Engineering Work and Rail Rovers

[Goatboy]

Hi guys,

I have an 8 in 15 day Freedom of the Severn And Solent Ranger ticket.

On Sunday afternoon I need to travel from Great Malvern to Tiverton Parkway. This is usually reasonably straightforward - Malvern to Cheltenham Spa, Cheltenham Spa to Tiverton Parkway. However on this occasion the line is closed between Gloucester and Bristol Parkway for engineering works which has resulted in many re-timings.

The only routes the online journey planner is throwing up are either via Reading (Which is obviously ridiculous) or the more common route via Hereford and Newport (Gwent).

My Rail Rover is not valid on trains between Great Malvern and Hereford and Newport, nor between Bristol Parkway and Newport. Does this still apply when the regular services are unavailable due to engineering works?

Even if I could get myself to Cheltenham the CrossCountry service from Chelt to Tiverton is itself diverted via Newport anyway.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[yorkie]

Well, firstly if a train is diverted away from its normal route, then any ticket that would normally valid, remain valid. In addition, any tickets that are valid via the new route are also valid.

For example, we got ATOC to confirm that East Coast (EC) services that are diverted via Carlisle must accept Rte Carlisle tickets, the specific example we asked for was Preston to Edinburgh Route Carlisle, became valid on EC trains between York and Edinburgh via Carlisle.

And for the opposite example, if the sleeper - which normally goes via Lancaster - was booked via Berwick, Route Lancaster tickets would remain valid.

That's direct trains dealt with, but it gets more complex if the train isn't direct. If they are advising passengers to take longer routes, then those longer routes have to be valid for all tickets that would be valid via the normal route. But if they are advising you to get a replacement bus instead, it then becomes a bit tricky...

What are the train operating companies (TOCs) advising you? I tried looking it up but the only engineering work listed on the National Rail website for this Sunday in that area appears to be on FGW between Stonehouse & Gloucester.

 

[Lrd]

If it helps, CrossCountry are diverting via Newport as said above, and FGW are running buses according to the announcements at Bristol Temple Meads earlier this evening. I think I saw it mentioned that it was only till 1510 on a XC poster though...

 

[Goatboy]

If I use the NRES journey planner it tells me to change at Hereford and Newport, or at Reading. Reading is so far off the allowed route I'm not even going to try it, but Hererford and Newport seems the most sensible suggestion.

I'm just worried about whether I can use my Rover.

 

[sonic2009]

Your ticket is valid from Newport to Bristol Parkway.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/manag...2e8fa4b2/areaMap/Freedom_of_Severn_Solent.pdf

Your first train via Hereford is not until 1222 with a change at Hereford and Newport, with an arrival time of 1626 at Tiverton Parkway Yes it's not valid and if you choose to go this way, your likely to need a single ticket to Newport which will cost £18.20 Single.

Your first train via Worcester and Cheltenham is 1359, with an arrival time of 1832 at Tiverton Parkway You have a 52 min wait at Cheltenham Spa.

Personally i would save myself the £18.00 and just go via Cheltenham Spa