Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi!

I'm getting a 8-In-15 day FOSW rover, and could I use this ticket on the Night Riveara?

Thanks,
Jim.

You can, of course, use the FOSW Rover on its own in this area:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/managed/promotions/pra7ebd70a04000400ab63191d753a5b/areaMap/Freedom_of_South_West.pdf

So absolutely fine to use it on the Night Riviera between Penzance and Taunton (seated - Sundays excepted*) or vice versa.

However, should you wish to use the Sleeper beyond Taunton, you can use your Rover in combination with a walk-up ticket to/from Taunton** (if the Night Riviera is on its usual route). You still need to pay extra if you want a berth.

*The Sunday Sleeper doesn't call at Taunton, so you can only use your FOSW Rover from the south-west as far as Exeter St Davids.

**It's also potentially possible to use a FOSW Rover in combination with a ticket to/from Westbury, but this option is a bit of a grey area. Using a FOSW Rover in combination with a walk-up fare to/from Westbury is possibly allowed under the terms of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/misc/NRCOC.pdf) (para. 19 part (c)). The Night Riviera doesn't call at Westbury but the combination of a 'Leisure Travel Pass' (which is what the FOSW is) plus a walk up ticket precludes the need for the service you are on needing to call at the point where your tickets split. Whether the Westbury avoiding line fulfils this criteria is open to debate.

Bear in mind the 9am restrictions on the FOSW rendering it useless unless you are on the up/down Friday workings

It would be valid any day on the Up Sleeper as far as Taunton though. And beyond in combination with a TAU-RDG/PAD ticket.

Well yes, however if merely using the fosw rover you are stranded in Taunton till 9am

Presumably - without debate - you could split in this way at Bruton.   What happens with the split if the service runs via Yeovil Junction or via Temple Meads on the night in question?

You are invalid!

So best be sure of its route before deciding where to split!!

Do we know for sure that that is the case.  you could still be taking the same "route"  as shown for example in the rooting guide (which doesn't show avioding lines) despite actually running over different bits of track.