Poor rail service at a higher cost.

[newtown31]

The journey. Nottingham to Rollerston off peak return@£9:20. Due to a reduction of stopping trains at Rollerston over the years passengers now may have to catch a none stopping at Rollerston train and continue onto Newark Castle.They then have to catch a returning train to Nottingham which stops at Rollerston. If you are fortunate to catch a Nottingham train that stops at Rollerton and return the same way later you pay £9:20. If you are unfortunate and have catch a train via Newark Castle and return the same way you pay £24 because returns are not allowed according to the BR website you need to buy four tickets.So in summary the passenger’s service has been reduced and they are charged 160% more for the privilege.

 

[The exile]

The journey. Nottingham to Rollerston off peak return@£9:20. Due to a reduction of stopping trains at Rollerston over the years passengers now may have to catch a none stopping at Rollerston train and continue onto Newark Castle.They then have to catch a returning train to Nottingham which stops at Rollerston. If you are fortunate to catch a Nottingham train that stops at Rollerton and return the same way later you pay £9:20. If you are unfortunate and have catch a train via Newark Castle and return the same way you pay £24 because returns are not allowed according to the BR website you need to buy four tickets.So in summary the passenger’s service has been reduced and they are charged 160% more for the privilege.

I know that it doesn’t help those using Rolleston who are unable to access Fiskerton instead but there are considerably larger settlements on open railway lines whose inhabitants have to travel a lot further to find a station that hasn’t been closed. Does beg the question why in an increasingly standardised timetable not all the stoppers stop there. 3 hour gaps are hardly conducive to encouraging use.

 

[Farigiraf]

If it helps, from December the stopping pattern of the Newark Castle stoppers will be simplified. Instead of the current random jumble of stops, it'll be an hourly service with alternating calls at either Thurgarton and Bleasby or Rolleston. This'll give Rolleston a consistent 2-hourly service departing at regular intervals. Still very infrequent, but the line is capacity constrained by the Newark Flat Crossing which can only (at a push) manage two trains per hour crossing it.

Perhaps EMR could be encouraged to call all stopping trains at Thurgarton, Bleasby and Rolleston but presumably passenger numbers are too low for it to be seen as justifiable (and 'build it and they will come' has largely died out as a concept round there).
Establishing a clockface schedule is still a win though, at least compared to the existing situation.
Regarding fares, maybe an easement could be put in place permitting that double-back. Maybe writing to National Rail can get these small changes implemented, but I have no experience with doing so, and it may be a waste of time. In the longer term, Nottingham could do with a fare zone system as there is a lot of commuting from the surrounding railway lines and the lines themselves aren't too complex (e.g. the Robin Hood line is quite self-contained for a National Rail service.)

 

[newtown31]

If it helps, from December the stopping pattern of the Newark Castle stoppers will be simplified. Instead of the current random jumble of stops, it'll be an hourly service with alternating calls at either Thurgarton and Bleasby or Rolleston. This'll give Rolleston a consistent 2-hourly service departing at regular intervals. Still very infrequent, but the line is capacity constrained by the Newark Flat Crossing which can only (at a push) manage two trains per hour crossing it.

Perhaps EMR could be encouraged to call all stopping trains at Thurgarton, Bleasby and Rolleston but presumably passenger numbers are too low for it to be seen as justifiable (and 'build it and they will come' has largely died out as a concept round there).
Establishing a clockface schedule is still a win though, at least compared to the existing situation.
Regarding fares, maybe an easement could be put in place permitting that double-back. Maybe writing to National Rail can get these small changes implemented, but I have no experience with doing so, and it may be a waste of time. In the longer term, Nottingham could do with a fare zone system as there is a lot of commuting from the surrounding railway lines and the lines themselves aren't too complex (e.g. the Robin Hood line is quite self-contained for a National Rail service.)

Thank you Sir I will take up you suggestion reference the need to double back and the difference in the fares with BR.

 

[Haywain]

If you are unfortunate and have catch a train via Newark Castle and return the same way you pay £24 because returns are not allowed according to the BR website you need to buy four tickets.

I'm not sure where you're getting this from, but if you had to travel Rolleston - Newark - Nottingham and vice versa you could buy two day return tickets at considerably lower cost than you suggest.

If you start out on a direct train and may have to return via Newark buy a return from Newark to start with and you would then just need a single from Newark to Rolleston.

 

[newtown31]

If it helps, from December the stopping pattern of the Newark Castle stoppers will be simplified. Instead of the current random jumble of stops, it'll be an hourly service with alternating calls at either Thurgarton and Bleasby or Rolleston. This'll give Rolleston a consistent 2-hourly service departing at regular intervals. Still very infrequent, but the line is capacity constrained by the Newark Flat Crossing which can only (at a push) manage two trains per hour crossing it.

Perhaps EMR could be encouraged to call all stopping trains at Thurgarton, Bleasby and Rolleston but presumably passenger numbers are too low for it to be seen as justifiable (and 'build it and they will come' has largely died out as a concept round there).
Establishing a clockface schedule is still a win though, at least compared to the existing situation.
Regarding fares, maybe an easement could be put in place permitting that double-back. Maybe writing to National Rail can get these small changes implemented, but I have no experience with doing so, and it may be a waste of time. In the longer term, Nottingham could do with a fare zone system as there is a lot of commuting from the surrounding railway lines and the lines themselves aren't too complex (e.g. the Robin Hood line is quite self-contained for a National Rail service.)

I fully accept that the passengers numbers at Rollerston are small and therefore BR are entitled to limit the stopping trains it’s the considerable difference in the fairs that’s disappointing.

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I'm not sure where you're getting this from, but if you had to travel Rolleston - Newark - Nottingham and vice versa you could buy two day return tickets at considerably lower cost than you suggest.

If you start out on a direct train and may have to return via Newark buy a return from Newark to start with and you would then just need a single from Newark to Rolleston.

Ok, if you look up for the times of the trains Nott-new cast- new cast-roll and return There is a message to the effect that no returns are available. The four individual journey costs are then itemised by BR against each time,and this adds up to £24.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2025 ==

I know that it doesn’t help those using Rolleston who are unable to access Fiskerton instead but there are considerably larger settlements on open railway lines whose inhabitants have to travel a lot further to find a station that hasn’t been closed. Does beg the question why in an increasingly standardised timetable not all the stoppers stop there. 3 hour gaps are hardly conducive to encouraging use.

Hi, I have tried walking from Rollerston to Fiskerton,the road adjoins the railway.It has no lighting, pitch black and the width of the road is hardly wide enough for two cars passing so unfortunately that’s a none runner.

 

[The exile]

Hi, I have tried walking from Rollerston to Fiskerton,the road adjoins the railway.It has no lighting, pitch black and the width of the road is hardly wide enough for two cars passing so unfortunately that’s a none runner.

I have also done so - I agree I wouldn't want to do it in the dark (at a time of year when that meant there was traffic about) - but other than that I found it a very pleasant walk - considerably easier than the walk home from my nearest station in a city of 60K (a 450 - 500 foot ascent in about 1/2 mile)

as you say a Day Return Nottingham - Rolleston is £9.20. A Day return Rolleston - Newark Castle is £3.70. Don't think the split ticket rules apply to day returns - but if they do - buy a Fiskerton - Newark return (an extra 30p) which shuold do the trick.

 

[newtown31]

I fully accept that the passengers numbers at Rollerston are small and therefore BR are entitled to limit the stopping trains it’s the considerable difference in the fairs that’s disappointing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2025 ==



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2025 ==


Hi, I have tried walking from Rollerston to Fiskerton,the road adjoins the railway.It has no lighting, pitch black and the width of the road is hardly wide enough for two cars passing so unfortunately that’s a none runner.

I'm not sure where you're getting this from, but if you had to travel Rolleston - Newark - Nottingham and vice versa you could buy two day return tickets at considerably lower cost than you suggest.

If you start out on a direct train and may have to return via Newark buy a return from Newark to start with and you would then just need a single from Newark to Rolleston.

Oh dear ,what a chump I am. Thanks for your suggestion. I have costed the two returns out and they come to about £14 which saves me a tenner on the £24. Thanks again,Haywain

 

[Haywain]

There is a message to the effect that no returns are available. The four individual journey costs are then itemised by BR against each time,and this adds up to £24.

Well, you've posted on the Fares Advice forum and that's what I'm giving. The "BR" website is not giving the best advice, but for the journey in question that isn't really surprising.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2025 ==

Oh dear ,what a chump I am. Thanks for your suggestion. I have costed the two returns out and they come to about £14 which saves me a tenner on the £24. Thanks again,Haywain

Noted.

 

[AlterEgo]

Ok, if you look up for the times of the trains Nott-new cast- new cast-roll and return There is a message to the effect that no returns are available. The four individual journey costs are then itemised by BR against each time,and this adds up to £24.

I'm a bit lost here - what is BR in this context?

 

[sheff1]

The journey. Nottingham to Rollerston off peak return@£9:20. Due to a reduction of stopping trains at Rollerston over the years passengers now may have to catch a none stopping at Rollerston train and continue onto Newark Castle.They then have to catch a returning train to Nottingham which stops at Rollerston. If you are fortunate to catch a Nottingham train that stops at Rollerton and return the same way later you pay £9:20. If you are unfortunate and have catch a train via Newark Castle and return the same way you pay £24 because returns are not allowed according to the BR website you need to buy four tickets.So in summary the passenger’s service has been reduced and they are charged 160% more for the privilege.

The £9.20 fare from Nottingham to Rolleston is an Anytime Day Return not Off Peak as you state. A Nottingham to Newark Castle Off Peak Day Return is £8.60.

Someone making an off peak Nottingham - Newark - Rolleston - Nottingham journey would pay £8.60

An off peak Nottingham - Rolleston - Newark - Nottingham journey would also be £8.60.

A Nottingham - Newark - Rolleston - Newark - Nottingham journey is the most awkward to price. I think the cheapest off peak is £8.60 Nottingham - Newark return plus another return to Newark from a station at which the Newark - Nottingham train you travel back on stops at e.g Fiskerton (£4) or Lowdham (£6). If the return train was non stop Newark to Nottingham the cheapest option would be to purchase a second Nottingham to Newark Castle Off Peak Day Return so the maximum outlay would be £17.20.

Of course on a true passenger focused railway a Nottingham to Rolleston (via Newark) ticket would exist, at the most costing £12.30 (£8.60 + £3.70), ideally less.

A Day return Rolleston - Newark Castle is £3.70. Don't think the split ticket rules apply to day returns - but if they do - buy a Fiskerton - Newark return (an extra 30p) which shuold do the trick.

You can use spilt tickets on Day Returns but only if the train stops at the station where the split takes place which is why I have given the additional options above - a Fiskerton ticket is only valid if the return train to Nottingham stops there