All Line Rover: must-see destinations?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Getting between Kyle and the West Highland line is easiest using the coach from Kyle to Fort William That gets included in the Freedom of Scotland ticket (as do several other useful coach links) but presumably isn't in the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover).

I've just looked this up and come across "Spirit of Scotland" - same thing, or something different?

Spirit of Scotland map has some odd omissions - for example it doesn't seem to include that coach to Kyle, and doesn't cover certain rail lines either like Helensborough Central.  Also leaves out some CalMac ferries such as Claonaig to Lochranza and Tarbert to Islay / Jura / Colonsay.   Simplified mapping or real limits??

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/spirit-of-scotland-map-1603.pdf

[bobm]

While not official sources there are two very good guide to rovers.

Barry Doe has his annual round up in the current issue of RAIL magazine - issue 800.

On line there is the GB^▸ (Great Britain) Rail Rover Guide.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Getting between Kyle and the West Highland line is easiest using the coach from Kyle to Fort William That gets included in the Freedom of Scotland ticket (as do several other useful coach links) but presumably isn't in the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover).

I've just looked this up and come across "Spirit of Scotland" - same thing, or something different?

Spirit of Scotland map has some odd omissions - for example it doesn't seem to include that coach to Kyle, and doesn't cover certain rail lines either like Helensborough Central.  Also leaves out some CalMac ferries such as Claonaig to Lochranza and Tarbert to Islay / Jura / Colonsay.   Simplified mapping or real limits??

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/spirit-of-scotland-map-1603.pdf

Obviously changed since we used it some years ago. Sorry that Kyle to Fort William isn't included - it's a useful link.

The other omissions are probably about simplifying the mapping. Likewise omitting the whole of the Outer Hebrides from the map.

When we went we stayed in a B&B on Barra and the owners pointed out how often the weather forecaster stands in front of Barra.

[brompton rail]

According to the Scotrail website this map shows the available routes. Simply all TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) operated rail services in Scotland, all CalMac ferries in Scotland and a small number of CityLink buses. Importantly the coach links include Inverness to Ullapool (Stornoway, Lweis ferry), Kyle to Portree and Uig (ferry to Tarbert, Isle of Harris; & to Lochmaddy, North Uist), Inverness to Fort Wiiliam, Fort William to Oban ( for ferries to South Uist and Barra, as well as Mull, Tiree etc plus weekly to Islay and Kennacraig Mull of Kintyre), Oban to Tarbert (Loch Fyne), Kennacraig and Cambletown.
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/spirit-of-scotland-map-1603.pdf
Combining the 'Spirit of Scotland' ticket with CalMac services would allow Central Scotland to Oban, ferry to Barra, bus & ferries Barra - Eriscay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris and Lewis, then ferry to Ullapool ( or return via Tarbert and Skye to Kyle) and to Inverness. The trip of a lifetime with varied and extraordinary scenery, and a glimpse of the ' different' culture of the Gaelic Western Isles.

The only other way to do that is using CalMac to travel either via Rothsay to Mull of Kintyre or via the Isle of Aran. Then Islay to Oban to Barra and return Harris or Lewis to Mainland.

What ever you do, I guarantee you will remember it for the rest of your life!

[Worcester_Passenger]

We did ferry Oban - Barra, then bus/ferry/bus/bus/ferry/bus across the Uists to Stornoway. That's a great piece of integrated transport, with a 40-minute connection between the two Uist buses at Benbecula Airport (which has a cafe and toilets). And the ferry from Berneray to Harris does the sea-going version of a slalom course.

Came back by way of Tarbert, the ferry to Uig, the coach to Kyle and the train to Inverness.

The pass didn't cover the buses from Barra to Stornoway, but did cover the two ferries. We met a couple of Scottish pensioners, who were doing the reverse of us - using their passes on the buses and paying on the ferries.

[JayMac]

My apologies for the confusion I introduced by mentioning boxes on an ALR^▸ (All Line Rover). When correctly issued there should be no boxes to date, as the ALR is a fixed period Rover of either 7 or 14 consecutive days. I'm so used to using Rovers with "3 in 7", "8 in 15" validity etc. that I rather confused myself when replying.

I still believe though that should you be using an ALR on its final day of validity you should be allowed to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper. Just as you can on a walk-up Single dated for the departure date, the outward portion of an Off Peak Return/Super Off Peak Return, or the final day of validity of a return portion. If you are still travelling at 0430 on the morning after the date on your ticket none of those tickets cease to be valid. Why should the ALR be any different?

[grahame]

I still believe though that should you be using an ALR^▸ (All Line Rover) on its final day of validity you should be allowed to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper. Just as you can on a walk-up Single dated for the departure date ....

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to compare to season ticket conditions - what are you allowed to do after midnight on those?  http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/season_tickets.aspx says

You can use the ticket at any time during any seven day period for travel between the points shown on the ticket

So implies not after midnight ... mind you
* shouldn't "any 7 day period" mean that you can buy a season ticket at midday on a Monday and use it up to 11:59 a.m. on the following Monday?
* it does not say it has no validity outside that period - i.e. to 04:29 - just says it has validity within the 7 days.
I think I know what they mean though!

I also feel that the season ticket page is on interesting round when it suggests:

For very long journeys, an All Line Rail Rover Ticket can work out a lot cheaper than buying individual tickets and gives the added bonus of unlimited travel anywhere on the National Rail Network. They are available for periods of 7 or 14 days

True enough, but these days the All Line Rover is essentially an off peak ticket in some places; I may be overstating it, but between school and college (gap year), I worked and took a couple of all line rovers - based at home in North West Kent and travelling out from Euston or St Pancras before 10 a.m. on many mornings ... something I would no longer be able to do unless I used CoC^▸ (Chamber of Commerce) 18c and bought a local single ticket to join the long distance carriers!

[ChrisB]

On very long journeys, seasons aren't available!

I discovered this last week - I thought you could get a season between any two stations....not any longer. Presumably only those costing less than the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover).

[Brucey]

On very long journeys, seasons aren't available!

I discovered this last week - I thought you could get a season between any two stations....not any longer. Presumably only those costing less than the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover).

I was under the belief there is a formula (based on the Anytime fare) to calculate season ticket prices for combinations where one does not exist.  Is this not still the case?

[ChrisB]

There are certainly seasons that you cannot buy online from TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) website that are on their (long distance) routes.

[TaplowGreen]

.....would be interesting to know the details of the longest distance season ticket issued! I seem to recall a few from Exeter St Davids to London Zone 1.

[LiskeardRich]

On very long journeys, seasons aren't available!

I discovered this last week - I thought you could get a season between any two stations....not any longer. Presumably only those costing less than the ALR^▸ (All Line Rover).

I was under the belief there is a formula (based on the Anytime fare) to calculate season ticket prices for combinations where one does not exist.  Is this not still the case?

There is a formula for calculating monthly or longer, but it uses a multiple of the weekly season to get to the answer. The formula table was posted as an image in my thread requesting about an odd length season ticket.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, the weekly has to exist to enable this formula

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is a formula for calculating monthly or longer, but it uses a multiple of the weekly season to get to the answer. The formula table was posted as an image in my thread requesting about an odd length season ticket.

For completeness, see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16968.msg194378#msg194378 

[ChrisB]

That refers to multipliers on daily rate for periods over a monthly. Not the sane as this. That doesn't deal where there's no monthly/wekly to base it on