Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Fare's Fair => Topic started by: grahame on May 28, 2019, 17:21:50



Title: Reaching Rover
Post by: grahame on May 28, 2019, 17:21:50
OK ... I'm planning on a North East Rover from this Thursday through to the following Wednesday ... looking for an interesting and value route from Melksham onto the Rover area and back ... with a senior card.   Best I have come up  with so far is a Melksham to Sheffield off peak return not via London at £67.35 ... unless anyone can spot something better?  Appears to allow all sorts of interesting routings - Melksham, Chippenham, Reading, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Derby, Sheffield for example.  Also Melksham, Chippenham, Bristol Temple Meads, Sheffield - but not Melksham, Trowbridge, Bristol Temple Meads, Sheffield although a more expensive "via Chesterfield" does allow that ...

Alternative points to pick up the rover ... Retford and Carlisle


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: Celestial on May 28, 2019, 17:33:27
This week London to Sheffield services are going via Corby and Melton Mowbray, so that would be a more interesting route than the usual way if you were willing to go via London and pay a bit more.


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: grahame on May 29, 2019, 06:59:27
This week London to Sheffield services are going via Corby and Melton Mowbray, so that would be a more interesting route than the usual way if you were willing to go via London and pay a bit more.

That is very tempting ... an extra £20 would let me travel "super off peak via Chesterfield" rather that "Off peak not via London". However ...

Off Peak / not London
Quote
Outward & Return:    NOT VALID ON ANY TRAIN BEFORE 0930 MON-FRI

Super off peak via Chesterfield
Quote
Outward:    VALID M-F 1005-1534 & 1847-0015.
Return:    VALID TO ARRIVE INTO LONDON AFTER 1130 MON-FRI

And I really want to catch the 10:02 rather than have to wait until lunchtime to start!  The return journey on the Super Off Peak is also an interesting condition - looks like it is valid from Paddington in the evening peak?

Off Peak via Chesterfield (allowing the 10:02) would put the price up from £67.35 to £138.35 ... and anytime (allowing the 07:20 or 07:50) to £228.30 - and those figures are after railcard discount.


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: Celestial on May 29, 2019, 08:37:56
I guess if you bought a single to Chippenham you would then be after 1005, though that is putting the cost up even more.


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: jamestheredengine on May 29, 2019, 14:06:49
Looking at the detail of the CJ restriction code, it says:

Outward Travel   Return Travel
Not valid on trains timed to depart:

London St Pancras International after 04:29 and before 10:04 or after 15:35 until 18:46;
Bedford after 04:29 and before 10:30.

So the 1005 time doesn't mean at Melksham or Chippenham!


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: grahame on May 31, 2019, 06:24:42
The booking engine didn't want me to travel on a Sheffield to Melksham via Chesterfield super-off-peak out of London  late afternoon ... and I really didn't want any hassle at Paddington if I followed the printed letter rather than the online implementation of the rules.  Also need maximum flexibility on my return as it looks like I'm straight into a meeting.  SO ... Corby to Melton Mowbray and Syston north curve need to wait / be taken on a Midland trip on the regular daily train.   Idea was an excellent one - thanks for flagging it up.  Just not quite "bull".

You'll see in the "Lighter side" than I made it up 'ere (posting from Darlington where I stayed last night) and am having an educational few days.   Haven't hit a Pacer on any of the trains I'm planning to take yet ...


Title: Re: Reaching Rover
Post by: grahame on June 05, 2019, 19:10:29
I's back ... 44 trains, 4 other transits, in 7 days. A lot seen and a lot learned.  So I don't forget ...

Melksham - Chippenham
Chippenham - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Darlington

Darlington - York
York - Leeds
Leeds - Ilkley
Ilkley -Shipley
Shipley - Saltaire
Saltaire - Bingley
Bingley - Keithley
Keithley - Skipton
Skipton - Carlisle
Carlisle - Newcastle
Newcastle - Chathill
Chathill - Morpeth
Morpeth - Darlington

Darlington - Retford
Retford - Barnetby
Barnetby - Doncaster
Doncaster - York for meeting
York - Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough - Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland - Darlington

Darlington - Grosmont
Grosmont - Whitby (by heritage service)
Whitby - Saltburn beach (by bus)
Saltburn Beach - Cliff Top (by Cliff lift)
Saltburn - Eaglescliffe
Eaglesciffe - Teeside Airport
Teeside Airport - Dinsdale (on foot)
Dinsdale - Darlington

Darlington - York
York - Hull
Hull - Scarborough
Scarborough - York
York - Knaresborough
Knaresborough - Leeds
Leeds - Goole
Goole - Doncaster
Doncaster - Darlington

Darlington - Shildon
Shildon - Darlington
Darlington - York
York - Berwick upon Tweed
Berwick upon Tweed - Darlington

Darlington - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Chippenham
Chippenham - Melksham

Perhaps a Midlands trip at some future date ... and that can include north from Corby ... you'll spot one or two infrequent lines in the list above!



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