All Line Rovers at Tottenham Court Road

[Lucy1501]

Evening all. I’m currently travelling on an all line rover and wasn’t able to pass through the barriers at Tottenham Court Road after I had gotten on the Elizabeth Line at Paddington.

Upon asking a member of TfL staff to let me through the barriers, they said “It’s not valid, it doesn’t say Zone 1 or this station specifically.” But they’d “let me off this time.”

I’m not an expert on London travel zones being from the north of England, but I’ve not been able to find anything on the national rail website forbidding me from getting off the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road.

Would anybody be able to clarify on whether it is allowed or not?

 

[Watershed]

Poorly trained TfL barrier staff talking nonsense - unfortunately a tale as old as time . I'd have said "complain to TfL" but frankly it's a waste of time - I've tried before when I've had similar issues and you never end up really getting anywhere.

All Line Rovers are valid on all National Rail services subject to the handful of time restrictions, including all Elizabeth line services. You can start or finish a journey at any station served by National Rail services.

 

[AlterEgo]

It is allowed. Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line is a National Rail service and the ALR is valid.

They have probably never seen an ALR before but it’s no excuse. I recommend contacting TfL about this because the staff are just plain wrong.

 

[Lucy1501]

Thank you both for your help, very much appreciated.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

It is allowed. Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line is a National Rail service and the ALR is valid.

They have probably never seen an ALR before but it’s no excuse. I recommend contacting TfL about this because the staff are just plain wrong.

Out of curiosity, can ALRs be used on London Overground?

 

[AlterEgo]

Out of curiosity, can ALRs be used on London Overground?

Yes.

 

[transportphoto]

This TfL staff briefing from May 2022 confirms that All Line Rovers are valid throughout - https://internal.nationalrail.co.uk/Staff Brief - Elizabeth line opening.pdf

As stated earlier, London Underground fares will apply on the central section even though the Elizabeth line is a TOC service run by TfL. There is an exception to the rule that Underground ticketing applies to the central section: national products that give unlimited travel on all TOCs are also valid on the whole of the Elizabeth line, including the Paddington-Abbey Wood section. This includes products like:
• Britrail Pass
• Interrail
• All Line Rover
• FIP Coupons
• Staff Travel dated “boxes”
• Status Pass

 

[yorkie]

Upon asking a member of TfL staff to let me through the barriers, they said “It’s not valid, it doesn’t say Zone 1 or this station specifically.” But they’d “let me off this time.”

This is typical of the sort of training and attitude TfL gateline staff have; they are wrong, as is often the case regarding ticketing matters, sadly.

Please let us know how TfL respond to your complaint, if you do contact them (which I'd encourage you to do).

 

[jon81uk]

Which exit at Tottenham Court Road did you use? The new Elizabeth Line one or the Underground one?

 

[bicbasher]

There are videos on YouTube of passengers using ALRs at LU managed Elizabeth line stations, but have had to show it to a member of staff to open the barrier.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

There are videos on YouTube of passengers using ALRs at LU managed Elizabeth line stations, but have had to show it to a member of staff to open the barrier.

TBF ALRs don't normally work in any ticket barrier anywhere.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Out of curiosity, can ALRs be used on London Overground?

Of course they can, why shouldn't they be? London Overground and Elizabeth line services are National Rail services, and while I'm all for the Overground-isation of routes, this is a primary drawback of TFL takeovers of National Rail lines: that their staff will often forget this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Apr 2023 ==

Evening all. I’m currently travelling on an all line rover and wasn’t able to pass through the barriers at Tottenham Court Road after I had gotten on the Elizabeth Line at Paddington.

Upon asking a member of TfL staff to let me through the barriers, they said “It’s not valid, it doesn’t say Zone 1 or this station specifically.” But they’d “let me off this time.”

I’m not an expert on London travel zones being from the north of England, but I’ve not been able to find anything on the national rail website forbidding me from getting off the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road.

Would anybody be able to clarify on whether it is allowed or not?

There's something aggravatingly ironic about him saying something as condescending as I'll “let you off this time" when he was in the wrong. I suppose he thought he was being exceptionally gracious, and yet he's the one at fault.

Don't try and use it to go to Heathrow, don't try and board a Eurostar with it (not that anyone's that stupid, surely?) and heed the somewhat mean morning peak restrictions from the certain stations it applies to, but other than that, you may use this ticket as the name applies: on all National Rail lines.

 

[matt_world2004]

It is specifically mentioned as valid on the Elizabeth line in the fares and ticketing guide for the line.

 

[spyinthesky]

Don't try and use it to go to Heathrow

I think you just mean the Heathrow express service as surely EL is valid at Heathrow?

 

[Class800]

I think you just mean the Heathrow express service as surely EL is valid at Heathrow?

Yes, but wouldn't necessarily be smooth. It depends what you want from your ALR. Is it track bashing? Or is it the most enjoyable journey possible, a trip of a lifetime? If it's the latter, which it would be for me, I would suggest avoiding the very small parts of our network where issues might arise, such as TFL operated stations

 

[Surreytraveller]

Out of curiosity, can ALRs be used on London Overground?

Why couldn't you? Your question is no different than asking whether they could be used on ScotRail

 

[Class800]

Why couldn't you? Your question is no different than asking whether they could be used on ScotRail

It's just that there have been issues in the past on TFL services so it's not the same as asking about Scotrail! But in theory yes, valid on EL and LO, but might not always be a good experience

 

[Krokodil]

Why couldn't you? Your question is no different than asking whether they could be used on ScotRail

TfL often acts like LO isn't a national rail service so it's not surprising that people might assume this to be the case.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think you just mean the Heathrow express service as surely EL is valid at Heathrow?

Yes, but wouldn't necessarily be smooth. It depends what you want from your ALR. Is it track bashing? Or is it the most enjoyable journey possible, a trip of a lifetime? If it's the latter, which it would be for me, I would suggest avoiding the very small parts of our network where issues might arise, such as TFL operated stations

Not according to the Fares Guide

 

[trevmonk]

Why couldn't you? Your question is no different than asking whether they could be used on ScotRail

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable question to ask. The rail system in London is a rather complicated minefield. I would hate to have to explain to a foreign tourist the difference between Train Operating Companies, National Rail, London Underground and TFL, who happen to run both London Underground and a National Rail service.

 

[Krokodil]

No such restriction mentioned on NRE, as far as I can see.

All Line Rover (7 Days) | National Rail

Special offer: All Line Rover (7 Days). The portal into UK rail travel, including information on ticket purchase and promotions, train times and delays, and more.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[matt_world2004]

Don't try and use it to go to Heathrow, don't try and board a Eurostar with it (not that anyone's that stupid, surely?) and heed the somewhat mean morning peak restrictions from the certain stations it applies to, but other than that, you may use this ticket as the name applies: on all National Rail lilines.i

If travelling from Heathrow on an all line rover. Get a free transfer ticket to open the barriers and then use the all line rover on either the Heathrow express or Elizabeth line (It's definitely valid on the EL , and I think it's valid on the express too)

 

[jfollows]

If travelling from Heathrow on an all line rover. Get a free transfer ticket to open the barriers and then use the all line rover on either the Heathrow express or Elizabeth line (It's definitely valid on the EL , and I think it's valid on the express too)

See previous post; it’s not valid on Heathrow Express. Britrail passes for non-residents are. The latter is the only reason I once used Heathrow Express.

 

[island]

If travelling from Heathrow on an all line rover. Get a free transfer ticket to open the barriers and then use the all line rover on either the Heathrow express or Elizabeth line (It's definitely valid on the EL , and I think it's valid on the express too)

No, it's not valid on Heathrow Express.

 

[swt_passenger]

TfL often acts like LO isn't a national rail service so it's not surprising that people might assume this to be the case.

There is fairly long term form for staff ignorance of National ticketing, probably going back to when the Overground was transferred. I’m sure many similar questions came up at the time.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Poorly trained TfL barrier staff talking nonsense - unfortunately a tale as old as time . I'd have said "complain to TfL" but frankly it's a waste of time - I've tried before when I've had similar issues and you never end up really getting anywhere.

All Line Rovers are valid on all National Rail services subject to the handful of time restrictions, including all Elizabeth line services. You can start or finish a journey at any station served by National Rail services.

How much training on Paper Tickets do new TFL recruits actually get?
Woudn't be surprised if none at all as TFL have a stated plan to get rid of physical paper tickets anyway. Therefore the attitude is "everyone uses Oyster or Contactless" and anyone who tries to insert a piece of Orange Cardboard into a ticket gate deserves what they get as it must be a fake that they've run up on their PC at home...

 

[Lucy1501]

TBF ALRs don't normally work in any ticket barrier anywhere.

I surprisingly had it work in the barriers at Cardiff Queen Street and Central yesterday!

Please let us know how TfL respond to your complaint, if you do contact them (which I'd encourage you to do).

I most likely will do. Whilst I doubt I’ll get much personal benefit out of the complaint, I imagine the potential to better educate staff would be much appreciated by all.

 

[Benjwri]

Don't try and use it to go to Heathrow

Although it’s valid on the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Although it’s valid on the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow

Maybe it is then, but http://www.railrover.org/pages/all-line.html says:

TOC Restrictions:
Rather than highlight where you can go it is simpler to state where you cannot go - it is NOT VALID on the following:
Eurostar, Heathrow Express, TfL (Crossrail) between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, Docklands Light Railway, London Underground, all local metro tram systems, shipping services or on any of the private railways except for the Ffestiniog Railway & Welsh Highland Railway (3rd class).

@spyinthesky this was the source of my previous Heathrow comment.

 

[Benjwri]

Maybe it is then, but http://www.railrover.org/pages/all-line.html says:

@spyinthesky this was the source of my previous Heathrow comment.

Not mentioned on the Nation Rail page: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-offers/promotions/all-line-rover-7-days/

The All Line Rail Rover is NOT valid for travel on;

• Eurostar
• Heathrow Express
• London Underground
• DLR
• London Trams
• private railways (except Ffestiniog Railway & Welsh Highland Railway but see note below) or,
• on any shipping service