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This summer, the family are going to be visiting Devon.  We're looking at travelling by train around Devon.  Have seen the Devon Day Ranger ticket but it isn't available online.

Just a hypothetical situation, if we were to travel from a SWT station (probably Axminster) where the ticket office is closed but the ticket machine is working and penalty fares are in operation, how do we go about buying the ranger?  The journey we would be making would be Axminster to Exeter St Davids, then travelling further on FGW (yay!).  Do we have to buy a single to Exeter then exchange this for a ranger as soon as possible (i.e. from the guard or at Exeter station)?  If we have to buy it at Exeter station, how do we get to the ticket office because surely the ticket barrier will gobble up our tickets?

I understand these can be bought in advance over the phone, but we won't be able to commit to dates until we get there.

Thanks

i had the same thought myself and have never had an answer! my preferances are digby, whimple when i use the train ( free parking) honiton is manned but i dont see why i should have to pay to park grrr

You buy it on the train

penalty fair zone...

You buy the cheapest possible ticket from Axminster to get you on the train - that covers you for boarding a train in a penalty fair zone - THEN you buy the ranger on the train.

At least, thats what I'd do.  (Actually, unless they had barriers I'd just buy it on the train using the reasonable argument that it was impossible to buy the ticket I wanted as the TVM doesnt sell it and the station ticket office is closed!)

I repeat, you buy the ticket on the train. If you are unable to buy it elsewhere what on earth can they say against you?

to be fair im willing to bet the penalty fair is hardly ever enforced anyway...

I'm inclined to agree with devon_metro on this one: if you join the train at Axminster (in Devon) when the ticket office is closed and the TVM is unable to sell you a Devon Day Ranger - you can only buy it on the train?  ;)

i have asked previously why you are unable to buy a ranger or rover at the machine, and also why they print your name on the ticket, can the guards machine do this.... what do i know  :)

Fair question, relex109!  ;)

Could any of our FGW staff / ticket experts here on the forum possibly answer this point, please?  :)

If there is one, use a permit to travel machine. If not when you get on, just tell the guard you would like a ranger ticket. If they don't know how to issue it they will tell you to get it when you get off.
As for penalty fares, SWT don't operate them West of Salisbury and FGW's scheme is not yet in place.

According to the National Rail website, Penalty Fares are in operation from Axminster.  AFAIK, only SWT stop there.
I'd also be worried about someone at the gate at Exeter being difficult.

Thanks for all your help.  I think my easiest option is probably just to buy this over the phone before we go and collect it from the machine at Axminster (assuming the machine can issue telesales bookings for rangers!)

no it cant but im pretty sure that axminster is manned from pretty early in the morning, alternative is the day before go to your nearest station and ask for  ticket for the next day they should be able to do it in advance and i would think you could buy it from anywhere in the country

Yeh, you would be fine buying a day in advance.
You can't get penalty fared anywhere west of Salisbury on SWT, they clearly advertise the scheme isn't in place in those areas. And FGW have not got the right legal documentation to issue penalty fares either. Axminster is manned most the day anyway I thought, certainly was when I visited in the afternoon.

im sure axminster is manned from 545 due to the very early waterloo train but dont quote me on this

from the network rail station guide i advise you to phone first

Very useful - thanks everyone :)

Axminster does have a "PERTIS" Permit to Travel machine, so try getting something from that, otherwise see the guard once he/she has closed the doors. They should be at the back, so not far from the car park entrance.

Shouldn't see a problem buying it on the train but best to see the guard before you get on the train to save any miss-understanding, if the guard doesn't know how to issue it it's in the avantix under "Rover enquiry" and to type in "devon" and it should come up with a list for the guard.

Brilliant - thanks, vacman!  ;) :D ;D

Why are the Rangers so hard to find on the Advantix machines?

I was travelling on the "Heart of Wales" line, I was about to pay for a Craven Arms to Swansea return - v expensive, as I wanted "any permitted route" so I could return via Newport - but a fellow passenger pointed out this "Heart of Wales day rover/ranger", which cost a lot less than the fare I was on the brink of paying.

But it took the guard ages to find the ticket. He went to the rear cab (of the Class 153) and found a file with all the rovers in, and we were the best part of 30 mins into the journey before I was finally sold the rover! (with many stops in between)

Any ideas? (particularly to guards like Vacman)

And as a side topic, why is a rover cheaper than a return ticket? ???

It only seems to be Arriva's rovers that are cheaper than SDR/CDR, for Example, Aberystwyth to Pwlhelli is about ^12 SDR (no CDR avail) yet you can get a Cambrian rover for about ^7!

Fgw rovers mean local fares are capped. Barnstaple - Gunnislake CDR for ^9.50 for example.

I believe rovers are under secondary services, so perhaps guards simply havnt been trained sufficiently to issue them.

Thanks, everyone!

(However, before we cause TerminalJunkie an apoplexy, may I gently point out that the correct spelling is 'Avantix': see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avantix_Mobile ) ;) :D ;D

Thanks for clarifying! I never seem to know how to spell that word. What does it mean anyway? What's wrong with "Fares Manual"? ???

According to SWT's website, the booking office hours at Axminster are:

Monday-Friday: 06:15-17:00
Saturday: 07:15-13:05
Sunday: not yet supplied

Given their recent efforts to cut staffing costs, I would trust these more than Network Rail or National Rail Inquiries.

Rovers aren't hard to issue, it's just guards aren't trained on them. They don't use the standard method of typing two stations in and getting a list of fares. They have to go to the main menu, select a different sub menu, then finally Rover Enquiry, which implies it is only for looking up Rover Fares, not for issuing them.