All Line Rover + Railcard

[SickyNicky]

Hi all - I'm long time lurker coming "out", so to speak.

I'm registered deaf and have a Disabled Persons Railcard. My partner and I are thinking about getting an All Line Rover for a weeks holiday sometime soon. I wonder if some of you experts could help with a few answers please?

Can we use the railcard discount on the rover for both of us? (normally my railcard lets me buy tickets for a companion as well). Are there any restrictions we need to be aware of?

If we want to use one (or more) of the sleeper trains, do we get the railcard discount on whatever supplement we have to pay?

If we miss a connection because one of our trains is late, and can't get home in the evening (we live in Hereford), do we just have to accept it and pay for an hotel, or will they find us a way home - I suppose this is especially important on the last day of validity? (I've seen loads of discussion on this around split ticketing, but not specifically around rovers).

Finally, I know this is subjective, but do you think it's worth paying the extra to go first class?

Thanks very much everyone.

 

[MCR247]

I think that the discout will only work for you, and not your partner

 

[wintonian]

I have bought a Freedom of Seven and Solent rover and obtained the discount for a friend traveling with me, so I would think the same would apply to all rovers with railcard discounts.

There are no discounts on sleeper supplements.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

First Class is worth it if you pick and choose who you travel with. See Travelling First Class for details.

There are no railcard discounts on sleeper supplements, but you can travel in the seated section provided you've made a reservation (for free)

 

[SickyNicky]

First Class is worth it if you pick and choose who you travel with. See Travelling First Class for details.

There are no railcard discounts on sleeper supplements, but you can travel in the seated section provided you've made a reservation (for free)

So if we get a local down to Abergavenny we could get a free breakfast on our way up north (doubling back through Hereford) - rather weird, but nice Strange that FGW doesn't do free meals for first class when the others seem to, though.

 

[janb]

Can we use the railcard discount on the rover for both of us? (normally my railcard lets me buy tickets for a companion as well).

I see no reason why not. Obviously the companion would not be able to travel on the discounted ticket without the holder.

 

[MCR247]

Are you sure you can use the discount for both people?

 

[CallySleeperKid]

Are you sure you can use the discount for both people?

I can't see why not, after all its still just a rail ticket, no matter how much it costs. Plus if you are a carer or dependant companion of the card holder, then who is to say that you can have cheaper tickets for a shorter journey but not a rover? Surly if the disabled traveller needs a companion, it should not matter what the ticket is.

 

[MCR247]

Ok, but on the NR website it just gives a disabled railcard price, so I assumed it would just be for the holder only

 

[bnm]

Yes, you most definitely can get a discount for your companion on an All-Line Rover both Standard and First Class.

http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/buy-a-railcard/what-discounts-do-i-get

What discounts do I get?
A Disabled Persons Railcard gives you, and one adult travelling with you, 1/3 off most adult rail fares for travel on the National Rail network.
<snip>
What tickets can I get a Disabled Persons Railcard discount on?
<snip>
All-Line Rail Rover 7 and 14-day tickets for travel in Standard and First Class

As for whether go for Standard or First, that really depends on where you plan to travel, If you are doing a lot of InterCity long distance trips then it'd be worthwhile going for First Class. However, if a lot of your journeys are going to be on suburban/inter-urban then go for a Standard All Line.

My own preference would be First Class, having done a 7 Day All-Line in 1st last year. I used both the Night Riviera and Caledonian sleepers during my jolly and paid around £45 for each single berth supplement. I believe the per-person supplement may be cheaper if you share a berth. Make sure you book the berths in advance as, while you may be okay turning up on-spec, there are no guarantees of available space.

I'd recommend the Caledonian northbound to Fort William, the scenery can be stark yet stunning this time of year as you head through the Highlands at dawn. Unfortunately when I did this trip last February it was a total white-out with heavy snow!!!

 

[yorkie]

Can we use the railcard discount on the rover for both of us? (normally my railcard lets me buy tickets for a companion as well). Are there any restrictions we need to be aware of?

There are no restrictions on an All Line Rover ticket.
Disabled Railcard discounts do apply to an All Line Rover ticket.
There is nothing to indicate that a companion can only obtain a discount on certain ticket types.

If we want to use one (or more) of the sleeper trains, do we get the railcard discount on whatever supplement we have to pay?

The berth supplement is about £36 each (standard class) to share a cabin (you could pay around £48 each for a solo berth cabin, to have a cabin each) this is not a ticket, and is effectively a bit like paying for a room in a hotel! Except not as comfortable but more interesting! Try to get berths in the middle of the coach to avoid being above the bogies.

If we miss a connection because one of our trains is late, and can't get home in the evening (we live in Hereford), do we just have to accept it and pay for an hotel, or will they find us a way home - I suppose this is especially important on the last day of validity? (I've seen loads of discussion on this around split ticketing, but not specifically around rovers).

Providing it is a valid connection they should get you back OR arrange for an overnight stay. In the event of the latter, I'd expect tickets to be passed for travel to resume to destination the next day. Allow plenty of connection times, where appropriate. If you ask here for any particular connections we may be able to advise on how reliable these connections are. ALR plans can go horribly wrong if the schedule is too tight!

Finally, I know this is subjective, but do you think it's worth paying the extra to go first class?

Thanks very much everyone.

With a Disabled Railcard, yes, if:
- You plan not to do loads of branch lines (line bashing!) with standard class only
- You plan to do loads of long-distance InterCity routes
- You enjoy travelling on Pendolinos around dinner time ))
- You plan to travel on particularly busy trains that convey FC accomodation (e.g. 1900 from EUS on a Friday night!)

If you had said a 16-25 Railcard I'd have said no!

 

[wintonian]

There are no restrictions on an All Line Rover ticket.
Disabled Railcard discounts do apply to an All Line Rover ticket.
There is nothing to indicate that a companion can only obtain a discount on certain ticket types.

The berth supplement is about £36 each (standard class) to share a cabin (you could pay around £48 each for a solo berth cabin, to have a cabin each) this is not a ticket, and is effectively a bit like paying for a room in a hotel! Except not as comfortable but more interesting! Try to get berths in the middle of the coach to avoid being above the bogies.


Providing it is a valid connection they should get you back OR arrange for an overnight stay. In the event of the latter, I'd expect tickets to be passed for travel to resume to destination the next day. Allow plenty of connection times, where appropriate. If you ask here for any particular connections we may be able to advise on how reliable these connections are. ALR plans can go horribly wrong if the schedule is too tight!

With a Disabled Railcard, yes, if:
- You plan not to do loads of branch lines (line bashing!) with standard class only
- You plan to do loads of long-distance InterCity routes
- You enjoy travelling on Pendolinos around dinner time ))
- You plan to travel on particularly busy trains that convey FC accomodation (e.g. 1900 from EUS on a Friday night!)

If you had said a 16-25 Railcard I'd have said no!

You cant get a railcard discount on a first class ALR with a young persons railcard!

 

[ainsworth74]

You cant get a railcard discount on a first class ALR with a young persons railcard!

Indeed and very annoying it is too. Any idea what the reason behind it is?

 

[wintonian]

Indeed and very annoying it is too. Any idea what the reason behind it is?

The same reason that young person and senior railcard holders can get the disount on tickets to Belfast NI via Stranraer but disabled raildcard holders cant?

AFAIK the young person railcard does not give an automatic right to a discount on any first class ticket, but some TOC's allow it on cheap advance tickets.

 

[MCR247]

Indeed and very annoying it is too. Any idea what the reason behind it is?

Because the point of a YP is that students/people of that age are poor (or so they say...), so they can discounted standard class tickets, if you are going to travel first class it defeats the point

 

[142094]

What happens when 1st class advances are cheaper than standard class advances?

 

[Deerfold]

What happens when 1st class advances are cheaper than standard class advances?

Typically I buy them

More seriously, I don't see why that's any different.

 

[MCR247]

What happens when 1st class advances are cheaper than standard class advances?

Then buy the first class advance, its no different, at least I don't see why it would be

 

[142094]

Then buy the first class advance, its no different, at least I don't see why it would be

Was more making the point against what you said:

Because the point of a YP is that students/people of that age are poor (or so they say...), so they can discounted standard class tickets, if you are going to travel first class it defeats the point

Would be a bit unfair to give a YP railcard discount to a 1st adv that cost less than a standard adv (if you see what I mean)!

 

[MCR247]

Sorry, yes I see what you mean

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I had this argument when it came to doing my rover last Feb.

Basically ATOC say "there'll be uproar from the TOCs if we change that condition" and when you write to each and every TOC, they all say "ATOC set the restrictions, not us!"