All line rover

[YorkshireBear]

Right im currently a student so i'm in process of saving up for this but i am gonna plan it and do it before railcard expires, i enjoy planning anyway in a rather odd way.

firstly is it worth it?

secondaly I'm just wondering from anyones experience how feasable is it to go round with a tent and just plan it so i finish at stations next to somewhere to pitch up? Or is that asking too much?

Also which is better to get, can i do enough in 7 days?

cheers in advance

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Would you really want to cart a tent around for a week on the off chance of being able to pitch it?

I have several times used the ALR from Epsom, getting up early for the first train and returning home around 21.00 each night, and managing to cover quite large areas each time.

Slightly less viable for me now that the first train from Epsom isn't quite as early as it used to be; the 20 minutes later might sound insignificant but it makes the difference between catching the first InterCities out of London or not!

But with your location given as Leeds / Sheffield you are ideally situated to radiate out across the country on a series of massive day trips.

 

[rail-britain]

It really depends on what you want to see and what interests you
For me, it was all about as much travel on loco hauled services and "free food"

I found 14 days was too much, but 7 days was too short for all that I had planned
In 2011 I plan just 7 days, as little has changed in two years

Rather than sleep in a tent, plan your ALR around the ScotRail and FGW Sleepers travelling on the seats
However, make sure you leave plenty of allowance for late running (nothing worse than missing the sleeper)
Purchase the ticket 4 weeks in advance from a manned station and make those reservations first

 

[YorkshireBear]

The main thing i like doing is looking out of window i like scenic routes i like travelling through places ive never been ( i keep a map where i highlight lines i travel on )

like travelling to nice stations and just generally getting about on them, not interested in stopping anywhere to 'spot' although i will stop at a few for lunch obviously....

k well tent is out thanks for that

well yeah i suppose i am pretty central, could abse myself there and could use sleepers a few nights maybe

what are extra costs like with sleepers?

 

[Greenback]

One of the great joys of train travel for me is going to different parts of the UK and exploring places and areas I;ve never been to before. On the way I enjoy sitting back and looking at the scenery, assuming I cna get a good view out of the window!

I don;t think there's anything wrong with travel for travel's sake. Anyone who does an ALR does it for their own reasons, and whatever is right for them is just that, right!

You can probably cover a lot of ground from Leeds and Sheffield, but I wouldn;t rule out the thought of a night or two away. There are plenty of budget places to stay now, particularly if you can plan and book ahead. (That's anothe rbit I really enjoy - planning!)

 

[YorkshireBear]

One of the great joys of train travel for me is going to different parts of the UK and exploring places and areas I;ve never been to before. On the way I enjoy sitting back and looking at the scenery, assuming I cna get a good view out of the window!

I don;t think there's anything wrong with travel for travel's sake. Anyone who does an ALR does it for their own reasons, and whatever is right for them is just that, right!

You can probably cover a lot of ground from Leeds and Sheffield, but I wouldn;t rule out the thought of a night or two away. There are plenty of budget places to stay now, particularly if you can plan and book ahead. (That's anothe rbit I really enjoy - planning!)

Yeah i definitely enjoy planning! and my reasons are very similar to yours for doing it, i dont mind taking a saunter on a 158 up settle to carlisle then down the coast etc etc

Also i am civil engineering student so am gonna look at some of the particularly interestign structures of the national rail network especially older viadcuts which i wish i could built in the future but i doubt ill ever get oppurtunity to

Is all line rover limited as to times of travel like day rangers are?

 

[Greenback]

Yeah i definitely enjoy planning! and my reasons are very similar to yours for doing it, i dont mind taking a saunter on a 158 up settle to carlisle then down the coast etc etc

Also i am civil engineering student so am gonna look at some of the particularly interestign structures of the national rail network especially older viadcuts which i wish i could built in the future but i doubt ill ever get oppurtunity to

Is all line rover limited as to times of travel like day rangers are?

No, there are no time restrictions on an ALR, although there were rumours that some were going to be introduced earlier this year!

 

[YorkshireBear]

No, there are no time restrictions on an ALR, although there were rumours that some were going to be introduced earlier this year!

I dont get up that early anyway

k well i hope not

thanks for info

 

[At_traction]

firstly is it worth it?

If the freedom of travel vs. pre-planned, train-specific sets of tickets is of any value in itself for you, that is already a good reason for obtaining one. Even a few flexible tickets might cost that much more - and would still leave less choices for making, for example, route alterations.

Also, a rover gives a wide latitude to change plans mid-way. One notable change for me was while walking along unbelievably gusty Portsmouth seaside promenade in the morning, having originally planned to go straight to the dockyard and then take a midday train to London. That was changed as I heard the noise of Isle of Wight hovercraft while crossing a seaside park! A quick inspiration of hovercraft+1938 Stock+steam line went through my mind and soon I was in the hover-harbour ticketing office, going through maps and timetables and planning my ex-tempore diversion (and a thoroughly enjoyable one too) to Wight. In the end, I took only an afternoon train after the dockyard visit, but with a fixed ticket all this opportunity to change plans at a moment's notice would have been lost.

Another example, in terms of routing, of once changing a pre-planned route from West country northward from via Birmingham to via Newport and eastern Wales just at a whim of looking at a wall map in a ticketing office... A fine walk within the jumble of Newport townscape while waiting for a connection and an unhurried clanking through countryside in a packed two-car unit...

secondaly I'm just wondering from anyones experience how feasable is it to go round with a tent and just plan it so i finish at stations next to somewhere to pitch up? Or is that asking too much?

If you are fit enough to carry it along with sleeping bag and other stuff the whole time . Must also depend on your destinations - its usefulness might be lost in urban sprawl. There might be affordable (not necessarily the same thing as cosy or enjoyable ) B&Bs around, or you could make the Rover pay and use overnight trains as someone suggested.

Also which is better to get, can i do enough in 7 days?

Depends on the scope of the travel and "time-on-target". You could spent the whole seven days in traversing railway structures (and modern architecture ) in Gr'r Manchester area or around Glasgow/Edinburgh area - or you could make two dashes up and down coastal lines (with Forth and Tay bridges, of course) in two days, like me. But Dundee was an unexpectedly interesting place, moreover...

 

[rail-britain]

what are extra costs like with sleepers?

If you book well in advance, you should be able to get a seat at no extra cost
A sleeper berth will cost you between £35 and £55

 

[transportphoto]

If you book well in advance, you should be able to get a seat at no extra cost
A sleeper berth will cost you between £35 and £55

Seats are free anyway... reservations are compusalary on SR and advisable on FGW sleepers.

Again these are available from any booking office, however some staff may not know how to do it.

 

[mrcheek]

Ive done 3 ALRs, all of them 2 week First Class ones.

On the first two, I returned home every day. On the third one, I stayed in Inverness for 3 nights so I could do the lines in the north and east of Scotland. I dont think a tent is much of an idea.

Leeds and Sheffield are nicely central, enabling you to cover plenty of miles in a day and still get home. I used to leave home about 6 most mornings, and get home at 10 or 11. Very tiring, but you can always catch up on sleep on the train!

I recommend first class, its well worth it simple because it makes it far more likely that you will get a seat. (plus with 1+2 seating, it means you dont have to sit by someone else). The free drinks are useful too, plus the seats on most long distance routes are much better. and comfort is important when youre spending 14 consecutive days on trains.

 

[43167]

Ive done afew ALR over the years. For my overnights I tend to use FGW's sleeper or the Fishguard when that was HST. Used to get a seat booked on the Night Riv, but I realised it was not always needed except at Weekends in the Summer. Even managed to turn up at Euston once and got a seat without a res for the Glasgow/Edinburgh sleeper, but go with the advice and get a reservation for the scottish sleeper as dont think that will be the case now.

 

[rail-britain]

I based my journeys around travelling from Croy, Falkirk, and Glasgow Central

I wanted the ticket to commence on a Saturday and end on a Friday
Thankfully the Friday night Inverness - Euston sleeper calls at Falkirk on Saturday morning
This would then allow me to complete a return trip to Great Yarmouth
I then returned to Falkirk and drive home, as there are no sleepers on Saturday nights
On Sunday morning I then parked at Croy, the car remaining there until Friday night
I then travelled on the first Croy - Edinburgh service, with seats reserved on the East Coast Kings Cross service, but if possible travelling on the Cross Country HST as far as Newcastle
This was repeated the following weekend
However on the second weekend the return Great Yarmouth service was cancelled at Norwich

The remainder of the week was spent on Scotland - Euston sleepers, as these allowed easier connections and allowance for any delays by using the 16:30 Euston - Glasgow to return back for these
The only exception was the Euston - Fort William sleeper, and due to issues on the WCML I phoned ScotRail whilst at Liverpool Lime Street to advise that I may be boarding at Crewe instead

The remaining three days were spent on some of the unusual Pendolino workings; the 04:25 Glasgow - Euston and other such limited stop Glasgow - Euston services

 

[Oliver]

My advice is to plan for enjoyment, not for a record breaking track-bash. To enjoy the week you will need decent food and sleep. I think that rules out the tent, and also trying to sleep in a seat - where's the fun in waking up knackered? So plan a route that covers interesting lines, around 8 hours per day on a train with a couple of hours lunch break somewhere interesting. Try to stay in a B&B or with friends and family where you'll get looked after. Take lots of pictures and notes of your journey, and make a point of chatting to other people on the trains. That way you'll finish with a rich experience.

 

[DarloRich]

save up a bit more and use the sleepers or book into a travel lodge/premier inn - you can get rooms cheap if you book in advance and/or choose less than salubrious places!

leave the tent at home - you wont use it much unless you are out in the country at the end of every day. Just a tip - try to avoid having to sleep on the station in the waiting room. It isnt fun!

 

[MCR247]

I would stay in hotels. When I did mine I used 2 sleepers and the rest were Premier Inns. I reccomend the Northampton one if you want to stay near London, I got my rooms for £19 per night

 

[142094]

Did a 7 day standard one in 2008, and used B+Bs for all of the journey. I had planned what routes I was taking, so I could have booked them in advance and saved a bit, but liked the flexibility of the ALR.

Returning to your home address every night would save money but I wouldn't, you'll enjoy going to different places and staying over night more IMO.

 

[MCR247]

I agree that going home every night isn't a good idea as you won't be able to cover very far without getting the first train out and the last train home

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Did a 7 day one in st a decade ago, sleeping at home in North London a few nights, using the Scotrail sleeper seats other nights. Two consecutive nights in the seats was too much - should have booked a berth.

Would love to do a 7 day 1st class one now, but don't have the time and would never get it signed off by the spending committee!

 

[YorkshireBear]

My advice is to plan for enjoyment, not for a record breaking track-bash. To enjoy the week you will need decent food and sleep. I think that rules out the tent, and also trying to sleep in a seat - where's the fun in waking up knackered? So plan a route that covers interesting lines, around 8 hours per day on a train with a couple of hours lunch break somewhere interesting. Try to stay in a B&B or with friends and family where you'll get looked after. Take lots of pictures and notes of your journey, and make a point of chatting to other people on the trains. That way you'll finish with a rich experience.

Agree with you completely that does sum up how i want it to be, if anything just playing all routes by ear....

Thanks for that, well if i plan it i cant take a different route out of sheffield or leeds everyday or either depends when it is may have homes in both, i also have family in plymouth and grantham.

would rather not fork out for hotels and b&b's i dont have that kind of money hanging around and wont do for some time

i think ill use home and family as a base for further travel sounds more logical to me

 

[silvermachine]

Hi

I definitely think you could do this, and I think doing it with a tent would be great and cost effective idea.

You will need to do some planning in advance but there are plenty of places where there are campsites quite close to the railway station particularly on more scenic lines

off the top of my head campsites are within walking distance of stations in edale, tywyn, betwys y coed, porthmadoc, fort william and Im sure hundreds of other stations.

As to whether its worth it- definitely.

Id also consider doing an interail and experiencing the joys of the continental railways - and thats also perfectlydoable with a tent.

enjoy.

 

[Greenback]

Me and my mates took a tent when we went Inter railing in the 80's. We didn;t use it every night, but we did find a few good sites that we used for a couple of nights to see more of a region. I don't see why the same can't be done in the UK.

 

[At_traction]

Me and my mates took a tent when we went Inter railing in the 80's. We didn;t use it every night, but we did find a few good sites that we used for a couple of nights to see more of a region. I don't see why the same can't be done in the UK.

Yes, but in a group it's easier to divide the burden of tent, (individual) sleeping bags, rations, cooking equipment (Trangia or such) and other carry-on essentials. By oneself, the load is much more of a handful in general.

But for the OP, even despite the rather central location, in addition to using home as a "base", I'd perhaps still consider dishing out for a three-day (two-night) longer excursion father away with accommodation in tent, sleeper or budget accommodation. That would certainly give more "reach" for the use of the Rover. Just IMO.

 

[Greenback]

You have a point there. Mind you, we didn't take cooking equimpent, just a big tent, which we took turns to carry, and sleeping bags. I agree, though, camping is better in a group!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Yes, but in a group it's easier to divide the burden of tent, (individual) sleeping bags, rations, cooking equipment (Trangia or such) and other carry-on essentials. By oneself, the load is much more of a handful in general.

But for the OP, even despite the rather central location, in addition to using home as a "base", I'd perhaps still consider dishing out for a three-day (two-night) longer excursion father away with accommodation in tent, sleeper or budget accommodation. That would certainly give more "reach" for the use of the Rover. Just IMO.

yeah exactly, i can use a combination of family and sleepers and home, over 7 nights should be easy enough....

 

[scotsman]

You have a point there. Mind you, we didn't take cooking equimpent, just a big tent, which we took turns to carry, and sleeping bags. I agree, though, camping is better in a group!

Camping is best in a small group with the bare essentials, heat, iPods, speakers, a quiet location, a nearby chippy, a phone signal and plenty of alcohol!

 

[silvermachine]

things have perhaps moved on in tent design.

My cheap one person tent weighs 2 kilos and my sleeping bag 1.5 kilos. Both light enough and small enough for a small backpack.

an advantage of camping is that as a student, you are likely to meet and engage with other interesting younger people...... which was ( I seem to remember) at the heart of the interail experience.

whatever you choose to do, make sure you have fun.

 

[At_traction]

things have perhaps moved on in tent design.

My cheap one person tent weighs 2 kilos and my sleeping bag 1.5 kilos. Both light enough and small enough for a small backpack.

And that is the equivalent of four one-litre milk cartons extra in the backpack (in addition to anything else carried along) and a sleeping bag that protects against a typical rainy British night still does take its space when packed - as does a neoprene "blanket" to give extra padding and protection against cold from the ground...

an advantage of camping is that as a student, you are likely to meet and engage with other interesting younger people...... which was ( I seem to remember) at the heart of the interail experience.

For this, hostels are an alternative then - less dragging of stuff, better protection from the elements and towns with these are probably more numerous than those with camping sites(?).

 

[Track Basher]

I had many of these in the 80s and 90s exploring new parts of the network and loco hauled trains. The latter being more difficult these days. The way we used to do it was come home every other day and spend the night in between on an overnight train.

This is a little more tricky these days as the number of overnight trains is very limited long gone are the West of England to Scotland sleeper trains.

On one we decided to go from Penzance to Thurso, just because we could. Did stop at home on the way past for a shower.

At the end of the day it comes down to what you want to do. If you plan it well is is possible to do it in two/three day stints and get a good night's sleep in between at home. If you take this approach you would only require 3 nights in hotels and you can get cheap deals in Travelodge / Premier Inn if you book a long way in advance.

If you are interested you can read about some of the one's I did about 20 years ago.

Hope this helps.