Broken Viking
On Moderation
Hail all! 
Just thought I'd start a thread for reporting on the ALR voyage that I shall be starting on Tuesday 05th May. Even though it's still a good three days before I actually get going on it, I've already run into a somewhat amusing incident related to just buying my ALR!
hock:
Anyhow...This post'll be used for collating the report and various other bits 'n' pieces relating to the trip, and other stuff'll be edited in over time. I'm considering posting occasional updates from my mobile as well if possible, but that really depends on what the GPRS charges and coverage are like when I post.
Given that I'm on Pay-As-Ye-Go though, any mobile posted updates may be short and infrequent. Anything that doesn't get posted en-route can always be added in here later though! 8)
Farewell for now, and hope ye enjoy reading the reports as and when they're added!
>> Death <<
Lists, statistics and analytical bits:
Original planned timetable for ALR:
Trains and routes that I eventually wound up using:
Stories, sagas and railway legends:
Day 0 - 29th April 2009CE:
"Ladies and Gentlemen. We regret to announce that the ticket office at Farnborough Main is currently delayed by approximateley thirty-five minutes. This is due to the unexpected purchase of an All Line Rover. South West Trains would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this delay."hock::roll:
Although I wasn't planning to start my ALR until the 5th May, I decided that it would be best to try and purchase my Rover as soon as possible to ensure that I would get reservations on the sleeper services that I needed, whilst ensuring that I would not run into difficulties trying to purchase an ALR on board my first train at 00:06 on a Tuesday morning. However - Despite choosing to buy my ticket during quiet hours at Farnborough Main - I still ran into some rather long delays in getting it done!hock:
From arrival to departure at the station, my ALR and associated reservations took at least an hour and a half to get done. Although I was fortunate to have a member of staff who knew of the ALR's existance and what one was (It seems that many staff nowadays aren't aware of the ticket at all) it still took him a fair amount of time to look it up in the system and actually issue it.
Longer still, the reservations system only seems to be capable of accepting reservations for one train at once, and seperate queries are required for each service to be used. Even though I had a list of at least fifteen trains that I wanted to reserve on, I eventually decided to go just for the sleepers (As they're mandatory) and the longest planned journey from each day as a compromise.hock:
I'd like to point out here that it wasn't anything to do with the person who served me - Indeed he was doing his level best to serve me as quickly and as best as he could - And I'm very thankful and greatful to him for putting up with the string of reservations and other ALR-related bits 'n' bobs that I needed! 8)
The reason for the slow-down was because of the speed of the ticketing and other systems used - Especially the reservations system - And the apparent fact that booking office staff don't seem to be given comprehensive training in issuing uncommon tickets like ALRs. :?
After experiencing this interesting happening, my advice to anyone else buying an ALR would be to go down when ye have at least an hour available to do it in, and - If ye know the number for thy local station - Give 'em a call about fifteen minutes beforehand to warn them that ye are buying an unusual ticket, and will need a lot of time. I certainly would've done if I could've - Especially given the length of the queue that formed behind me throughout, that eventually required the opening of a second booking office window!hock:
Just thought I'd start a thread for reporting on the ALR voyage that I shall be starting on Tuesday 05th May. Even though it's still a good three days before I actually get going on it, I've already run into a somewhat amusing incident related to just buying my ALR!
hock:Anyhow...This post'll be used for collating the report and various other bits 'n' pieces relating to the trip, and other stuff'll be edited in over time. I'm considering posting occasional updates from my mobile as well if possible, but that really depends on what the GPRS charges and coverage are like when I post.
Given that I'm on Pay-As-Ye-Go though, any mobile posted updates may be short and infrequent. Anything that doesn't get posted en-route can always be added in here later though! 8)
Farewell for now, and hope ye enjoy reading the reports as and when they're added!
>> Death <<
Lists, statistics and analytical bits:
Original planned timetable for ALR:
Code:
[color=#000099][b]Day 01[/b] - Tuesday 05th May 2009CE:[/color]
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SWT FNB > WAT 0006 0102 39mi 60ch
- WAT > EUS 0115 0345 2mi 40ch On foot.
VWC EUS > GLC 0547 1036 401mi 20ch *Very* slow working, might be 86 hauled.
FSR GLC > KIL 1103 1141 24mi 20ch
NTH KIL > NCL 1150 1457 153mi 00ch
NXC NCL > EDI 1535 1709 124mi 40ch
FSR EDI > ABD 1735 2006 130mi 40ch Emergency reversals: Dundee or Stonehaven.
FSR ABD > GLQ 2042 2315 180mi 40ch
FSR GLC > EUS 2340 0637 451mi 60ch Glasgow - London sleeper service.
[b]Planned mileage - Today: 1508mi 00ch[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 1508mi 00ch[/b][/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 02[/b] - Wednesday 06th May 2009CE:[/color]
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- EUS > WAT 0645 0900 2mi 40ch On foot or LuL - Dependant on running.
SWT WAT > EXD 0920 1238 172mi 40ch
AXC EXD > PLY 1245 1348 52mi 00ch
FGW PLY > SER 1358 1545 73mi 60ch Changeover not possible at Penzance.
FGW SER > PAD 1611 2123 299mi 40ch Shower stop at Paddington if time avail.
FGW PAD > SWA 2245 0214 192mi 60ch
[b]Planned mileage - Today: 793mi 00ch[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 2301mi 00ch[/b][/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 03[/b] - Thursday 07th May 2009CE:[/color]
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATW SWA > SHR 0436 0823 121mi 40ch Heart of Wales line.
ATW SHR > MCN 0927 1047 61mi 00ch
ATW MCN > PTM 1100 1247 44mi 40ch
RHF PTM > BFF 1335 1445 13mi 40ch Rheilffordd Ffestiniog NG steam service.
ATW BFF > LLJ 1452 1551 31mi 00ch
ATW LLJ > CHS 1625 1717 44mi 20ch
VWC CHS > EUS 1735 1938 179mi 00ch Shower stop possible at Euston if needed.
FSR EUS > INV 2115 0830 582mi 00ch London - Inverness sleeper service.
[b]Planned mileage - Today: 1076mi 60ch[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 3377mi 60ch[/b][/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 04[/b] - Friday 08th May 2009CE:[/color]
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSR INV > ABD 0905 1126 108mi 20ch
FSR ABD > EDI 1207 1427 130mi 60ch
NXC EDI > PET 1500 1826 316mi 60ch Stay on to KGX for shower stop if needed.
EMT PET > NOR 1850 2022 82mi 20ch
NXE NOR > LPS 2100 2254 115mi 00ch Check for faster trains if avail.
LUL LPS > PAD 2255 2330 3mi 40ch Use Circle line. Do NOT attempt to walk!
FGW PAD > PLY 2345 0546 225mi 60ch London - Penzance sleeper (Alight Plymouth)
[b]Planned mileage - Today: 981mi 20ch[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 4359mi 00ch[/b][/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 05[/b] - Saturday 09th May 2009CE:[/color]
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXC PLY > YRK 0725 1330 - UKN - Check working with Guard before Sheffield.
AXC YRK > SHF 1344 1454 - UKN -
NTH SHF > LLM 1505 1540 34mi 40ch Staying with friend overnight.
[b]Planned mileage - Today: - UKN -[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 4393mi 40ch[/b][/color]
* - Part ad-hoc schedule, although should aim to be at SHF for 1530, and/or LLM by 1600.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 06[/b] - Sunday 10th May 2009CE:[/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AD-HOC DAY: No schedule defined and any move(s) may be taken, provided ye get
to any London termini by 1945 to catch 2055 FSR to INV [Sleeper O/N]
Departures from Langley Mill (LLM):
Hourly EMT departures to Liverpool, Grantham and Norwich,
Half-hourly NTH departures to Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham.
FSR EUS > INV 2050 0830 582mi 00ch London - Inverness sleeper service.
[b]Planned mileage - Today: 582mi 00ch[/b]
[color=#AA0000][b]Planned mileage - Total: 5018mi 20ch[/b][/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#000099][b]Day 07[/b] - Monday 11th May 2009CE:[/color]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AD-HOC DAY: No schedule defined and any move(s) may be taken, provided ye get
to any London termini by 2100 to catch 2358 SWT to FNB [End of Rover]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Trains and routes that I eventually wound up using:
Code:
ToC: Route: Dep: Arr: Mileage: Remarks:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#AA0000][[b]ALR not yet started[/b] - No entries to display][/color]Stories, sagas and railway legends:
Day 0 - 29th April 2009CE:
"Ladies and Gentlemen. We regret to announce that the ticket office at Farnborough Main is currently delayed by approximateley thirty-five minutes. This is due to the unexpected purchase of an All Line Rover. South West Trains would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this delay."
hock::roll:Although I wasn't planning to start my ALR until the 5th May, I decided that it would be best to try and purchase my Rover as soon as possible to ensure that I would get reservations on the sleeper services that I needed, whilst ensuring that I would not run into difficulties trying to purchase an ALR on board my first train at 00:06 on a Tuesday morning. However - Despite choosing to buy my ticket during quiet hours at Farnborough Main - I still ran into some rather long delays in getting it done!
hock:From arrival to departure at the station, my ALR and associated reservations took at least an hour and a half to get done. Although I was fortunate to have a member of staff who knew of the ALR's existance and what one was (It seems that many staff nowadays aren't aware of the ticket at all) it still took him a fair amount of time to look it up in the system and actually issue it.
Longer still, the reservations system only seems to be capable of accepting reservations for one train at once, and seperate queries are required for each service to be used. Even though I had a list of at least fifteen trains that I wanted to reserve on, I eventually decided to go just for the sleepers (As they're mandatory) and the longest planned journey from each day as a compromise.
hock:I'd like to point out here that it wasn't anything to do with the person who served me - Indeed he was doing his level best to serve me as quickly and as best as he could - And I'm very thankful and greatful to him for putting up with the string of reservations and other ALR-related bits 'n' bobs that I needed! 8)
The reason for the slow-down was because of the speed of the ticketing and other systems used - Especially the reservations system - And the apparent fact that booking office staff don't seem to be given comprehensive training in issuing uncommon tickets like ALRs. :?
After experiencing this interesting happening, my advice to anyone else buying an ALR would be to go down when ye have at least an hour available to do it in, and - If ye know the number for thy local station - Give 'em a call about fifteen minutes beforehand to warn them that ye are buying an unusual ticket, and will need a lot of time. I certainly would've done if I could've - Especially given the length of the queue that formed behind me throughout, that eventually required the opening of a second booking office window!
hock:
) and shouldn't cause me too many issues as I know exactly which station it's supposed to refer to. 
