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Through Ticketing to Heritage Lines

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Mutant Lemming

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Not sure if this is the best place but it is a bit 'mix & match'. Is there a list somewhere of heritage lines which have through ticketing from the national railway network along with any benefit or saving of doing so?
 
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mainframe444

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The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway do, in fact I believe Wirksworth is on National Rail Enquiries so a through ticket can be bought from anywhere in the UK
 

OwlMan

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Ones I know of:

Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Severn Valley Railway
South Devon Railway
Spa Valley Railway
STEAM Museum of the Great Western
 

StoneRoad

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The Ffestiniog Rly used to have through tickets both as a destination and as a connecting route. Not sure of the current sitaution, as it is quite a few years since I was involved there.
 

David Goddard

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The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway do, in fact I believe Wirksworth is on National Rail Enquiries so a through ticket can be bought from anywhere in the UK

Not been able to find it myself. The EMT posters seem to suggest that you can only buy tickets to Wirksworth from their stations. Its not even on their online journey planner (no suprise as its powered just the same as most others)
 

scotsman

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A wee warning for you: through fares can be bought to Boat of Garten, but this is valid only on local bus services
 

transportphoto

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You can buy slightly discounted add on tickets for both the North Norfolk Railway and the Bure Valley (Narrow Gauge) Railway. However no through tickets are available and all tickets are issued from the interchange station (can still be bought anywhere). They still have to be exchanged before travel at the attraction.

TP
 

Smethwickian

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The old publicly available Rail Links Manual used to have all this information in it - through fares, add-ons, bus links etc. Now they are very poorly advertised, often only within the area served by the TOC which manages the fare, with conflicting or incomplete information on National Rail Enquiries (usually tucked away under 'special offers' as if a through bus-rail fare was a special holiday treat rather than a sensible part of a planned transport system).

Most of the details do, allegedly, seem to be in the top-secret The Manual, which some on this forum still argue should remain out of the hands of any members of the public who might dare to want to travel anywhere out of the ordinary or consider joined-up public transport.

Wirksworth through fares seem to be available on flows set by EMT, if I recall correctly, but whether others can be subjected to a separate add-on, who knows.

SVR tickets are promoted by London Midland as an 'inclusive admission to the Severn Valley Railway' but actually the ticket required is simply a through ticket to the destination Bridgnorth SVR, which is what the ticket clerk needs to type in.
 

lyndhurst25

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Some of these through fares don't seem to offer much of a saving other than the convenience of not having to buy a separate ticket for the heritage line. Others can save a good amount of cash, especially where a railcard discount is allowed. The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (H045) for example (normal fare £12.60; add-on fare £8.60 or £5.70 with a railcard).

Having recently bought a copy of the last paper NFM Rail Links book on ebay for reference, I agree that it is a pity that this information is no longer publicly available in one place.

Also, at one time weren't NYMR tickets accepted on Northern services between Grosmont and Whitby? When and why did this end? It seems like a retrograde step.
 
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zero

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Others can save a good amount of cash, especially where a railcard discount is allowed. The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (H045) for example (normal fare £12.60; add-on fare £8.60 or £5.70 with a railcard).

OK, I want to go on the R&E railway, but I've already bought my tickets for the Cumbria Coast line. However, brfares.com shows an SDR from Ravenglass to H045 for £5.70. Is this for real, can I just ask the guard for this when he checks my main ticket? How is it an "add-on" if available separately from the rest of your ticket?
 

Solent&Wessex

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Some of these through fares don't seem to offer much of a saving other than the convenience of not having to buy a separate ticket for the heritage line. Others can save a good amount of cash, especially where a railcard discount is allowed. The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (H045) for example (normal fare £12.60; add-on fare £8.60 or £5.70 with a railcard).

The KWVR Through ticket saves quite a bit:
The add on is £10, which is the same as a "1 round trip" ticket on the KWVR, but the through ticket is accepted as a Day Rover, which is priced at £15 is purchased separately. Thus you save £5 on an all day ticket. As Railcard discounts are also allowed on the through ticket, the saving can be even more. There is no need to exchange the ticket for anything.


Also, at one time weren't NYMR tickets accepted on Northern services between Grosmont and Whitby? When and why did this end? It seems like a retrograde step.

It was stopped because the Northern trains were too full. The Whitby line suffers from overcrowding all year round, but in the summer it is unbearable with the morning train to Whitby often leaving Middlesbrough full and standing with folk left behind on the busiest of days, so pity anyone trying to get on en route. Rather than look at a way to increase revenue and make the line better (i.e. add some extra carriages in the summer months - perfectly viable as less commuters in conurbations like Leeds and Manchester would free up at least 1 x 156 or 142), they decided to tell folk to not travel instead.
 

scotsman

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I'm sure Grantown on Spey is also a destination in the avantix?

Pretty sure it is too, but the SR doesn't go there yet! (No doubt many will trip up on this when we do actually run there)
 

reb0118

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I'm sure Grantown on Spey is also a destination in the avantix?

Pretty sure it is too, but the SR doesn't go there yet! (No doubt many will trip up on this when we do actually run there)

Do we have an ETA for the extension opening? In fantasy land I would love to see the original Highland Main Line reopened via Dava summit, with a station at the Dallas Dhu distillery. One can but dream.
 

nferguso

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Not been able to find it myself. The EMT posters seem to suggest that you can only buy tickets to Wirksworth from their stations. Its not even on their online journey planner (no suprise as its powered just the same as most others)

Wirksworth through fares seem to be available on flows set by EMT, if I recall correctly, but whether others can be subjected to a separate add-on, who knows.

Tickets to Wirksworth, Idridgehay and (from September) Shottle have been added by EMT and fares have been set up from just under 50 EMT stations, including St.Pancras.

The map below (produced for us by RailRoute) shows stations where one can buy a ticket easily to stations on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:

RailRouteMapECCLE170CE98.jpg


However, it is possible to buy a ticket from anywhere but the person in the ticket office has to build-up the fare. Certainly, we have had travellers on through tickets from locations as far apart as Southampton and Preston.

One very good site which allows you to look-up fares to Wirksworth is the BR Fares website. Well worth a look, although for some strange reason, St. Pancras fares are not shown.

Finally, we shall shortly be running a campaign to raise awareness of through tickets to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Our services connect with EMT's Nottingham & Derby to Matlock service and we are keen to promote our line as a 'real' connecting railway, not just a joy ride.

Kind regards,

Neil Ferguson-Lee
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
 

paul1609

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Tickets to Wirksworth, Idridgehay and (from September) Shottle have been added by EMT and fares have been set up from just under 50 EMT stations, including St.Pancras.

The map below (produced for us by RailRoute) shows stations where one can buy a ticket easily to stations on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway:

RailRouteMapECCLE170CE98.jpg


However, it is possible to buy a ticket from anywhere but the person in the ticket office has to build-up the fare. Certainly, we have had travellers on through tickets from locations as far apart as Southampton and Preston.

One very good site which allows you to look-up fares to Wirksworth is the BR Fares website. Well worth a look, although for some strange reason, St. Pancras fares are not shown.

Finally, we shall shortly be running a campaign to raise awareness of through tickets to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Our services connect with EMT's Nottingham & Derby to Matlock service and we are keen to promote our line as a 'real' connecting railway, not just a joy ride.

Kind regards,

Neil Ferguson-Lee
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Have you actually seen many of these tickets Neil?

On the K&ESR the through Rail- Bus-KESR tickets were spectacularly unsuccessful, so much so that they were dropped by mutual agreement.
Through bus tickets (although we have agreements with both Arriva and Stagecoach) remain as rare as rocking horse **** despite marketing on all sides.
It appears that a high proportion of those travelling to our railway on public transport are travelling on some sort of PRIV entitlement to whom through fares are unattractive.
By far the majority of visitors are still travelling by car.
perhaps we will have more luck when we get to Robertsbridge!



 

Solent&Wessex

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Have you actually seen many of these tickets Neil?

On the K&ESR the through Rail- Bus-KESR tickets were spectacularly unsuccessful, so much so that they were dropped by mutual agreement.
Through bus tickets (although we have agreements with both Arriva and Stagecoach) remain as rare as rocking horse **** despite marketing on all sides.
It appears that a high proportion of those travelling to our railway on public transport are travelling on some sort of PRIV entitlement to whom through fares are unattractive.
By far the majority of visitors are still travelling by car.
perhaps we will have more luck when we get to Robertsbridge!





We see quite a few at the KWVR, and it also generates us good publicity as Northern produce some leaflets and posters advertising us, and WYPTE include us in their timetable leaflets. It helps that we have a cross platform interchange with Northern services at Keighley, as well as the fact that Railcard discounts are available on the through fares. I think having a direct connection to the mainline, as well as having somewhere on your railway which is a "destination" in its own right (i.e. not just a train ride for the sake of it) is helpful. In our case the destination is Haworth as many people use the mainline railway, and then the KWVR to visit Haworth.
 

barrykas

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Through fares currently listed in The Manual are limited to the following:
  • Bodmin & Wenford Railway (L100) : Fare to Bodmin Parkway plus £9.00 Adult, £5.40 Child (Normally £11.50/£6.00). Railcard discounts available for Adults only. No PRIVs on the through fare.
  • Isle of Wight Steam Railway (K048) : Fare to Portsmouth Stations plus £29.20 Adult, £14.60 Child (Normally £9.50/£5.00 for IoWSR only, without ferry + Island Line to Smallbrook Jct). No Railcard or PRIV discounts on the through fare.
  • Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (G053) : Fare to Keighley plus £10.00 Adult, £5.00 Child (Normally £15.00/£7.50). Normal Railcard discounts apply.
  • North Yorkshire Moors Railway (G048) : Fares to Grosmont plus £11.50 Adult Single, £16.00 Adult Return (Normally £12.00 Single, £17.00 Return). Normal Child discounts apply. No Railcard or PRIV discounts except Esk Valley Railcard.
  • Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (H045) : Fares to Ravenglass plus £8.60 Adult, £4.30 Child (Normally £12.60/£6.30). Normal Railcard discounts apply.
  • Severn Valley Railway (L830) : Fares to Kidderminster plus £12.00 Adult, £6.00 Child (Normally £16.50/£8.50). No Railcard discounts apply. PRIV holders need to rebook at Kidderminster.
  • South Devon Railway (J643 for Buckfastleigh, J644 for Staverton) : Fares to Totnes plus £6.10 Adult Single, £9.20 Adult Return, £3.40 Child Single, £5.20 Child Return to Buckfastleigh (Normally £6.80 Child Return/£11.80 Adult Return). No Railcard or PRIV discounts.
  • Spa Valley Railway (K570 for Groombridge, K571 for High Rocks, K569 for Tunbridge Wells West) : Fares to Eridge plus £3.00/£7.00/£9.00 Adult. (Normally £10.00 to Tunbridge Wells West). 50% Child discount. No Railcard discounts.
  • STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway (J841) : Fares to Swindon plus £5.00 Adult, £3.00 Child, £3.20 Senior Citizen (Use NLC J842). Normally £6.60 Adult, £4.40 Child/Senior Citizen.

Cheers,

Barry
 

nferguso

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Have you actually seen many of these tickets Neil?

On the K&ESR the through Rail- Bus-KESR tickets were spectacularly unsuccessful, so much so that they were dropped by mutual agreement.
Through bus tickets (although we have agreements with both Arriva and Stagecoach) remain as rare as rocking horse **** despite marketing on all sides.
It appears that a high proportion of those travelling to our railway on public transport are travelling on some sort of PRIV entitlement to whom through fares are unattractive.
By far the majority of visitors are still travelling by car.
perhaps we will have more luck when we get to Robertsbridge!




We see quite a few at the KWVR, and it also generates us good publicity as Northern produce some leaflets and posters advertising us, and WYPTE include us in their timetable leaflets. It helps that we have a cross platform interchange with Northern services at Keighley, as well as the fact that Railcard discounts are available on the through fares. I think having a direct connection to the mainline, as well as having somewhere on your railway which is a "destination" in its own right (i.e. not just a train ride for the sake of it) is helpful. In our case the destination is Haworth as many people use the mainline railway, and then the KWVR to visit Haworth.

To date, we have not exactly been overwhelmed by people buying through tickets and I do take your point regarding Priv tickets. It's interesting that we aren't in the Fares Manual, although we have recently been added to the National Rail website (albeit it's spectacularly unhelpful): http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr662d4cac8b4b38a7d8c65640fe02fe/details.html.

Like the KWVR, we have a cross-platform interchange (which helps) and a proper destination at the other end, so I think for the EVR it's a case of raising public awareness. The majority of visitors do come by car, although the fact that Duffield now accounts for approximately 30% of revenue shows that people do use public transport to get here.

I see this as a multi-year activity to build-up numbers.
 

paul1609

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Through fares currently listed in The Manual are limited to the following:
  • Bodmin & Wenford Railway (L100) : Fare to Bodmin Parkway plus £9.00 Adult, £5.40 Child (Normally £11.50/£6.00). Railcard discounts available for Adults only. No PRIVs on the through fare.
  • Isle of Wight Steam Railway (K048) : Fare to Portsmouth Stations plus £29.20 Adult, £14.60 Child (Normally £9.50/£5.00 for IoWSR only, without ferry + Island Line to Smallbrook Jct). No Railcard or PRIV discounts on the through fare.
  • Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (G053) : Fare to Keighley plus £10.00 Adult, £5.00 Child (Normally £15.00/£7.50). Normal Railcard discounts apply.
  • North Yorkshire Moors Railway (G048) : Fares to Grosmont plus £11.50 Adult Single, £16.00 Adult Return (Normally £12.00 Single, £17.00 Return). Normal Child discounts apply. No Railcard or PRIV discounts except Esk Valley Railcard.
  • Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (H045) : Fares to Ravenglass plus £8.60 Adult, £4.30 Child (Normally £12.60/£6.30). Normal Railcard discounts apply.
  • Severn Valley Railway (L830) : Fares to Kidderminster plus £12.00 Adult, £6.00 Child (Normally £16.50/£8.50). No Railcard discounts apply. PRIV holders need to rebook at Kidderminster.
  • South Devon Railway (J643 for Buckfastleigh, J644 for Staverton) : Fares to Totnes plus £6.10 Adult Single, £9.20 Adult Return, £3.40 Child Single, £5.20 Child Return to Buckfastleigh (Normally £6.80 Child Return/£11.80 Adult Return). No Railcard or PRIV discounts.
  • Spa Valley Railway (K570 for Groombridge, K571 for High Rocks, K569 for Tunbridge Wells West) : Fares to Eridge plus £3.00/£7.00/£9.00 Adult. (Normally £10.00 to Tunbridge Wells West). 50% Child discount. No Railcard discounts.
  • STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway (J841) : Fares to Swindon plus £5.00 Adult, £3.00 Child, £3.20 Senior Citizen (Use NLC J842). Normally £6.60 Adult, £4.40 Child/Senior Citizen.

Cheers,

Barry

Thanks for that Barry,
it would appear that 2 of the largest South East heritage railways (one of which shares a station with national rail) have pulled out of through ticketing arrangements in the last couple of years.
The IOWSR add on only appears to make any sense when compared to travelling on a non railcard discount to Smallbrook Junction when most people knpw that its considerably cheaper to take a flight and rebook at Ryde esplanade!




 
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