All Line Rover Planning Help!.

[Neilandrewhall]

Hi Everyone,

I want to plan a All Line Rover, But need your help as im rubbish at planning these Things.

I will be going for Two weeks on a First Class Ticket.

Some Key Points I want to do are:

• Branch Lines of The UK
• The WAG Express
• Sleepers
• Settle to Carlisle
• Swansea Avoider
• Barrow Loop
• Far East Line
• Station's Closest to John O Groats and Land's End
• Whitby Line
• Also any other's you can think of, that I can get the most of First Class

I will be starting out from London, And Hopefully not returning back to the last night, so any Cheap Hotels, Youth Hostel's, Sleeper's would help

Thank you

Neil

 

[adc82140]

The FGW Paddington-Penzance sleeper should sort you out for a sleeper and station closest to Land's End in one go- you can go on and do the West Country branch lines the following day.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I don't see the point in going 1st then spending all day in Standard only Pacers etc doing the Cornish branches, the Barrow Loop, the S&C and Swansea Avoider

 

[ainsworth74]

As Matt says if your going to be doing so much in standard class accommodation is it really worth getting a first class ALR? To get the most out of one of those then you really need to be traveling quite a bit on EC, VT, EMT and FGW, whilst other TOCs offer first class it's often not really much more than a comfier seat and some drinks/biscuits.

Otherwise the only other I would suggest is looking at getting done is the West Highland Line up to Mallaig (regularly voted one of the best lines in the world and home to the Glenfinnan viaduct of Harry Potter fame), you could perhaps consider taking the Caledonian sleeper service from London to Fort William which is an option I've heard good things about.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Branch Lines of The UK

All of them? If not, where, Midlands, East Anglian, North Country, Glasgow...?

The WAG Express

Would almost certainly require overnighter in Holyhead if you want to do it fully

Settle to Carlisle
Swansea Avoider
Barrow Loop

Unless you do Lancaster-Barrow on TPE, all over these three are Standard Class only

Far East Line

Where?

Station's Closest to John O Groats and Land's End

Wick and Penzance (Wik is 158s only, First Class is just a headrest saying so and a reclining (if you can even call it that!) seat.

Whitby Line

Class 156 with standard only

Also any other's you can think of, that I can get the most of First Class

The New Year's restrictions have really messed up 1st class ones - Maybe the Chieftain end to end (2 day job), sampling Virgin's service (best up to Gglasgow, but the earliest you can do this is 1130 of Euston I think), Hull Trains maybe, FGW chef service.

If you want Looe, Newquay, Sheringham etc, Pwllheli etc doing, look a Standard Class ALR - 1st is non-existant on many branches and Northern routes.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Can you help me plan, which would help.. Like the First Class best bits

 

[All Line Rover]

To be honest, considering what you want to do, I would NOT recommend getting a First Class ALR! All of the lines you want to cover (apart from the Arriva Premier Service) don't have trains with First Class accommodation. If you want a "First Class" (ie. single) berth on the sleeper, I'm pretty sure you'll have to pay a First Class supplement (whatever the price is I don't know, but I assume it's more than a £9 stay in Travelodge).

I will be getting a First Class ALR this summer, but will be avoiding all of the lines with no First Class accommodation, all of the lines with cheap First Advance tickets available (such as Waterloo to Exeter), and all of the lines with poor First Class offerings on weekdays.

I will mainly be using, in order of preference: Virgin Trains, East Coast, Arriva Trains Wales (1st for food but 3rd because of frequency!), Hull Trains, TP Express Core Routes, TP Express Manchester to Scotland, East Midlands Trains' "enhanced" evening service, and CrossCountry where necessary. Basically I want to go on the most expensive services possible!

I will also use Grand Central, First Great Western and ScotRail occasionally (when I'm not feeling too hungry), First Capital Connect (simply because their First Class fares are SO high I just have to travel with them), and South West Trains/Southern/Southeastern on the weekend.

I'm only doing 1 week because I can't run the risk of falling ill halfway into a 2 week ALR and getting no refund. I'd also be shattered - I can get tired after 1 day of travelling never mind 14! And I'll still be sleeping at home since Crewe station has very good connections (and VT and the Arriva Premier Service serve it! ).

I've actually made a little "First Class" map (still in progress), which has most branch lines removed and leaves the "core" (and expensive) First Class operators: http://imageshack.us/f/852/4nrmap1.png/. (NOTE: the image is fairly large)

It's still in progress, and I will probably create a "weekday" version with the SWT, Southern, Southeastern and NXEA TOC's removed.

 

[anthony263]

I agree save yourself a bit of money and just go for the standard class ALR.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Right, All Line Rover would you be able to tell me what your plan is to do in the summer?

 

[anthony263]

By the way anyone got any reconmendations of routes or service to travel on later this summer. I am planning on doing 7 day ALR in late august early september.

Having a look through the latest national rail timetable to plan. i at least want to do the lines in the far north of scotland

 

[Oliver]

My advice is that you should plan to enjoy the trip, not to bust a gut trying to cover every bit of line you've dreamt about. For me, that means getting a good night's sleep and a bit of exercise during the day. I'm not convinced the Sleeper is the right idea; I've never slept very well on one, and you'll miss some interesting routes while you're trying to get to sleep. I'd say aim to spend no more than three hours on any train. Unlike some of the other posts, I would spend the extra on the 1st class if I could afford to.

 

[flymo]

Hi Everyone,

I want to plan a All Line Rover, But need your help as im rubbish at planning these Things.

I will be going for Two weeks on a First Class Ticket.

Some Key Points I want to do are:

• Branch Lines of The UK
• Sleepers
• Station's Closest to John O Groats and Land's End
• Also any other's you can think of, that I can get the most of First Class

I will be starting out from London, And Hopefully not returning back to the last night, so any Cheap Hotels, Youth Hostel's, Sleeper's would help

Thank you

Neil

By the way anyone got any reconmendations of routes or service to travel on later this summer. I am planning on doing 7 day ALR in late august early september.

Having a look through the latest national rail timetable to plan. i at least want to do the lines in the far north of scotland

One suggestion for the Far North Line is to take the Inverness portion of the Highland sleeper which arrives at Inverness at 0831. There is a train to Thurso (furthest north Station) and Wick(nearest John o'Groats ?) at 1038 arriving Thurso 1424 and Wick 1455. After a short turn around you can head back to Inverness at 1600 from Wick or 1629 from Thurso to Inverness arriving 2009. From there it is up to you what you do. Head back on the sleeper at 2049 or stay overnight in Inverness and do the Kyle line or even the Chieftan to London the following day. If it were me i'd be tempted to wait for the Chieftan to London and then head to Paddington for the sleeper to Penzance then have a day on the Cornish branches, but that is just me.....

 

[networkrail1]

Thurso (furthest north Station) and Wick(nearest John o'Groats ?)

Oh oh now your in trouble get ready for a ear bashing of some people on here. :roll:

(runs away and hides)

All the best.

Simon

 

[flymo]

Oh oh now your in trouble get ready for a ear bashing of some people on here. :roll:

(runs away and hides)

All the best.

Simon

Why????

 

[All Line Rover]

Right, All Line Rover would you be able to tell me what your plan is to do in the summer?

OK, I will give you the gist of what I'll be doing (as of yet I don't have a "plan", and I want at least 1 day where I am free to rove about as I wish).

Firstly, I will not be getting up ridiculously early, and will not be getting back ridiculously late. If I'm tired, I can feel a bit sick and won't be able to enjoy the food as much. I'm also susceptible to catching the flu when I'm shattered.

Secondly, I will not be getting the sleeper. I can easily stay at home, save money, and sleep better in the process. Whether you can do this will vary depend on your local station, though.

Thirdly, I will not be going further south than Plymouth, am not planning to go on the lines NW of Glasgow (no FC accommodation), and will not go to Inverness because it would involve me taking the 6am train from Crewe and arriving back just before midnight!

Before I can give any further "personalised" recommendations, I need to know the station you'll be starting at. Obviously I'll be starting at Crewe, which is a great station for an ALR.

Because Crewe is in the west of England, and because VT's Breakfast is so good, I'm not going to bother trying East Coast's breakfast, as that would involve me getting to York or Doncaster by 9:30am - which would be very difficult.

When I go to Glasgow, I'll probably take the 08:09 (Voyager) or 07:32 (Pendolino) service. For Edinburgh, I'd take the 09:09 (Voyager), as the 07:09 is too early in my opinion. For London, I'll take the 08:29, which is the first train to arrive in London after 10am (10:04 to be precise), and happily it's a Pendolino! I may also go on the ATW Premier Service to try the breakfast, but only once because 07:33 is a bit early and I don't think the breakfast will be much better than Virgin's.

I will try Hull Trains a few times (probably only between Selby/Doncaster and London), and will also try the 10:50 Grand Central service from London to Doncaster - according to their website, any trains departing before 11am will have a "light breakfast." I'll be avoiding Grand Central for the rest of the time, as they don't have many freebies.

I will take the ATW Premier Service in the evening at least twice. It leaves Cardiff at 16:15, but if coming from London I will join at Newport (16:29). I do think it leaves Cardiff a bit early, and it arrives in Crewe at just 18:42! However, I will either go for an early nights sleep or will take the 19:23 VT service to Watford Junction (Pendolino) because since it's an Evening Meal service, I get a second dinner. I would then take the 21:25 service back to Crewe, and get served a Light Bites sandwich.

I will also try to cram in the 17:00 Kings Cross to York (18:51) East Coast service, as it is the first "Evening Meal" service, and the fares are quite high so I'd be getting good value for money. As of yet I don't know what the Evening Meal will be like, but I assume that it'll be good. I also don't know how to get from York to Crewe in First Class that late in the evening, but I'll plan that nearer the time!

Finally I will also try to use the FGW First Class lounge at Paddington when I travel between London and Newport, and will get the VT Evening Meal (PENDOLINO ONLY) as much as I can. I will spend the rest of the time going up and down on VT, EC, HT and TPE, and will go on other operators at the weekend. I will only use XC when necessary, and although the VT Voyager BREAKFAST is OK, the VT Voyager Evening Meal is not, so I'll only be travelling on Pendolinos in the evening.

I am planning to do the ALR from Wednesday to Tuesday. That way, I can have a rest at the weekend because I won't leave until at least 10am, and will arrive back by 8pm.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Hi,
Im starting from Romford, In Essex Hopefully I can get the most out of it As I really would like to try out the meals on board.

 

[dcd]

My ALR plan includes some of the features required - see attached.

Some on here seem to be experts on what food is free where in 1st Class any info on what I should expect would be welcome.

 

[All Line Rover]

Hi,
Im starting from Romford, In Essex Hopefully I can get the most out of it As I really would like to try out the meals on board.

You MUST try: Virgin Trains, Arriva Premier Service and East Coast (I don't know what East Coast is like yet, but it should be good)

You MAY want to try: First Hull Trains (I will be travelling with them at the end of the month - will report back!), TP Express and East Midlands Trains' evening "enhanced" serivces (more info about enhanced services here: http://bitURL.net/emtfc - they are the 16:55; 17:15; 17:30 and 17:55 services from London)

Unless necessary for connections, avoid: CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains (except the services mentioned above) and First Great Western

ALWAYS avoid: Grand Central (only biscuits are served!)

All other TOC's have only basic First Class accommodation, so try and avoid them except at weekends.

London is not a great starting place because of the 10am restriction, so if you want breakfast you may have to get up early, but here at some ways to avoid the restriction anyway:

• Virgin Trains Pendolino - Take a FGW service from Paddington [07:30] to Reading [07:57], and an XC service from Reading [08:11] to Coventry [09:22]. Then you can take a VT Pendolino from Coventry [09:31] to Euston [10:34], and be served breakfast.
• Virgin Trains Voyager - Take a FGW service from Paddington [06:30] to Reading [06:54], and an XC service from Reading [07:11] to Wolverhampton [09:14]. Then you can take a VT Voyager from Wolverhampton [09:37] to Glasgow [13:17], and be served breakfast.
• East Coast - take a FCC service from London to Peterborough, and then take any East Coast service you like further north.

You must definitely try the Evening Meal service on VT Pendolinos and the Evening Meal service on the Arriva Premier Service - VT is excellent, and I've heard ATW is too. You might not be able to try breakfast on the Premier Service, but you aren't missing much as it's identical to VT and EC.

Hopefully with this information you'll be able to make a plan, but don't stick to it like mad, as one of the joys of the ALR (in my opinion) is having this sense of "freedom" in that you can jump onto any train you like!

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Thank you for all your support, All Line Rover and the rest of you .. I always thought Grand Central were a good railway to travel with cause I no they have Board games on the tables - If im correct?

 

[All Line Rover]

Thank you for all your support, All Line Rover and the rest of you .. I always thought Grand Central were a good railway to travel with cause I no they have Board games on the tables - If im correct?

I know they have board games on the tables, and I believe you are entitled to "free chess pieces" when you travel First Class, but there's no free First Class food apart from a few biscuits (reflecting the fact that Grand Central's First Class fares are MUCH lower than East Coast and Hull Trains - but you're on an ALR, so you don't care!).

 

[Track Basher]

Here is my attempt at this need to check the times on the Summer timetable as it is based on the current timetable.

I have got most of what you want within a week.

 

[dcd]

Here is my attempt at this need to check the times on the Summer timetable as it is based on the current timetable.

I have got most of what you want within a week.

I think your Wednesday 12:12 to Fort William Mallaig is not running until 26th September according to scotrail web timetable it is 12:48 until then except Saturdays. There seems to be not such restriction in the complete timetable.

 

[Track Basher]

I did say I had done this from the Winter TT and it needed checking.

I now have a summer one and it looks as though the SO is missing from the 08:21 Glasgow - Oban / Fort William. You could always go down on the steam but that would cost extra.