Ryde Hoverport with break of journey

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help clear a couple of questions up for me.

I'm planning to go to the Isle of Wight as I would like to ride the current former London Underground stock before it is retired (and maybe go on the steam railway). A pre-requisite for me is hovercraft between the mainland and the island.

I'm starting off in Derby and I'm quite happy to pay the £130.40 EMR-priced SSR or the AXC-priced SVR (just sad I can't go out via London and back via Bristol on the same ticket!) for Derby-Ryde Hoverport (DBY-XRD).

Now my idea would be
Day 1: Derby - Portsmouth (overnight Portsmouth)
Day 2: Portsmouth - Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight - Portsmouth (overnight Portsmouth)
Day 3: Portsmouth - Derby

I note the OUTBOUND break of journey guidelines associated with SSR/SVRs, but how does this work with the hovercraft? Do these tickets book onto a specific hovercraft service / can I make a reservation for a specific hovercraft service?

The 2V restriction on the Cross Country ticket (and linked with the EMR ticket) clearly suggests break of journey on the outbound is permitted, but how will that be seen by the hovercraft folks - If I arrive at the Southsea hovercraft terminal (outbound) on day two with a ticket dated the previous day, will they allow travel?

2V
Overnight Break of Journey is permitted under this restriction code, but the restriction applies for all individual legs of the journey at each intermediate station:
Outward (on day 2): Outward restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday.
Return: Return restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday.

One final thing: 2V says "not valid on TRAINS departing...", so does the before 0930 restriction also apply to the hovercraft and hoverbus (which are, of course, not trains)?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

RailUK Forums

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
sad I can't go out via London and back via Bristol on the same ticket!) for Derby-Ryde Hoverport (DBY-XRD)

First of all, breaking your journey overnight on the outward portion of an Off Peak or Super Off Peak ticket will get you hassle whether it's technically allowed or not. There is some debate over when this is allowed and when it isn't (the wording implies that you can only do it if it's not possible to do the journey in a day, e.g. Penzance-Wick) and we never get a conclusion to that on here because it's simply not well documented enough.

But regarding the above question, you can do that[1]. Buy the cheaper one, go to a ticket office and excess the desired half to the more expensive one for half of the difference in fare. You may find some ticket office staff won't know how to do this or will claim it can't be done and you need to try different places, annoyingly.

[1] In the sense of going one way out and the other back. However are you sure Bristol is a Permitted Route? It seems to be taking the mick to me. I'd suggest to avoid London you'd be going Derby-Brum-Reading-Southampton-Portsmouth.

ajs · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Hi all,
I'm starting off in Derby and I'm quite happy to pay the £130.40 EMR-priced SSR or the AXC-priced SVR (just sad I can't go out via London and back via Bristol on the same ticket!) for Derby-Ryde Hoverport (DBY-XRD).

Now my idea would be
Day 1: Derby - Portsmouth (overnight Portsmouth)
Day 2: Portsmouth - Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight - Portsmouth (overnight Portsmouth)
Day 3: Portsmouth - Derby

I note the OUTBOUND break of journey guidelines associated with SSR/SVRs, but how does this work with the hovercraft? Do these tickets book onto a specific hovercraft service

Perhaps consider getting the rail ticket from Derby to Portsmouth and buying the hovercraft ticket for travel on day 2, which will save any hassle on break of journey issue.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

Thanks very much for your answers @Bletchleyite

Bletchleyite said:
First of all, breaking your journey overnight on the outward portion of an Off Peak or Super Off Peak ticket will get you hassle whether it's technically allowed or not. There is some debate over when this is allowed and when it isn't (the wording implies that you can only do it if it's not possible to do the journey in a day, e.g. Penzance-Wick) and we never get a conclusion to that on here because it's simply not well documented enough.

Indeed, that's why I ask, but restriction 2V mentions Outward (on day 2) which I hoped might mean a more lenient approach on this ticket:

2V
Overnight Break of Journey is permitted under this restriction code, but the restriction applies for all individual legs of the journey at each intermediate station:
Outward (on day 2): Outward restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday.
Return: Return restrictions as above apply from the intermediate station, Monday-Friday.

Indeed with respect to the above I would be quite prepared to go with a rail-based BOJ armed with the evidence of the restriction code, but its how the Southsea hovercraft see it that is the concern.

Bletchleyite said:
Buy the cheaper one, go to a ticket office and excess the desired half to the more expensive one for half of the difference in fare. You may find some ticket office staff won't know how to do this or will claim it can't be done and you need to try different places, annoyingly.

Food for thought, thank you.

Bletchleyite said:
In the sense of going one way out and the other back. However are you sure Bristol is a Permitted Route? It seems to be taking the mick to me. I'd suggest to avoid London you'd be going Derby-Brum-Reading-Southampton-Portsmouth.

DBY-XRD is priced by EMR (SSR, £130.40 - via London) or by XC (SVR, £130.40 - not via London) and the journey planners show the XC £130.40 fare is valid via Bristol - indeed that is the route they recommend if one selects a Cross Country departure from Derby.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

ajs said:
Perhaps consider getting the rail ticket from Derby to Portsmouth and buying the hovercraft ticket for travel on day 2, which will save any hassle on break of journey issue.

Yes, thanks for the suggestion @ajs That's the other option albeit a bit more expensive.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

For what its worth, I note the Southsea-Ryde hovercraft is currently reservation only. If travelling on a combined rail ticket to Ryde Hoverport, separate reservations for the crossing have to be made through the Hovertravel website (although it doesn't ask for the rail ticket number at the time of making the reservation, it does insist customers have both their hovercraft reservation and rail ticket when they travel). So I make a hovercraft reservation for day 2, but the rail ticket says day 1 (although a BOJ is theoretically allowed even on the outbound). Seems like the potential for trouble to me!

yorkie · 22 Jul 2020

I'd contact Hovertravel.

My expectation is that their customer service will be far better than the low expectations I have from train companies.

As for the tickets, the SSR routed +Via London is equally valid to avoid London in this case. Staff can choose to issue you with a zero fare excess coupon if they wish!

I've not checked validity via BRI; will check now... Edit: it doesn't appear to be valid that way; which booking engine gave you an itinerary and can you produce the full itinerary in this thread for me to check it please?

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

Interestingly, National Rail allows me the £130.40 fare departing Derby in the evening, reaching Portsmouth around midnight, and continuing onward with the hoverbus / hovercraft on day 2. So I guess, armed with an itinerary that shows that (even if I actually travel earlier to Portsmouth), Hovertravel may accept the overnight break...

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Interestingly, National Rail allows me the £130.40 fare departing Derby in the evening, reaching Portsmouth around midnight, and continuing onward with the hoverbus / hovercraft on day 2. So I guess, armed with an itinerary that shows that (even if I actually travel earlier to Portsmouth), Hovertravel may accept the overnight break...

An itinerary like that is least likely to give you issues as it fits with "could not complete the journey in a day" to some extent at least.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

yorkie said:
I'd contact Hovertravel.

My expectation is that their customer service will be far better than the low expectations I have from train companies.

As for the tickets, the SSR routed +Via London is equally valid to avoid London in this case. Staff can choose to issue you with a zero fare excess coupon if they wish!

Thank you for those suggestions @yorkie - might go via London and then see if Portsmoth will issue a zero fare excess for the return via Bristol.

yorkie said:
I've not checked validity via BRI; will check now... Edit: it doesn't appear to be valid that way; which booking engine gave you an itinerary and can you produce the full itinerary in this thread for me to check it please?

National Rail Enquiries @yorkie
Outward: Depart Derby after 09:30 to Ryde Hoverport
Return: Depart Ryde Hoverport after 10:30 to Derby

NRE offers an itinerary 09:31 DBY-BRI-PMS-SHV-XRD 17:08 / 12:15 XRD-SHV-PMS-BRI-DBY 18:40 return fare £130.40, and passes through to the Cross Country website for ticketing.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

National Rail Enquiries

Outward: Depart Derby after 09:30 to Ryde Hoverport
Return: Depart Ryde Hoverport after 10:30 to Derby

Day 1
09:30 Derby - Bristol Temple Meads 11:31
12:22 Bristol Temple Meads - Portsmouth & Southsea 14:46
15:12 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southsea Hoverport 15:20
15:30 Southsea Hoverport - Ryde Hoverport 15:40

Day 3
12:15 Ryde Hoverport - Southsea Hoverport 12:25
12:26 Southsea Hoverport - Portsmouth and Southsea 12:41
13:37 Portsmouth & Southsea - Bristol Temple Meads 15:49
16:35 Bristol Temple Meads - Derby 18:40

Priced £130.40, off peak return, ticket provider Cross Country Trains - the Cross Country website goes at least as far as making [counted] reservations and requests payment.

Strangely, NRE will not offer me a return from Derby to Portsmouth & Southsea via Bristol Temple Meads (even if I specify via Bristol), but it is offering me the Ryde Hoverport return via Bristol.

ForTheLoveOf · 22 Jul 2020

Bletchleyite said:
However are you sure Bristol is a Permitted Route? It seems to be taking the mick to me. I'd suggest to avoid London you'd be going Derby-Brum-Reading-Southampton-Portsmouth.

Really? I know you are an authoritarian at heart but it's hardly "taking the mick" to use the only one-change option (at least, in the current timetable). There's no intermediate undercut fare. Unfortunately you are correct that it's not a permitted route in theory - of course if a booking engine will issue tickets that way, then all the better for the OP.

NB for the OP's benefit, it may be cheaper to split tickets somewhere like Portsmouth, which could then also eliminate any issues regarding the overnight break of journey.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

ForTheLoveOf said:
Unfortunately you are correct that it's not a permitted route in theory - of course if a booking engine will issue tickets that way, then all the better for the OP.

See above, itinerary offered by NRE with ticket provider Cross Country.

ForTheLoveOf said:
NB for the OP's benefit, it may be cheaper to split tickets somewhere like Portsmouth, which could then also eliminate any issues regarding the overnight break of journey.

I'm quite up to explore splits myself but [again strangely] trainsplit doesn't even offer me a fare as low as £130.40 at all - trainsplit's cheapest fare is £136.20

trebor79 · 22 Jul 2020

Couldn't you just go to IoW on day 1 and overnight there to avoid any potential hassle? The hovercraft journey doesn't take very long and parts of IoW are nicer than Portsmouth to overnight.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Thank you for those suggestions @yorkie - might go via London and then see if Portsmoth will issue a zero fare excess for the return via Bristol.

I have never successfully obtained a zero fare excess before boarding. You are much more likely to meet success (and it will be cheaper!) if you buy the cheaper ticket and excess the outward to via London.

yorkie · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
National Rail Enquiries

Outward: Depart Derby after 09:30 to Ryde Hoverport
Return: Depart Ryde Hoverport after 10:30 to Derby

Day 1
09:30 Derby - Bristol Temple Meads 11:31
12:22 Bristol Temple Meads - Portsmouth & Southsea 14:46
15:12 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southsea Hoverport 15:20
15:30 Southsea Hoverport - Ryde Hoverport 15:40

Day 3
12:15 Ryde Hoverport - Southsea Hoverport 12:25
12:26 Southsea Hoverport - Portsmouth and Southsea 12:41
13:37 Portsmouth & Southsea - Bristol Temple Meads 15:49
16:35 Bristol Temple Meads - Derby 18:40

Priced £130.40, off peak return, ticket provider Cross Country Trains - the Cross Country website goes at least as far as making [counted] reservations and requests payment.

Strangely, NRE will not offer me a return from Derby to Portsmouth & Southsea via Bristol Temple Meads (even if I specify via Bristol), but it is offering me the Ryde Hoverport return via Bristol.

How odd; NRE tells me "No fares available" when I search for a single. But when I search for a return, it will offer to sell the Off Peak Return ticket. I then searched for a single again and now it is offering the Off Peak Single.

A search using the XC site specifying via Bristol says "No tickets are available" when I search for a single or a return.

But the XC website will trust NRE to provide a valid itinerary, so it will sell the fare if you can get an itinerary for a through fare on NRE.

This looks like a SilverRail bug, so you may want to buy it before they realise and fix it!

Bletchleyite said:
I have never successfully obtained a zero fare excess before boarding. You are much more likely to meet success (and it will be cheaper!) if you buy the cheaper ticket and excess the outward to via London.

Except it's the same price in this case.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2020

So it is! Sorry, I somehow missed that. In that case it could be argued that both tickets are de-facto valid both ways, but you might as well buy the +LONDON one because that gets you the Tube validity.

Skymonster · 22 Jul 2020

Bletchleyite said:
So it is! Sorry, I somehow missed that. In that case it could be argued that both tickets are de-facto valid both ways, but you might as well buy the +LONDON one because that gets you the Tube validity.

Yeah, and good luck to me trying to explain to a Cross Country guard who’s doing a ticket check that a ticket routed “Via London” is valid via Bristol, especially after what @yorkie has just said.

ForTheLoveOf · 22 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Yeah, and good luck to me trying to explain to a Cross Country guard who’s doing a ticket check that a ticket routed “Via London” is valid via Bristol, especially after what @yorkie has just said.

If it weren't for the fact that it's not a permitted route you'd be fine - you'd simply ask them to excess it to the appropriate route. Because Bristol is only on a permitted route if you buy it together with an itinerary I'd buy it for the Bristol route and then obtain an excess for via London (if you can).

yorkie · 22 Jul 2020

ForTheLoveOf said:
If it weren't for the fact that it's not a permitted route you'd be fine - you'd simply ask them to excess it to the appropriate route. Because Bristol is only on a permitted route if you buy it together with an itinerary I'd buy it for the Bristol route and then obtain an excess for via London (if you can).

Yep do the latter; if you can't get the excess before London, use PAYG to cross London.

lightbulb · 22 Jul 2020

It's actually cheaper to split in Portsmouth. SSR Derby - Portsmouth Stations is £108.40 (both rte LONDON and rte NOT LONDON), and the CDR Portsmouth Stations - Shanklin rte HOVERTRAVEL is £21.70 (or an SDR for £21.90 if you're traveling outward before 0845). Total of £130.10 or £130.30.
You'll need to make a reservation on the hovercraft in both directions online. If you don't, or you miss the booked "flight" you'll be put into a standby queue, and accommodated on the next "flight" available.

lightbulb · 23 Jul 2020

You haven't mentioned whether you want to do only one return trip on the Island Line, but if you want unlimited travel on the Island Line for the day, then the Island Line Day Ranger is £6.50. The cheapest day return on Hovertravel is £18.80 (Portsmouth - Ryde St Johns Road), so for Hover and Island Line, that would be a total of £25.30, plus SSR Derby - Portsmouth £108.40, = £143.70.

If you want unlimited travel on both the Island Line and the IOW Steam Railway, the Island Liner Rover is £17.50.

bspahh · 23 Jul 2020

It might be worth getting a Network Railcard. You won't pay for the £30 fee from this trip, but you could get 1/3rd off on the off peak tickets from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. It could also save money if you want for split tickets to go via London one way and Bristol the other.

MotCO · 23 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Interestingly, National Rail allows me the £130.40 fare departing Derby in the evening, reaching Portsmouth around midnight, and continuing onward with the hoverbus / hovercraft on day 2. So I guess, armed with an itinerary that shows that (even if I actually travel earlier to Portsmouth), Hovertravel may accept the overnight break...

If you print out this itinerary, even if you travel earlier, would Hoverspeed also want to inspect the rail ticket, which presumably would not tie up with the itinerary? Is your proposed ticket for a specific train or any train?

lightbulb · 23 Jul 2020

They asked to see both the print-out of the reservation and the rail ticket when I travelled earlier this month.

Skymonster · 23 Jul 2020

Thank you for all the feedback. I emailed Hovertravel and they said that if I could produce an itinerary that showed a departure from my origin (in this case Derby) on day one, and a hovercraft crossing on day two they would accept an "out" rail ticket dated for the previous day - making it possible, effectively, to break overnight in Portsmouth on the way out. They also said that even if the itinerary listed the first hovercraft departure from Southsea at 06:30, I could reserve a seat on a later crossing (crossings have to be reserved with hovertravel at the moment - and if travelling on a rail ticket that has to be done at least two days in advance) instead.

MotCO · 23 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Thank you for all the feedback. I emailed Hovertravel and they said that if I could produce an itinerary that showed a departure from my origin (in this case Derby) on day one, and a hovercraft crossing on day two they would accept an "out" rail ticket dated for the previous day - making it possible, effectively, to break overnight in Portsmouth on the way out. They also said that even if the itinerary listed the first hovercraft departure from Southsea at 06:30, I could reserve a seat on a later crossing (crossings have to be reserved with hovertravel at the moment - and if travelling on a rail ticket that has to be done at least two days in advance) instead.

Good outcome. Common sense prevails!

paul1609 · 23 Jul 2020

Skymonster said:
Thank you for all the feedback. I emailed Hovertravel and they said that if I could produce an itinerary that showed a departure from my origin (in this case Derby) on day one, and a hovercraft crossing on day two they would accept an "out" rail ticket dated for the previous day - making it possible, effectively, to break overnight in Portsmouth on the way out. They also said that even if the itinerary listed the first hovercraft departure from Southsea at 06:30, I could reserve a seat on a later crossing (crossings have to be reserved with hovertravel at the moment - and if travelling on a rail ticket that has to be done at least two days in advance) instead.

Doesn't surprise me, I think people sometimes think Hovertravel is a bigger organisation than it is. You were most likely emailing aunty Agnes in her front room in Ryde very helpful and customer oriented imhx

route101 · 25 Jul 2020

I used Hovercraft last Tuesday , booked online the night before £24 quid return. Bit steep , though the ferries are steepish too.

Annoyingly as i only had my phone , the bus and hover combo ticket wasnt coming up to book , maybe my phone issue.

I booked the 715am from Southsea and 1700 from Ryde , both these sailings did not exist , they were every half hourly. Was lucky to get on the 7am and 445pm (On Standby)

Chris125 · 28 Jul 2020

lightbulb said:
If you want unlimited travel on both the Island Line and the IOW Steam Railway, the Island Liner Rover is £17.50.

You currently have to pre-book Steam Railway tickets if your joining at Smallbrook (or Wootton) due to Covid-19, so unlimited travel won't be possible unfortunately.

Ryde Hoverport with break of journey

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