.