FGW area Rover and Ranger price increases from 17th May 2015

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Thankfully only modest price increases to most of these multi-use leisure tickets.

SOUTH WEST

Freedom of Devon & Cornwall Rover
3 in 7 from ^45.00 to ^46.00
8 in 15 from ^69.00 to ^70.50

Freedom of the Severn & Solent Rover
3 in 7  from ^45.00 to ^46.00
8 in 15 from ^69.00 to ^70.50

Freedom of the South West:
3 in 7  from ^79.00 to ^80.90
8 in 15 from ^109.00 to ^111.50

The Looe Valley Day Explorer increases by 10p to ^5.10. The St Ives Bay Line Day Ranger was also due to increase by 10p to ^4.10 but this price rise has been put on hold due to issues with the amount of cash change required.

I've not yet found out whether the other line specific Rangers in Devon and Cornwall (Maritime, Atlantic Coast, Tamar Valley, Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter)) are increasing in price.

Dartmoor Sunday Rover (^10.00), Devon Day Ranger (^10.00), Devon Evening Ranger (^5.00), Heart of Wessex Day Ranger (^19.00), and Ride Cornwall (^10.00) all remain unchanged.


THAMES VALLEY

Thames Rover
3 Day from ^45.00 to ^46.10
7 Day from ^79.00 to ^80.90

Thames Branches Day Ranger
from ^19.00 to ^19.45

Cotswolds Discoverer
1 Day from ^10.00 to ^10.25
3 Day from ^25.00 to ^25.60

Kennet Day Ranger
from ^13.50 to ^13.80

North Downs Day Ranger
from ^15.50 to ^15.85

Oxfordshire Day Ranger
from ^15.50 to ^15.85

Oxford Evening Out
from ^3.00 to ^3.05

Cherwell Day Ranger
Banbury - Oxford from ^3.10 to ^3.15
Banbury - Didcot from ^5.20 to ^5.30
Banbury to Reading from ^7.40 to ^7.55


As I said, all very modest, around a 2-3% price increase where applied. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are to be congratulated for not being excessive with the price increases to these unregulated products.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Many thanks for the BNM. I have some time off at the end of May and have often fancied exploring some of these branch lines - this could just be the excuse

I found an online resource showing the validity of these rover tickets...for anyone else who is interested it was here

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/-/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TicketTypes/LeisureTickets/Rover%20Ranger%20Leaflet.pdf?la=en

[old original]

Info from the staff at Truro late yesterday, is that they had been advised that the St Ives line ranger price rise has been put on hold, due to sheer volume of change required for the odd 10p's

[LiskeardRich]

Ride Cornwall is priced by Cornwall council. I believe the Devon examples are Devon council priced fares also. It makes the fare out of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) control to change even if they want.

And what a stupid price to make ^5.10 instead of ^5. Nothing like making things hard for onboard staff now needing ^4.90 in change for many customers.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Can someone please confirm the areas covered by the Thames rover ticket?. In the online leaflet (see my post above) it talks about the maps from page 13-17 inclusive but looking at that coverage I'm not convinced it's right as page 13 goes out to Bristol and Severn beach (which is a line I would like to explore) but don't remember the Thames running near there

[bobm]

I personally find that leaflet confusing.

The Thames 3 and 7 day rovers are valid from Moreton-in-Marsh/Banbury in the north, down to Bedwyn, Basingstoke and Redhill. Also into Paddington and all the Thames Valley branch lines.  Note the evening restrictions out of London however.

Not an official site - but very helpful - is the GB^▸ (Great Britain) Railrover Guide - http://www.railrover.org/

[BerkshireBugsy]

I personally find that leaflet confusing.

The Thames 3 and 7 day rovers are valid from Moreton-in-Marsh/Banbury in the north, down to Bedwyn, Basingstoke and Redhill. Also into Paddington and all the Thames Valley branch lines.  Note the evening restrictions out of London however.

Not an official site - but very helpful - is the GB^▸ (Great Britain) Railrover Guide - http://www.railrover.org/

Thanks bobm - that is a useful site.

I find it interesting that you can purchase an "all lines ticket" on a train given that the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) machines don't do authorisation but that is a separate thread.

If I read the list of excluded routes correctly it implies (by exclusion!) that it is valid on the HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) route between St. Pancras and Ashford  on South Eastern.

I'm also puzzled about the "Thames Rover" (which is the one I am really interested in) because it says it is valid on Chiltern Railways but the only station I can see which is served by them on the map is Banbury - am I wrong?

I'm also puzzled it appears you are not allowed to alight at Reigate - is that because that is a Southern station CORRECTION - Reigate isn't shown on the map but is in the list.

[bobm]

I always buy my All Line Rover on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and get the Nectar points.    I have used the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover) on Javelin services without issue.

Currently the Thames Rover is only valid on Chiltern from Kings Sutton to Banbury.  It used to be valid from Oxford to Bicester Town when FGW ran the service.  After they took it over I am not sure if Chiltern accepted it before the line closed for the upgrade.  If they did it *might* be valid on the replacement buses.

By the way the GB^▸ (Great Britain) Rovers site is already showing the new prices.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I always buy my All Line Rover on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and get the Nectar points.    I have used the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover) on Javelin services without issue.

Currently the Thames Rover is only valid on Chiltern from Kings Sutton to Banbury.  It used to be valid from Oxford to Bicester Town when FGW ran the service.  After they took it over I am not sure if Chiltern accepted it before the line closed for the upgrade.  If they did it *might* be valid on the replacement buses.

By the way the GB^▸ (Great Britain) Rovers site is already showing the new prices.

Many thanks bobm - I also note there is a Wales valleys evening ticket which I may buy as I am working down there over the next few weeks

[ChrisB]

Currently the Thames Rover is only valid on Chiltern from Kings Sutton to Banbury. 

Don't forget the late-night trains Chiltern run M-F between Banbury & Oxford & vv. Very useful they are (out from Banbury & return @ 0036)

[JayMac]

Info from the staff at Truro late yesterday, is that they had been advised that the St Ives line ranger price rise has been put on hold, due to sheer volume of change required for the odd 10p's

That has been reflected on the Rover part of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s online booking engine, from where I got the post 17th May prices from earlier this week. Back down to ^4.00 there as well. I've edited the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) to reflect this new information.