ALR Query

[trainfanatic]

Hi, I know a lot has been written about ALR's, but I can't seem to find the following...

1) Is the ALR valid from 00h01 on Day 1 (of 7 or14)? and does it cease to be valid at 23h59?

2) If you purchase the ALR at (say London), do you have to finish up in London or anywhere on the network?

Thanks

 

[Eagle]

2. There's no restriction on where you start and finish (meaning you might need to buy a ticket home on day 15 ).

 

[rail-britain]

1) Is the ALR valid from 00h01 on Day 1 (of 7 or14)? and does it cease to be valid at 23h59?

Yes, it is valid from 00:00 on the day of validity
I am lucky in that the Inverness sleeper picks up shortly after midnight at Falkirk, so parked my car there and started my ticket from there, the 00:23 service
As it was a Saturday, I paid for the days parking, returned there that night as there are no Saturday night sleepers
On Sunday I started the next five days from Croy
The car remained there with a change of clothes in the boot, which I swapped on the Wednesday of the first week (this facility was not required on the second week)

The ticket expires at 23:59, however you can complete your journey on the train on which you commenced that journey
Therefore you could commence on the Glasgow - Euston sleeper on the final day, once you arrive at Euston your ticket has ceased

2) If you purchase the ALR at (say London), do you have to finish up in London or anywhere on the network?

No such restriction
I purchase mine at Glasgow Central
My journey commenced at Falkirk Grahamston and ended at Glasgow Queen Street (arriving at 00:27 on day 15)

 

[Minilad]

It's the new time restrictions that get me. Do the restrictions only apply if travelling between two of the barred stations before 10. Or does it apply to any train leaving the barred station on a barred TOC before 10

 

[Seacook]

It's the new time restrictions that get me. Do the restrictions only apply if travelling between two of the barred stations before 10. Or does it apply to any train leaving the barred station on a barred TOC before 10

The restrictions apply only to boarding or alighting at the specified stations before 10 am. There is nothing to prevent you from travelling through the stations, nor catching a "barred" train at another station.


The restrictions when travelling between two of the restricted can be onerous. The first Virgin train you can legitimately board from BHM to EUS is at 10:10 (arriving 11:34), but catch a London Midland service to BHI and you can take the 9:00 (08:50 from BHM, arriving 10:14).

 

[rail-britain]

it apply to any train leaving the barred station on a barred TOC before 10

As above at that specific station and TOC
Therefore you can board such a train with a single ticket to the next stopping station
Equally, you can travel through Birmingham at the time of the restriction, but it is best to have a seat reservation as proof that you did not board at Birmingham

The Kings Cross restriction can be useful as this pushes you onto a Grand Central service, you can then change at York
Ironically I had already planned one such service as that
The issue I had was convincing the staff at Glasgow Central it existed "sorry, there is no 08:04 Kings Cross to York service, there is a 08:00 or 08:30"

 

[trainfanatic]

It's the new time restrictions that get me. Do the restrictions only apply if travelling between two of the barred stations before 10. Or does it apply to any train leaving the barred station on a barred TOC before 10

I don't think that would apply in my case...I'd be starting from east Midlands but just might get a National Express coach Nottingham to London to either pick up the Caledonial sleeper or the Penzance sleeper.

 

[rail-britain]

might get a National Express coach Nottingham to London to either pick up the Caledonial sleeper or the Penzance sleeper.

Why not travel to Preston, then join the northbound sleeper there
You could also join at Crewe with a single from Crewe to Warrington (as then as the sleeper passes through Warrington it is past midnight), but I have never trusted this method myself

Equally, you can travel from Watford Junction to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, Tuesday to Saturday the departure time is 00:10

Also consider the 04:51 Nottingham - Peterborough 06:27
You could then start from there on any East Coast service, thus avoiding the Kings Cross restriction that applies to East Coast
However, travelling on the Sunday presents a challenge (but that is pretty typical across the network)