Through Ticketing to/from Kingswear (for Dartmouth) now live

[Wilts Wanderer]

Thought I’d bring this to people’s attention in case it’s passed beneath the radar.

Since yesterday (13th June) it is now possible to book through tickets between stations on the GWR network and Kingswear (for Dartmouth) on the Dartmouth Steam Railway (DSR). If you go online at GWR.com the options are available in their online journey planner, including full timetable details for the steam railway legs. NOTE this facility is only available for Kingswear itself, not the intermediate stations.

Currently National Rail does not offer Kingswear as a journeyplanner option but its available through GWR site and some other TOCs.

The journey timings themselves are of course limited by the timings of the steam railway, to my understanding the minimum connectional time at Paignton has been set at 10 minutes to allow foot passengers time to transfer via the level crossing / overbridge.

 

[BayPaul]

Very good news, though it seems strange that they haven't included Dartmouth as a station as well, since most tickets sold on the steam railway include the ferry to Dartmouth.

The steam railway isn't calling in Churston or Goodrington at present, so that's presumably why those stations weren't included.

 

[OscarH]

I believe the intention may be to expand to full network but currently National Rail does not offer Kingswear as a journeyplanner option, so it’s only possible via the GWR site.

Any retailer should be able to sell them, not just the GWR website, though some do appear to be having issues (On Track Retail doesn't show the destination for me, and trainline finds no results), but LNER (only from GWR stations of course) and TrainSplit are both happily retailing these tickets too

 

[SargeNpton]

Very good news, though it seems strange that they haven't included Dartmouth as a station as well, since most tickets sold on the steam railway include the ferry to Dartmouth.

The steam railway isn't calling in Churston or Goodrington at present, so that's presumably why those stations weren't included.

The ticket includes the ferry crossing.

 

[saxsux]

Very good news, though it seems strange that they haven't included Dartmouth as a station as well, since most tickets sold on the steam railway include the ferry to Dartmouth.

The steam railway isn't calling in Churston or Goodrington at present, so that's presumably why those stations weren't included.

The information from GWR is that the ticket is valid for a journey across the river too, on the DSRRB foot passenger ferry.
Funnily, the local press covered the story with a headline like "Train fans flock to town with no railway line".

Any retailer should be able to sell them, not just the GWR website, though some do appear to be having issues (On Track Retail doesn't show the destination for me, and trainline finds no results), but LNER (only from GWR stations of course) and TrainSplit are both happily retailing these tickets too

It's surprising that they journey isn't available on National Rail Enquiries...

 

[OscarH]

It's surprising that they journey isn't available on National Rail Enquiries...

It looks like it might be disabled in the industry data that determines what NRE shows. Its possible other retailers where its hidden completely are also basing it off that field, though retailers aren't required to use that field

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Any retailer should be able to sell them, not just the GWR website, though some do appear to be having issues (On Track Retail doesn't show the destination for me, and trainline finds no results), but LNER (only from GWR stations of course) and TrainSplit are both happily retailing these tickets too

Thanks, I've edited my original post to avoid confusing anyone.

 

[BayPaul]

The information from GWR is that the ticket is valid for a journey across the river too, on the DSRRB foot passenger ferry.
Funnily, the local press covered the story with a headline like "Train fans flock to town with no railway line".


It's surprising that they journey isn't available on National Rail Enquiries...

Even better - though surely a ticket to Dartmouth via Kingswear would be more logical. The station's signboards say "Kingswear for Dartmouth" so it isn't immediately apparent that the ferry is included.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Even better - though surely a ticket to Dartmouth via Kingswear would be more logical. The station's signboards say "Kingswear for Dartmouth" so it isn't immediately apparent that the ferry is included.

The journey planner certainly should only refer to Kingswear; if the departure time was shown as Dartmouth then intending passengers can wave at it as it departs on the other side of the river!
(Perhaps there is a dependency between ticket and journey planner destination? Although it should be possible to show ‘includes Dartmouth ferry’ or similar on the ticket.)

 

[Flinn Reed]

Unlike other comments here, journeys to Kingswear do seem to be showing on National Rail - including from stations beyond the GWR network. Also on some other websites such as SplitTicketing, but not on the trainline.

Noticed that some prices on split ticketing (only involving one ticket though) are much cheaper than the same journey booked on GWR - assuming these are still valid?

 

[yorkie]

Unlike other comments here, journeys to Kingswear do seem to be showing on National Rail - including from stations beyond the GWR network. Also on some other websites such as SplitTicketing, but not on the trainline.

Noticed that some prices on split ticketing (only involving one ticket though) are much cheaper than the same journey booked on GWR - assuming these are still valid?

Can you elaborate please?

 

[Flinn Reed]

Can you elaborate please?

Looked up a particular journey from London (including tube connection to Paddington) to Kingswear. On Train Split, this worked out as about £130 - but with no split ticketing involved, just one super off peak return.

Meanwhile the same ticket booked direct on GWR worked out at about £190.

 

[yorkie]

Ah, that's comparing the Super Off Peak Return with the Off peak Return.

Providing you travel at times when the Super Off Peak Return is valid (a booking website will calculate this automatically) the cheaper fare is fine.

If you decide to return at a time when the Off Peak is required, the excess is the full difference, and can be paid on the train.