All line rover

[Andy Pacer]

Need to check that the Ffestiniog is running a normal service as currently they seem to be running only "excursions".

Hope its running tomorrow as I'm planning a trip on it!

 

[ge-gn]

I have never done an ALR but maybe one day.

I’m interested to hear the advice not to use it to plod around the scenic Scottish routes, and that seems sensible from a time perspective.

Let’s just say you had two weeks available to spend some time roaming the land. Instead of getting a two week ALR, would it make sense to get a one week ALR to rush around England and Wales, ending with an overnight on the CS to Northern Scotland, then have a relaxing week doing a Freedom of Scotland from there? I guess the problem would be getting back to your origin I suppose.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Newcastle! With a ticket valid only as far as to Berwick - did you excess or were there no checks?

That's a good point! I can remember we woke up rolling into a big station and assuming it was Newcastle . The station had those B.R. fluorescent lights with the station name on the shade. Not always legible but I did notice that there weren't enough letters for NEWCASTLE CENTRAL or even DARLINGTON... Possibly we had intended to go only to Berwick, I can't remember

In those days, guards just patrolled the train and only travelling ticket collectors inspected tickets, and the latter didn't seem to do nights. However, I did not bilk in those days, the consequences of being caught for any misdemeanour always seemed terrifying - including, slightly earlier, expulsion from school. Having said that, I recollect that a Scottish Rover was £6. 6s but reduced to £5 5s if bought by a family. On this occasion, the 4 of us lied that we were brothers to claim the reduced charge. An interesting genetic proposition bearing in mind I have blue eyes and (before I lost it!) blond hair, unlike all my other 'brothers'

 

[ChrisC]

I have never done an ALR but maybe one day.

I’m interested to hear the advice not to use it to plod around the scenic Scottish routes, and that seems sensible from a time perspective.

Let’s just say you had two weeks available to spend some time roaming the land. Instead of getting a two week ALR, would it make sense to get a one week ALR to rush around England and Wales, ending with an overnight on the CS to Northern Scotland, then have a relaxing week doing a Freedom of Scotland from there? I guess the problem would be getting back to your origin I suppose.

I’ve also never done an ALR. I’ve often thought about it and perhaps 30 years ago it was something that I might have enjoyed. These days I would rather book myself into a nice comfortable hotel and do a Regional Rover. Some of them cover huge areas and allow a more leisurely week travelling around with plenty of time to get off the train and explore interesting places and also do some walking.

 

[Mike99]

All the comments show that an ALR/Regional Rovers are all decided personal choice, funds etc. I do like building up a bit of serious mileage on an ALR.

 

[Techniquest]

I did consider doing a First Class ALR last year, and ended up doing a cycling tour instead, mostly for the comfort and higher class of travel for exploring different places. As well as red-penning a whole ton of the new trains. However, now the world is back open I've postponed that idea even further, there's so much of the world to go and see first!

 

[NorthWestRover]

I'm not sure I'll ever do an ALR now, but if I did it would be first class and I'd use it to sit back with music or a book and travel long distances on one train. I'd definitely go to West Wales as I've never been West of Tenby. I'd do the full length of the ECML cos I've never done it in one go, possibly the MML for the same reason. I'd probably go to Penzance cos I like that route. Then I'm bored and am thinking, I should have done a Devon & Cornwall and done the branches or the Wales one that @shredder1 did recently.

I intend to do the Spirit of Scotland thing.

And Ireland.

And maybe one or two single country Interrails - Germany certainly, maybe Benelux too.

Probably all before I'd do an ALR.

But I get why people want to do it.

 

[cambsy]

I have done, a fair few 7 day ALR’s. Both Standard and First class, did standard class when younger, with some nutty weeks out, one mad week of travelling, was when just for the sake of it, i attempted to see if could get near or break the record for how many miles done in a week, I got to around the 10.500 miles mark, living on trains for the whole week, I used the, ECML during the day, with 20 mins approx between trains, and the WCML overnight, in sleepers and seats, London to Edinburgh or Glasgow and v.v, was zombie pretty much by end of it, and was lucky pretty much every train was on time, have to say those were the days.

Nowadays, I go First Class when do 7 day ALR, but still stay out for the 7 days, using sleeper berths for 5-6 nights and seats for one night if needed to, the pace is more relaxed with longer journeys on each train etc, and use First class lounges to relax between trains, and at Euston, have a shower and clean up, I still do about 7000 miles plus in the week. I would go with what other people have said, and buy a Scottish rover ticket if doing Mallaig etc, as a 7 day ALR wold be a bit wasted if doing the long slow journeys in Western Scotland.

 

[spyinthesky]

I get the most enjoyment out of planning various challenges each time, currently to cover all TOC’s in the first two days, the last one was real ale from and served in each county.
My plans have never fully succeeded due to some connections being too tight such as getting on the wrong train at Fratton or the last trip was undone by a closed pedestrian route between Moorgate and Liverpool St.
Always have a back up plan and if staying overnight I never book anywhere till a few hours before

 

[mrcheek]

I think its still worth doing the Scottish routes for a couple of days on the ALR, as long as you get value for money the rest of the time. Obviously you dont need to do £100 worth of travel every single day to make it worthwhile.
Ive done 13 ALRs, always First Class, and always for 2 weeks. The first couple of times I even included a couple of rest days.
It may sometimes seem better value to miss out bits of Scotland or Wales, just because theres no First Class, but many of the routes you will miss are those with the very best scenery!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What routes in Scotland would you need a (First Class) All Line Rover to ride First Class on, rather than say the "Spirit of Scotland" or similar regional products, which I think is/are Standard class only. Also, are there any (weekday peak hours?) times of the day when the above products are ineligible for use in Scotland.

 

[Andy Pacer]

What routes in Scotland would you need a (First Class) All Line Rover to ride First Class on, rather than say the "Spirit of Scotland" or similar regional products, which I think is/are Standard class only. Also, are there any (weekday peak hours?) times of the day when the above products are ineligible for use in Scotland.

All you need to know RE validity of spirit of Scotland is here

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Spirit of Scotland Travelpass

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

ALR is as per the usual restrictions.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - All Line Rail 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