Is this new?

[whole diary]

[bigdaz]

If I am using correct data, is it not beneficial to any traveller going between RDG^‡(resolve) and PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) during the Off-Peak availability to buy a Thames Valley Branches rover ticket ^16.40 as opposed to a Off Peak Day Day Return of ^16.50?

[bigdaz]

OK it would seem that there are a number of different ways Rovers work out to be cheaper than walk-on  fares. E.g. Savings can be made on a FOSW^▸ (Freedom of (the) South West Rover) rover 3 in 7 compared to, for example, RDG^‡(resolve) to PNZ walk on SVR or SSR.

This being the case... why can't ticket machines be programmed to a financial threshold [given the information provided by the traveller a propos their return journey and times] above which a rover is automatically issued as the cheapest ticket for the journey?

And, as a poll, how many forum members have EVER been offered the option of a Rover by a ticket office as the cheapest ticket option for their journey??

[LiskeardRich]

And, as a poll, how many forum members have EVER been offered the option of a Rover by a ticket office as the cheapest ticket option for their journey??

Once by a first cornwall bus driver on a falmouth to penzance bus.

[Devon Big Bird]

Was sold a Miseryside Day Ranger at Roby station a few months back by the ticket office as I'd save money around Liverpool, and although not railway - many of the drivers for Stagecoach issue you a Niterider for ^2.00 as a default ticket in the evenings as it's cheaper (than for example a single from Newton Abbot to Torquay).

[bigdaz]

I too have had bus drivers offer it but never yet been offered it by a rail ticket office

[devon_metro]

Was sold a Miseryside Day Ranger at Roby station a few months back by the ticket office as I'd save money around Liverpool, and although not railway - many of the drivers for Stagecoach issue you a Niterider for ^2.00 as a default ticket in the evenings as it's cheaper (than for example a single from Newton Abbot to Torquay).

Similarly Dayriders in the day, since shockingly ^4.70 is cheaper than a lot of the single fares on Stagecoach.

[ChrisB]

Almost always on the buses, its very rarely the case on the trains.

[readytostart]

And, as a poll, how many forum members have EVER been offered the option of a Rover by a ticket office as the cheapest ticket option for their journey??

As a teenager I was always sold a one day Centrocard (or Daytripper after 0930) for my journeys between Stourbridge and Solihull.

[JayMac]

There are actually quite a few Day Ranger type tickets that are cheaper than point-to-point fares over routes they cover.

Cherwell Valley Day Ranger ^7.40. Banbury - Reading CDS^▸ (Off Peak Day Single [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) ^11.10

Heart of Wessex Day Ranger ^15.90. Bristol TM^‡(resolve) - Weymouth CDS ^16.40

Cambrian Coaster Day Ranger ^9.80. Machynlleth - Pwllheli SDS ^14.50

Cheshire Day Ranger ^19.00. Whitchurch (Shropshire) - New Brighton SDS ^20.30

East Midlands Day Ranger ^31.00. Peterborough - Crewe SVR ^52.80

Hadrian's Wall Country Line Day Ranger ^19.00. Sunderland - Ravenglass SDS ^26.90

Tyne & Tees Day Ranger ^18.00. Whitby - Hexham SDS ^21.30

Derbyshire Wayfarer Ranger ^10.50. Sheffield - Burton-on-Trent SVR ^23.90

West Midlands Day Ranger ^21.60. Hereford - Northampton SOS ^28.40

Heart of Wales Circular Day Ranger ^32.00. Llanelli - Hereford SDS ^35.70

Off-Peak Freedom Travelpass Zones ABC: Bristol, Bath & Weston ^11.60. Freshford - Weston-super-Mare SDS ^13.40

All comparisons are with the cheapest fare for a single journey between points covered by the Ranger and valid when the Ranger is valid.

Should any of the point-to-point examples I've listed be asked for, when the corresponding Ranger type ticket is valid, then it should be the Ranger that is sold. Whether they are though, I have my doubts.

[paul7575]

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) since Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) was fully adopted, an offpeak day travelcard (basically an 'all modes' rover ticket) is the default return fare offered at ticket offices and TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) for many NR^» (Network Rail - home page) offpeak returns within London, it is also the fare normally shown on journey planners.

Paul

[smokey]

I'm sure that Truro booking office would sell a ride Cornwall ticket instead of a Plymouth Return as the Ride Cornwall ticket was 10p cheaper, I believe when the powers caught on the Plymouth return ticket became cheaper.

[old original]

I'm sure that Truro booking office would sell a ride Cornwall ticket instead of a Plymouth Return as the Ride Cornwall ticket was 10p cheaper, I believe when the powers caught on the Plymouth return ticket became cheaper.

I think the staff there are on the ball. Ride Cornwall (^10) are valid after 0900 but off peak day tickets are not valid until 09.10, but I've always found that they will offer the cheaper one if you turn up for the 09.04 departure.

[trainbuff]

Yes that is correcct. You should see how many Ride Cornwall Tickets are issued at Truro for the 09.04 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) departure.

This is quite correctly the cheapest deal!

[old original]

...especially with a YP railcard, no minimum fare on a rover/ranger 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

...especially with a YP railcard, no minimum fare on a rover/ranger 

it still applies !

on the subject of rovers being offered as an alternative i do it, especially the evening rover