All Line Rover Advice Please!

[Gizmogle]

As I'm a bit of a coverage junkie, me and a friend are going to do an ALR tour thing in August some time

Any advice on how to get the most covered over the week?
We have two places to stay. Mine in Buxton (if not, overnighters at MAN), and Dan's [LittleRedTrain] in Ash Vale.

One day is definately going to include the Askern line (2200 KGX to YRK arriving at 0039). Also probably the sleeper to Cornwall.

FINAL PLAN ATTACHED
(There is backup somewhere too, just not uploaded :P)

 

[william]

Just curious, but can you use a rover on a sleeper. Would you get a 'berth' or whatever they're called, or would you have to 'rough it' in standard seating.

Sorry for my ignorance, but ive never been on a sleeper so dont know the layout.

 

[theblackwatch]

Just curious, but can you use a rover on a sleeper. Would you get a 'berth' or whatever they're called, or would you have to 'rough it' in standard seating.

Sorry for my ignorance, but ive never been on a sleeper so dont know the layout.

Yes you can use the Sleepers - not extra cost in the seats, but if you want a berth you will have to pay extra for it.

 

[Turbostar]

Looking on the National Rail Enquiries website, it states it does NOT include supplements for seat reservations or Sleepers. So yes, you would need to book a reservation in advance of the date you intend to travel on the Sleeper, but you shouldn't need anything else, as you already have your travel ticket. Just mention at time of booking you have a rover ticket, you never know, you might be able to bag a bargin because you have an all-line rover.

Mart

 

[Tom]

Mart - what NatRail.co.uk says hardly ever 'goes' in the real environment.

 

[me123]

If you took the caly sleeper, you could spend a day or so in Scotland on the Aberdeen/Inverness lines? The former has spectacular views past Dundee.

eg, Sleeper-GLC, Queen Street-Inverness, INV-Aberdeen, ABD-EDB, sleeper down.

You might also have time for some more local routes, or might be able to come down by GNER or something similar.

 

[devon_metro]

Watch out for the Penzance sleeper. It is often busy in stadard with 1 coach and you may have to use the floor/stand.

 

[W14Fishbourne]

About 10 years ago I caught the Sleeper from Paddington on a weekday and covered all lines in Cornwall (and back to London) in a day, starting by getting off at Liskeard at some unearthly hour and catching the first train of the day to Looe. Some of the timings were a bit tight but it all worked out ok. The timetables will have changed dramatically since then but in general there are more trains on most routes.

By changing at Westbury (even Bristol) on the way back you might be able to add the Westbury - Salisbury - Portsmouth line and the SW main line from Portsmouth/Havant to Woking before heading for beddie-byes in Ash Vale.

Have fun.

 

[william]

But remember, you cant count lines youv'e covered while sleeping!

(Is that a rule, or have i just made it up?)

 

[Coxster]

But remember, you cant count lines youv'e covered while sleeping!

I do

 

[W14Fishbourne]

But remember, you cant count lines youv'e covered while sleeping!

I've never known anyone actually go to sleep on the sleeper. It's just more comfortable lying down than sitting up all night and you don't have to share your sleeping space with 60 other people!

Plus you're a lot less smelly the next day if you haven't spent the night in your clothes.

 

[Max]

I've never known anyone actually go to sleep on the sleeper. It's just more comfortable lying down than sitting up all night and you don't have to share your sleeping space with 60 other people!

I went to sleep for about 3 hours, but only because I was so shattered!

 

[william]

I fell asleep on a bus once, never again!!!!

 

[Craig]

The Fort William sleeper has always been a handy overnight move, it gets into Edinburgh around 0100 and departs at 0450. Although given your age I guess you'd be stuck for things to do during the wait.

Thameslink run through the night during the week too.

 

[me123]

I've never been able to sleep when I'm moving. I can sleep on North Sea Ferries though. (P&O to Rtterdam from Hull; a fantastic voyage).

 

[Max]

Get some cheap £15 rooms at Travelodge Gizmogle!

 

[Nym]

was gonna do that for a holiday for a week

would have to be 1st class though, do I look like I travel economy?

Would let you stay at mine 1/2 a mile from manchester picc station, but I don't know you, and you'd have to have the sofa, (and I havn't moved in yet )

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Gizmogle here (Too lazy to log into my own account)

Travelodges sound good, but I'm usually rather low on money, so they have to be cheap ones

I won't really need to be staying anywhere around Manchester Piccadilly, cause I've got home at Buxton and can just hang around Picc until the first train back.

I like the idea of getting cornwall done in a day Will have to experiment with different times and stuff and see what we can come up with.

Also, for the sleeper, we will be buying berths, as I'm a complete lightweight when it comes to not sleeping

Cheers for the advice Keep it coming.

 

[Craig]

Travelodges sound good, but I'm usually rather low on money, so they have to be cheap ones

If you book in advance you can usually get rooms for £26 (or even £15 if you're lucky) which isn't too bad if there'll be two of you to split the cost.


Dunno if it's still possible, but you used to be a decent connection at Mallaig for the ferry to Skye then a bus to Kyle so you could to Glasgow - Mallaig - Kyle - Inverness - Wherever in a day.

 

[W14Fishbourne]

Gizmogle here (Too lazy to log into my own account)

I like the idea of getting cornwall done in a day Will have to experiment with different times and stuff and see what we can come up with.

I'm trying to wrack my brains as to the order in which I did it although, with timetable changes since then, that may be totally irrelevant. I know that I started off on the Looe branch and ended up on the Gunnislake branch in the evening rush hour.

Because there are so few trains a day on it, the key thing is to fit in the Newquay branch without wasting a lot of time waiting at Par. I seem to remember that I had a fairly tight (ie 3 minute) connection at Par off my train coming up from the west - in fact, after a quick word with the guard, who had a word with the driver, we arrived at Par a few minutes early! Helped being a member of staff, though.

On the way back from Newquay the train went straight through to Plymouth, where I changed for Gunnislake. That train is now the new daily through train from Newquay to London.

 

[yorkie]

I've considered an ALR before but decided it not worth it because...

Also, for the sleeper, we will be buying berths, as I'm a complete lightweight when it comes to not sleeping .

...also applies to me, and at £36 (to share with someone) or £49 (solo) the berth upgrade costs more than a bargain berth at £19.

Also the cost of cheap AP tickets these days mean that in order to get areas done, I prefer to get local rovers/rangers and bargain berths or £15 travelodges. e.g. I did London to Glasgow in berths for £38 return and a rover to do more lines than I could even do in a day for about £8 - compared to an ALR where it works out at £35 per day plus £72 return berths!

However, I think an ALR for you is only £93.75 with your priv, so the economics are a bit different.

Having heard what others (e.g. theblackwatch) have reported about other countries, I think it would be possible to go to a European country, get an all-line rover there, and accomodation and pay less for all of that than just the ALR on it's own over here. It's a rip-off in Britain, plus the traction is (with very few exceptions) crap from an enthusiast-point of view.:cry:

 

[Jim]

Watch out for the Penzance sleeper. It is often busy in stadard with 1 coach and you may have to use the floor/stand.

2 on the Down Friday and Up Sunday now
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Cornwall is ONLY JUST doable in a day

 

[Gizmogle]

So far, ideas of what we're gonna do...
Cornwall - There by sleeper, then cover as much as possible the next day
Scotland - Again, sleeper, then as much as over a day or so. Probably starting at the top and then slowly finding our way south.
Askern line - 2200 to York, then bash Manchester or York area in the morning.
Isle of Wight - Easily done in a day from Ash Vale

Also, does anyone know if I can get myself a priv priced berth on the sleepers? And can I get AP tickets on my priv?

Cheers

 

[W14Fishbourne]

Isle of Wight - Easily done in a day from Ash Vale

Make sure you get a ride on the Steam railway while you're there.

Also, does anyone know if I can get myself a priv priced berth on the sleepers? And can I get AP tickets on my priv?

Neither, I'm afraid. You pay the full price for the sleeper berth. However, some of the inclusive bargain offers (fare+berth) work out cheaper than paying for the normal berth supplement. Don't forget that priv berths are quota controlled so you need to book early.

As for AP tickets, no your priv price is one-quarter of the full fare, no discount on any other tickets. If you are buying individual tickets AP tickets at the ordinary price can sometimes be cheaper than priv tickets, but with a priv you can travel virtually any time you want. (If that makes any sense!)

 

[theblackwatch]

Having heard what others (e.g. theblackwatch) have reported about other countries, I think it would be possible to go to a European country, get an all-line rover there, and accomodation and pay less for all of that than just the ALR on it's own over here. It's a rip-off in Britain, plus the traction is (with very few exceptions) crap from an enthusiast-point of view.:cry:

It all depends on the country, but certainly some are much cheaper. For example, a week in Czech earlier this month cost me about the same as an all line (£375) - and that didn't just cover the all line rover (actually, a 1st Class season ticket for the country for a week) and accommodation ( in 3* and 4* hotels each night), but also all my food, drinks and the flight. I could've done it for less too, had I really wanted to save (ie cheaper hotels, 2nd class, overnights, cheapest food on menus etc!).

 

[Gizmogle]

Make sure you get a ride on the Steam railway while you're there.

But of course

As for AP tickets, no your priv price is one-quarter of the full fare, no discount on any other tickets. If you are buying individual tickets AP tickets at the ordinary price can sometimes be cheaper than priv tickets, but with a priv you can travel virtually any time you want. (If that makes any sense!)

Yes, I thought that might be the case. No worries, I'll use my boxes, and buy priv tickets when they're nice and cheap
I'm assuming I can get priv on day rangers and rovers though?

 

[Jim]

But of course


Yes, I thought that might be the case. No worries, I'll use my boxes, and buy priv tickets when they're nice and cheap
I'm assuming I can get priv on day rangers and rovers though?

Only some IIRC

 

[me123]

Scotland - Again, sleeper, then as much as over a day or so. Probably starting at the top and then slowly finding our way south.

As you've (according to the meets forum) probably experienced an Aberdeen-Glasgow train, you'll realise that seat reservations are, effectvely, compulsary for passengers travelling anywhere between Dundee and Glasgow. One and a half hours standing is not a good experience!

If you want to do Scotland in a day, some of the best options would probably be:

ABD-INV-GLA/EDB and explore before the sleeper SB
INV-ABD-GLA/EDB and explore
ABD-INV, then do the Far North Lines before returning to Inverness for the sleeper.

 

[Gizmogle]

As you've (according to the meets forum) probably experienced an Aberdeen-Glasgow train, you'll realise that seat reservations are, effectvely, compulsary for passengers travelling anywhere between Dundee and Glasgow. One and a half hours standing is not a good experience!

If you want to do Scotland in a day, some of the best options would probably be:

ABD-INV-GLA/EDB and explore before the sleeper SB
INV-ABD-GLA/EDB and explore
ABD-INV, then do the Far North Lines before returning to Inverness for the sleeper.

I've never done the sleeper before, and the meet in this forum is tonight.
Realising how difficult this is going to be on a priv, it's probably going to be best to avoid sleepers on the ALR, but we should be getting the Night Riviera anyway.
Thanks I'll try out some plans and stuff soon and shove everyone's suggestions in there to hopefully get the best out of it

 

[W14Fishbourne]

I'm assuming I can get priv on day rangers and rovers though?

Only on the following:

All Line Rover
Heart of England Rover
East Midlands Rover
East Midlands Day Ranger - only valid on CT and Northern
West Midlands Day Ranger - only valid on CT, Northern, FGW, Chiltern, ATW
Anglia Plus
Lincolnshire Day Ranger - only valid on CT and Northern
Cheshire Day Ranger - Northern, ATW, CT, Merseyrail, TPE and VT
Freedom of Wales Flexipass (only 34% off)
Cambrian Coaster Day Ranger (only 34% off)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

...you'll realise that seat reservations are, effectively, compulsory for passengers travelling anywhere between Dundee and Glasgow. One and a half hours standing is not a good experience!

Those travelling on privs are not allowed to reserve seats. You have to give up your seat if a fare-paying passenger is standing.