Buying ranger/rover tickets

LeylandLen said:

Without seeing the first screen in front of me,how would I proceed on a Virgin ticket machine ..

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When you originally touch the interface and it goes off the screensaver you will be presented with either Buy or Collect, Rangers and Rovers is another added to that list. Pressing that will bring up the available ones for sale.
Sam

I've read the comments above. I often buy a ranger or rover ticket and haven't had problems buying one at a ticket office. I always take down the code if I can find it as this may help the ticket office clerk. As far as I was aware TVMs don't issue them (certainly not the Northern ones) but I read above that you can buy some from Virgin TVMs. They can be issued on-train but is it advisable to try this if you are in a penalty fare area?

I always have the “paperwork” with me when I travel in case of challenge by a staff member who says “where are going with this, I’ve not seen one before”. I take the Today’s Railways Rover Ticket Guide Britain and Ireland which comes out annually with the magazine, but which is of course not an official rail industry publication. I also print out the relevant page from National Rail Enquiries (which may not be up to date) or the GB Railrover Guide www.railrover.org, which again is a non-industry site and there is a disclaimer suggesting that we check the information for accuracy with the TOCs.

Many but not all TOCs produce rover/ranger ticket leaflets (or used to before they started cutting back on printed information) and some TOCs are better than others at promoting these tickets. There's also the ever-helpful Barry Doe! Does anyone have any advice as to the best way of dealing with these pitfalls?

geoffk said:

Many but not all TOCs produce rover/ranger ticket leaflets (or used to before they started cutting back on printed information) and some TOCs are better than others at promoting these tickets. There's also the ever-helpful Barry Doe! Does anyone have any advice as to the best way of dealing with these pitfalls?

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It's all psychological - you have to flex your response according to the ticker inspector's personality. Don't worry about all the paperwork etc, they have ways to check themselves.

That said I've used a fair few rovers in my time and I can't say I've ever had any kind of issue with acceptance. Quite the contrary in fact, they don't get as much scrutiny as they should. The ALR time restrictions don't tend to be enforced, boxes on flexis aren't requested and sometimes they are passed out of region without challenge. It cuts both ways with this ticketing lark. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

brtom said:

Which explains why I couldn't buy a Cherwell Valley for the Saturday on Friday. It must have been too close to the time for delivery.

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For information Cherwell Valley ranger has been disconnected by GWR

philthetube said:

How am I supposed to know I need to check HOWCIRC DAY RNGR and not the full name?

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I know the post I'm replying to is over a year old, but for future reference BR Fares has a full list of all rovers and rangers here: http://www.brfares.com/#!rover_groups

I've heard that TVM's at London Overground stations can sell a number of rover tickets, which is unusual & (for me) somewhat surprising. Does anyone know if a) that is indeed the case & b) what tickets are available to buy?

RJ said:

It's all psychological - you have to flex your response according to the ticker inspector's personality. Don't worry about all the paperwork etc, they have ways to check themselves.

That said I've used a fair few rovers in my time and I can't say I've ever had any kind of issue with acceptance. Quite the contrary in fact, they don't get as much scrutiny as they should. The ALR time restrictions don't tend to be enforced, boxes on flexis aren't requested and sometimes they are passed out of region without challenge. It cuts both ways with this ticketing lark. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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From the reactions I get, I must be in a very small minority who actually check the date boxes on flexi rovers. To give people their credit, I’ve only had to challenge a couple of undated boxes in the last few years and once I’d handed them a pen they were all happy to fill it in.

I also have all applicable rover maps downloaded to my work phone in case people have queries etc.

There are references to a code which can help with issuing the ticket - is that the one found on BRFares.com (e.g. Cheshire Day Rgr I351) or the one on railrover.org (for Cheshire Day Ranger, it has CHESHIRE DAY RGR / CED / I351 CHESHIRE DAY RGR) - the 'I351' is the same as above. Or is it CED (as railrover.org refers to name/code/group)?

I'm asking as I'm looking at travelling from Shrewsbury to Chester then travelling on a Cheshire Day Ranger but I only have a 10-minute connection at Chester so it would be nice if I could buy my Cheshire Day Ranger at Shrewsbury.

JoeGJ1984 said:

I'm asking as I'm looking at travelling from Shrewsbury to Chester then travelling on a Cheshire Day Ranger but I only have a 10-minute connection at Chester so it would be nice if I could buy my Cheshire Day Ranger at Shrewsbury.

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If you're unable to buy your desired ticket at your origin station and don't have sufficient time to buy it at your connecting station, and haven't had another opportunity to buy your ticket, you can buy it onboard the train from Crewe.

In practice I don't think Shrewsbury would make much difficulty in selling you the ticket if you give them the I351 code.

JoeGJ1984 said:

There are references to a code which can help with issuing the ticket - is that the one found on BRFares.com (e.g. Cheshire Day Rgr I351) or the one on railrover.org (for Cheshire Day Ranger, it has CHESHIRE DAY RGR / CED / I351 CHESHIRE DAY RGR) - the 'I351' is the same as above. Or is it CED (as railrover.org refers to name/code/group)?

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BR Fares also shows the CED code here: http://www.brfares.com/#roverdetail?nlc=I351&rvr=CED (under "Rover Code & Name"). I suspect which code to use depends on the ticket issuing system used in the ticket office you go to, and/or which screen/mode the clerk uses to bring up the list of rovers and rangers.

Maybe someone else will know what ticket issuing system is in use at Shrewsbury, and can offer specific instructions.