ALR - where to go

[bennorthyork]

I'm planning to get and use an ALR to use before the price increase and can't decide where to go. There's so much of the UK rail network that I've not been round. The main interesting routes I've been on are all the way up and down the ECML many time, Cumbrian coast, Settle - Carlisle and York - Penzance. Any ideas where I should go?

 

[me123]

Some ideas:

Pendolinos to Glasgow Central
West Highland Line
HSTs/Sleepers to Aberdeen and/or Inverness (you could easily get the sleeper to Inverness, travel across to Aberdeen and get an HST southbound).

That said, I'm slightly biased being Scottish! I've not been on many English lines that are particularly scenic.

But these are some of the best routes in Scotland, all of them easy to do. On an ALR, I'd be tempted to avoid Kyle and Wick because they're very far out of the way, and take a long time. That said, they're supposed to be really fantastic routes so you may want to do these as well.

 

[mrcheek]

A journey to Penzance, taking in the Devon coast, is essential.

The central Wales line, continued along the coast to either Pwllheli or Aberystwyth is a good one too.

The North Wales line, from Chester to Holyhead, mostly along the coast is also recommended. But make sure you leave Holyhead as soon as you arrive, as its a dump!

Of course, a lot depends on what you are in to! do you want loco haulage? fast journeys? coastlines? rivers? industrial scenery? hills and mountains? The UK netwrok has something for everyone!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Price increase?
What? When? How much?

 

[furryfeet]

15 % on 17 may 2009

see other posts on this forum

unless Lord Adonis blows his top and kicks ATOC down to size !

 

[martyn29]

St Ives is nice

 

[LilLoaf]

Don't forget to go to Essex. Great place lots of differant types of trains including class 90 haulage to Norwich. Ooh and the best part of Essex is off course without a doubt, ROMFORD - UPMINSTER SHUTTLE, best line on the whole of the UK network. Forget S&C, West Highland, Scotland, just go on the Romford - Upminster shuttle its great !

 

[gordonthemoron]

Middlesborough-Whitby is v.nice.
Leeds-Ilkley
Derby-Matlock
Oxenholme-Windermere
Lancaster-Ulverston (unless you want to go on the ratty, the rest of the cumbrian coast line isn't that interesting)
Buxton-Stockport

 

[bennorthyork]

Never managed the ALR last year but this year I am doing a 1st Class ALR in the first week of December this year, so I'm finalising my list of places to go much of which is based on recommendations from here. I'm mostly interested in scenery or interesting traction. Here's my list of ideas so far, can anyone think of any more to add? I also want to make the most of free meals etc!

Pendolinos to Glasgow Central
HSTs/Sleepers to Aberdeen and/or Inverness
Coast to Penzance
Central Wales line
North Wales line, from Chester to Holyhead
Romford - Upminster
Derby-Matlock
Oxenholme-Windermere
Lancaster-Ulverston
Buxton-Stockport

Already done the following a few times (and they are great) but probably won't do as part of ALR unless on the way to somewhere else.

West Highland Line
Middlesborough-Whitby
Cornish Branch lines
Glasgow - Oban
Glasgow - Mallaig
Inverness - Kyle
Inverness - Wick
Penistone Line
York - Kings Cross
Transpennine York - Manchester
Leeds - Ilkley

 

[mrcheek]

For scenery, you might want to add Settle-Carlisle, and also the Cumbria coast .
You may be able to squeeze them both in on a single day.

 

[tony_mac]

that's just a bit of a waste for a first-class ALR.
It costs £90+ a day for the ALR, a North Country 4 in 8 day rover is £72.

I quite like Newcastle - Carlisle, which is obviously good for getting onto the WCML. And what about a WSMR trip? I don't know what the scenery is like, but at least you get fed!

 

[mrcheek]

that's just a bit of a waste for a first-class ALR.
It costs £90+ a day for the ALR, a North Country 4 in 8 day rover is £72.

I quite like Newcastle - Carlisle, which is obviously good for getting onto the WCML. And what about a WSMR trip? I don't know what the scenery is like, but at least you get fed!

Good points.

Try and squeeze as many of those northern trips into a day or two.

Personally, I like to do as many journeys as I can along the main routes (ECML, WCML,MML and GWML), where the trains travel at speed (usually), and first class can be really enjoyed.

 

[rail-britain]

Take a look at my ALR from last summer
I included 10 sleeper journeys, the cost being about the same for a hotel

I tried to make sure I had a breakfast and evening meal, where possible
I also wanted to try out some of the more unusual Pendolino workings; Glasgow - Euston limited stop (which are normally very expensive in First Class)

Book seat reservations, where appropriate, and ALL sleepers well in advance
Keep a record of all trains used; where they are 30 or more minutes late you may submit a claim for delay to most TOCs

 

[philjo]

Try the WAG Express?

In December it will be dark when the Northbound service runs along the Marches line through Shropshire, but the morning southbound service should be in daylight past the Shropshire Hills.

 

[Squaddie]

that's just a bit of a waste for a first-class ALR.
It costs £90+ a day for the ALR, a North Country 4 in 8 day rover is £72.

An ALR is a complete rip-off. £990 for a 14-day first class ticket? You can get a 15-day first-class pass for Swiss railways for less than half that amount (£425) - and swiss railways are truly luxurious, with stunning scenery on every single line. Don't waste your money - book a cheap flight to Zurich, get a Swiss rail pass and spend the other £550 on budget lodgings once you're there.

 

[rail-britain]

An ALR is a complete rip-off. £990 for a 14-day first class ticket?

It depends on how you use it
I used mine virtually 24 hours every day
However I do know some people that use it for just one or two trains per day
Business people also use it as it allows them to travel to meetings at short notice

Equally, it can work out vastly cheaper than "day return" tickets between most stations, again if used to the full amount, where you do not know exactly when you are travelling
The example I used was seven returns between Euston and Glasgow, works out at near on £1400, and on an ALR over 7 days I can cram in a lot more than that!

 

[mrcheek]

An ALR is a complete rip-off. £990 for a 14-day first class ticket? You can get a 15-day first-class pass for Swiss railways for less than half that amount (£425) - and swiss railways are truly luxurious, with stunning scenery on every single line. Don't waste your money - book a cheap flight to Zurich, get a Swiss rail pass and spend the other £550 on budget lodgings once you're there.

Swiss railways are cheaper in general.
Compared to normal first class tickets, an ALR is one of the best bargains available.
Ive done three 2 week first class ALRs, and intend to do another next year. Superb value.

 

[cuccir]

An ALR is a complete rip-off. £990 for a 14-day first class ticket? You can get a 15-day first-class pass for Swiss railways for less than half that amount (£425) - and swiss railways are truly luxurious, with stunning scenery on every single line. Don't waste your money - book a cheap flight to Zurich, get a Swiss rail pass and spend the other £550 on budget lodgings once you're there.

It should be pointed out the Geneva to Konstanz, that is, south-west to north-east Switzerland is 212.5 miles (by road!). Basel to Lugano, north to south, is 165 miles. By contrast, Penzance to Wick is 811 miles! So your Swiss pass takes you round a much smaller area: according to CIA Factbook, 41,277 sq km, and 4,888 km of rail; compared to 243,610 sq km and 16,454 km of rail.

So the ALR is cheaper than the Swiss per kilometre of rail!

 

[bennorthyork]

I have a few questions which are very simple I think! But I'm not sure of the answers!

1. Can I buy an ALR now for travel in late November?
2. For Caledonian Sleeper and Night Riviera can I use seated accommodation in both with a first class ALR?
3. If I want a berth on Caledonian Sleeper or Night Riviera and I have a first class ALR do I just need to pay a berth supplement?
4. Can I use First Class lounges with a first class ALR?
5. Are W&S, Arriva Wales Premier and Virgin Trains the only companies to offer free meals with a first class ALR and is it on all routes? I know some others offer snacks.
6. Is ALR validity from 00.01 on day 1 to 23.59 day 7?
7. Which, if any, train companies offer free meals on weekends with a first class ALR?

Thanks in advance

 

[MCR247]

1) Yes
2) YES
3) Yes
4) Yes
5) Do Hull Trains? Or Grand Central?
6) I think so
7) WSMR

 

[rail-britain]

If I want a berth on Caledonian Sleeper or Night Riviera and I have a first class ALR do I just need to pay a berth supplement?

I would recommend you book these as soon as you know your travel plans, especially for travel on Friday or Sunday nights

Can I use First Class lounges with a first class ALR?

You can use some, but not all, for free
East Midlands trains will allow you to use theirs for a £5 supplement (using each one attracts such a supplement)

Which, if any, train companies offer free meals on weekends with a first class ALR?

If you are entitled to free meals during the week, then simply take your ticket to the onboard shop for your free refreshments (basic, but it's better than nothing)

See the details of mine from 2009

 

[jay jay]

If I had a standard all line rover and wanted to use the Caledonian Sleeper, how much would I have to pay for a berth or a seat in the seated accommodation?

Thanks

 

[bennorthyork]

Thanks guys A few more quick questions that you can probably answer if you don't mind please:

1. To get breakfast / dinner on WSMR which station do you need to board by and which station do you need to alight after?
2. To get breakfast / dinner on Arriva Wales Premier which station do you need to board by and which station do you need to alight after?
3. I have the Virgin timetables. Can I tell from the timetable which trains are Pendolinos? Are the Pendolinos the only Virgin trains where you get a proper meal?

 

[ainsworth74]

I have the Virgin timetables. Can I tell from the timetable which trains are Pendolinos? Are the Pendolinos the only Virgin trains where you get a proper meal?

Pendolinos run on London to Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool (and reverse of course) so as long as your on one of those services you should be getting a Pendolino. Super Voyagers run Birmingham to Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as London to Chester and Holyhead. And whilst I've not experienced it myself I am told that the food on a Pendolino is far far superior to what you will get on a Super Voyager.

 

[me123]

Note that some Super Voyagers operate London-Preston trains in the middle of the day, so it's worthwhile avoiding those ones. Most, if not all, trains through to Glasgow Central are booked to be Pendolinos.

 

[rail-britain]

If I had a standard all line rover and wanted to use the Caledonian Sleeper, how much would I have to pay for a berth or a seat in the seated accommodation?

You would need a reservation for the seats, free
A shared berth (standard) would be £38
A solo berth (standard) would be £54
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

To get breakfast / dinner on WSMR which station do you need to board by and which station do you need to alight after?

I suggest you visit their website and look at the timetable
In First Class you will be served as soon as you board
The final serving northbound would be Shrewsbury
The final serving southbound would be Banbury

To get breakfast / dinner on Arriva Wales Premier which station do you need to board by and which station do you need to alight after?

Again, visit their website and look at the timetable
Southbound you will be served between Chester and Shrewsbury, or shortly after boarding (last serving Shrewsbury)
Northbound you will be served between Abergavenny and Shrewsbury, or shortly after boarding (last serving Chester)

 

[MCR247]

Note that some Super Voyagers operate London-Preston trains in the middle of the day, so it's worthwhile avoiding those ones. Most, if not all, trains through to Glasgow Central are booked to be Pendolinos.

I'm not sure about that, I used one in the Summer and it was a pendolino :?

 

[rail-britain]

I'm not sure about that, I used one in the Summer and it was a pendolino

These are the former Euston - Lancaster services, some of which had swapped over to Voyagers
However I believe this was a short-term change and should now have reverted back
Although, the early morning / late evening Preston - Euston / Euston - Preston appears to still be a Voyager, stabled at Lancaster (or somewhere near there?!, possibly Carnforth) overnight

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The two daytime Lancaster-Euston services (and in the opposite direction) are Voyagers, as is the Euston service off Lancaster at 0540 in the morning. The food on Pendolinos is far superior to food on Voyagers, in my experience. I think HT have a complinmentary First Class meal service. From what I can remember (reading about it), meal are served until south of Shrewsbury southbound on the ATW premier service, best to check though.

 

[rail-britain]

The food on Pendolinos is far superior to food on Voyagers, in my experience

Throughout the "day" it is the same on all services
The difference comes on "Breakfast" and the "Evening Meal"
On a Pendolino the breakfast is superior, the evening meal is acceptable (certainly not what it used to be)
On a Voyager the breakfast and evening meal are a micro-re-heat option