Ranger tour for a total newbie

[_garbo_]

Evening, I hope I'm posting in the correct forum.

I have decided to make a holiday in the UK, think Michael Portillo but without the pink suit.

So, I was going to get an East Midlands Rover ticket and stop in six different towns/cities. I thought this would be easy to plan but national rail keeps routing me via Birmingham which isn't allowed, then I realised id end up with penalty fares and it all looked a bit stressful.

Anyway, I will have a disabled persons railcard and while I wont have much trouble getting on and off trains, I am slightly limited with distances that I can walk or stand, the main problem being toilets, I have a radar key, but do trains have toilets apart from the mainline sort of cross country trains? Obviously, the timetable doesn't tell you what train it will be.

I have only had my disability for a year so its a lot to get used to, but I want to get on with life. I really like the idea of sitting on a train watching the scenery, but then the stress of it all is a bit overwhelming and information seems a bit scarce. I had sepsis, so I now find it hard to concentrate on things and get confused easily.

I'm guessing ill just be able to get off a train to use the toilet, assuming all stations have one.

If anyone can point me at any sort of information sites or apps I can use or even a way to avoid penalty fares

 

[Babybirdrobin]

Evening, I hope I'm posting in the correct forum.

I have decided to make a holiday in the UK, think Michael Portillo but without the pink suit.

So, I was going to get an East Midlands Rover ticket and stop in six different towns/cities. I thought this would be easy to plan but national rail keeps routing me via Birmingham which isn't allowed, then I realised id end up with penalty fares and it all looked a bit stressful.

Anyway, I will have a disabled persons railcard and while I wont have much trouble getting on and off trains, I am slightly limited with distances that I can walk or stand, the main problem being toilets, I have a radar key, but do trains have toilets apart from the mainline sort of cross country trains? Obviously, the timetable doesn't tell you what train it will be.

I have only had my disability for a year so its a lot to get used to, but I want to get on with life. I really like the idea of sitting on a train watching the scenery, but then the stress of it all is a bit overwhelming and information seems a bit scarce. I had sepsis, so I now find it hard to concentrate on things and get confused easily.

I'm guessing ill just be able to get off a train to use the toilet, assuming all stations have one.

If anyone can point me at any sort of information sites or apps I can use or even a way to avoid penalty fares

Good evening, Welcome to the Forum!
In answer to your questions:
1) Toilets - Fairly certain all units in the EM ranger area have them, and at least one should be of the bigger variety should you need it
2) There’s no way to avoid penalties if you do mess it up (before given) but https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/ should be good for seeing train info as it gives train types on the day and you can use it almost like a destination board that shows where the trains are going, where they stop etc. That combined with a map like the ones you get from the NR website or a map of the East Midlands Rover can get you a lot of places I find.

Also, I assume you already know but in case you don’t the East Midlands Rovers need buying from a ticket office and you can use your disabled person’s railcard

Good luck with it and I’m sure people here can offer some great advice as well!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@blink. Which East Midlands cities/major towns were you thinking of visiting? Presumably not all the same day?! Are you planning on overnighting in various places, or travelling back to the same start point each day? As you've already ascertained, Birmingham isn't included in the ticket's validity area, although Coventry is. The East Midlands Rover ticket is currently available as a 3 days in 7 days product (£77.30 with railcard discount) or for 7 consecutive days (£100.30 with railcard discount). Travel at or after 0900 midweek, or anytime Saturday/Sunday/BH. There is also a cheaper East Midlands Day Ranger ticket, but it doesn't quite have the same area of validity as the East Midlands Rover.

 

[The exile]

Toilets - most smaller stations do not have toilets!

As far as trip planning is concerned, I’d suggest you furnish yourself with a map of the rover validity area and download proper pdf timetables (someone else on here no doubt knows the link and will find it far quicker than I can). Teach yourself the ancient and noble art of timetable reading and you’re independent of what some algorithm wants you to do. Without a little of tweaking, a journey planner is bound to send you from (say) Coventry to Sheffield via Birmingham but it’s perfectly possible to go via Nuneaton and Leicester, for example.

 

[jfollows]

https://timetables.fabdigital.uk/nrt/dec2025/ for the most recent timetables

 

[Andy Pacer]

@blink. Which East Midlands cities/major towns were you thinking of visiting? Presumably not all the same day?! Are you planning on overnighting in various places, or travelling back to the same start point each day? As you've already ascertained, Birmingham isn't included in the ticket's validity area, although Coventry is. The East Midlands Rover ticket is currently available as a 3 days in 7 days product (£77.30 with railcard discount) or for 7 consecutive days (£100.30 with railcard discount). Travel at or after 0900 midweek, or anytime Saturday/Sunday/BH. There is also a cheaper East Midlands Day Ranger ticket, but it doesn't quite have the same area of validity as the East Midlands Rover.

Worth noting that as rightly stated the day rangers version is cheaper but with a much reduced area so actually works out quite expensive (and poor value).

Have you used the GB Rail Rover site? That gives a fairly decent map to help with routings, link below for the East Midlands Rover

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - East Midlands Rover

How to find rail rover and ranger tickets on the national rail network. Rover and ranger tickets are cheap tickets for rail travel

www.railrover.org

Also be sure to ask any specific questions on here, people will always try and help!

 

[Snow1964]

Not sure where you are starting from, but if you have a rover ticket, you only need a ticket to the boundary station if you are coming from outside the validity area.

I am fairly sure don't even need to be on a train that stops at boundary station if one of the tickets is a rover or season.

If you want to go to Birmingham (mentioned in first post) then can do the opposite and buy an add on ticket for bit outside the boundary.

 

[gazthomas]

And keep records of the trains you took for all that delay repay you'll be entitled to. Hopefully it will pay for your ticket!

 

[Andy Pacer]

And keep records of the trains you took for all that delay repay you'll be entitled to. Hopefully it will pay for your ticket!

Second this, its amazing how quickly it can build up.

 

[_garbo_]

Hello, I almost forgot, I'm not getting notifications via email. I'll try and respond in order without making a massive quote response.

I have downloaded the app, and it looks good, thanks

This is my provisional itinerary, sort of thinking to go down one side of the map, then back up the other

Day 1 Sunday Chesterfield to Coventry - Coventry via Birmingham Stay in Coventry

Day 2 Monday Coventry to Milton Keynes Central - Milton Keynes visit - Bletchley Stay in Milton Keynes

Day 3 Tuesday Milton Keynes to Kettering - Newark-on-Trent Stay in Kettering

Day 4 Wednesday Kettering to Newark Castle - Stay in Newark Castle

Day 5 Thursday Newark Castle to Peterborough - Peterborough Stay in Peterborough

Day 6 Friday Peterborough to Skegness - Skegness Stay in Skegness

Day 7 Saturday Skegness to Chesterfield

Skegness has already been vetoed, so it might be lincoln instead. I'm sure you have guessed that I'm doing the 7 day ticket. I can probably deal without toilets in stations, between the train and nearest cafe I'd like to hope I could cope. Nothing else is set in stone, I just thought they might be interesting in a dull sort of way, apart from Milton Keynes, I have always wanted to see it, I'd have gone to watch ice hockey, but I dont think the dates/days will align

Thanks for the timetable link!

The rover site is what has started me off with thinking its actually a possibility to do the trip

I didnt even think of buying a ticket from the boundary station to Birmingham, for example, I dont have any plans to go to Birmingham this time but its good to know.

Delay repay? I think that might require some research, it would be quite funny if I did get the cost of the ticket back! You have also reminded me that I should record the trains I take, just for a bit of trianspotter type memory to look back on.


Thanks for all the info

 

[Llandudno]

Hello, I almost forgot, I'm not getting notifications via email. I'll try and respond in order without making a massive quote response.

I have downloaded the app, and it looks good, thanks

This is my provisional itinerary, sort of thinking to go down one side of the map, then back up the other



Skegness has already been vetoed, so it might be lincoln instead. I'm sure you have guessed that I'm doing the 7 day ticket. I can probably deal without toilets in stations, between the train and nearest cafe I'd like to hope I could cope. Nothing else is set in stone, I just thought they might be interesting in a dull sort of way, apart from Milton Keynes, I have always wanted to see it, I'd have gone to watch ice hockey, but I dont think the dates/days will align

Thanks for the timetable link!

The rover site is what has started me off with thinking its actually a possibility to do the trip

I didnt even think of buying a ticket from the boundary station to Birmingham, for example, I dont have any plans to go to Birmingham this time but its good to know.

Delay repay? I think that might require some research, it would be quite funny if I did get the cost of the ticket back! You have also reminded me that I should record the trains I take, just for a bit of trianspotter type memory to look back on.


Thanks for all the info

Most of those destinations have a Wetherspoons or McDonalds nearby, usually a safe bet to nip in and use the loo even without purchasing anything…!

 

[IanD]

I didnt even think of buying a ticket from the boundary station to Birmingham, for example, I dont have any plans to go to Birmingham this time but its good to know.

Day 1 if you travel via Birmingham, you will still need to buy a ticket/tickets to cover Tamworth - Birmingham (train doesn't need to stop at Tamworth) and Birmingham-Coventry. Alternatively travel via Tamworth+Nuneaton or Rugby or via Leicester+Nuneaton.

 

[david1212]

......
I am slightly limited with distances that I can walk or stand, the main problem being toilets, I have a RADAR key, but do trains have toilets apart from the mainline sort of cross country trains? Obviously, the timetable doesn't tell you what train it will be.
....
I'm guessing I'll just be able to get off a train to use the toilet, assuming all stations have one......

Sadly you can not presume that a RADAR key will always open a disabled toilet.
The disabled toilet may also be locked closed when the main ones of a public block are e.g. Brighton & Hove Seafront

Also there are places e.g. Eastbourne with their own scheme that requires a different key.

https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/article/1449/Eastbourne-seafront-Changing-Places-toilet

Changing Places toilet facility on Middle Prom at The Bandstand. Residents can apply for their
own key, membership form on Council website or visit The Seafront Office

Most of those destinations have a Wetherspoons or McDonalds nearby, usually a safe bet to nip in and use the loo even without purchasing anything…!

To make approaching staff in a shop, bar, cafe, restaurant etc. even if desperate a private house more formal download the 'Just Can't Wait' card for your phone from Bladder and Bowel and/or order a physical card.

What is a Just Can’t Wait card?

A Just Can’t Wait Card is the original toilet card, which helps you get access to toilets in moments of urgent need. Simply show your card to a nearby establishment and ask to gain access to a toilet at short notice. Available to anyone living with a Bladder and/or Bowel condition.

Although access is not guaranteed, the cards are widely accepted and acknowledged.

 

[_garbo_]

Ian, That's the bit that made me realise the restriction on the ticket, and then I couldnt work out how to tell the national rail website route me without Birmingham. I fancy Rugby, just to check my watch, not that I think the time signal comes from Rugby anymore. Also, if a train is not pleasant, im just gonna get off, have a walk and a coffee and get the next train, a bit of a zero er, concerns, given sort of journey. I'm not even finding fancy hotels like I usually do, premier inns is probably going to be the height of luxury, no jacuzzi!



Llandudno, thats what I'm hoping. Bizarrely, the place I have the most difficulty is Meadowhall shopping centre! My local town centre, there are several solutions, actually without going into a private premises, but the Wetherspoons app might be a good addition for the toilets alone. It's another thing I hadnt thought about, and they all have a ground floor disabled toilet. I cant make it up stairs without a rest half way, so the thousand steps to the toilets in a Wetherspoon's would be out of the question

 

[_garbo_]

Sadly you can not presume that a RADAR key will always open a disabled toilet.
The disabled toilet may also be locked closed when the main ones of a public block are e.g. Brighton & Hove Seafront

Also there are places e.g. Eastbourne with their own scheme that requires a different key.

https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/article/1449/Eastbourne-seafront-Changing-Places-toilet

To make approaching staff in a shop, bar, cafe, restaurant etc. even if desperate a private house more formal download the 'Just Can't Wait' card for your phone from Bladder and Bowel and/or order a physical card.

I have the card, i havent had to use it yet. the RADAR key is successful so far, but yes, some are locked in other ways, lots dont have the radar lock on them so are used by everyone, plenty are just disgusting. The changing places scheme is bizarre, no standard key so you have to ask to use it, personally, I think having to ask an absent caretaker to let you into the toilet isnt very dignified, and means they are unusable in any amount of urgency.

 

[_garbo_]

Most of those destinations have a Wetherspoons or McDonalds nearby, usually a safe bet to nip in and use the loo even without purchasing anything…!

yeah, i use mcdonalds more often than i should, and I always feel guilty using the toilet before buying anything, like someone is going to come and tell me off! Just one of the minor inconveniences of going out alone