Ashford to Ramsgate using Weekender ticket

[seahermit]

Hope this isn't too dumb a question but the South Eastern site doesn't give much away about precise terms and conditions ..

I am planning to do a mini-tour of eastern Kent, mainly along the coast - Ashford to Ramsgate on a Friday morning using a Weekender ticket (£13), that gives me two more days to travel around and get back to Ashford on Sunday evening (I want to divert to Canterbury en-route).

The return journey can be broken - but does that mean I can make multiple stop-offs at places I'm interested in, or just one stop somewhere along the homeward route? And can I spend two days ambling back to Ashford or does the return journey have to be made "all-in-one" on either the second or the third day?

I have scoured the official websites but they are really not very informative. I'd appreciate any advice.

P.S. I know there is a Kent Rover ticket for three days' travel but at almost £40 I think it is really poor value - I am planning to do an 8-day rail tour of East Anglia later this year and it's half the price!

 

[Joe Paxton]

Hope this isn't too dumb a question but the South Eastern site doesn't give much away about precise terms and conditions ..

I am planning to do a mini-tour of eastern Kent, mainly along the coast - Ashford to Ramsgate on a Friday morning using a Weekender ticket (£13), that gives me two more days to travel around and get back to Ashford on Sunday evening (I want to divert to Canterbury en-route).

The return journey can be broken - but does that mean I can make multiple stop-offs at places I'm interested in, or just one stop somewhere along the homeward route? And can I spend two days ambling back to Ashford or does the return journey have to be made "all-in-one" on either the second or the third day?

I think the Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this Southeastern webpage answer your queries.

You can break the return leg of your journey as many times as you like, though the validity of the ticket dies after the last trains on Sunday night. You can head out on Friday, then start making your return journey on that same Friday, and into Saturday and also Sunday if you want (i.e. with multiple breaks).

When breaking a journey at a station with ticket gates, I'd show my ticket to the gate attendant and ask to be let out, just in case the gate swallows the ticket. (And just to be sure I'd print off that webpage, just in case.)

 

[MikeWh]

... then start making your return journey on that same Friday

I disagree with this part of your post. The weekender terms are quite clear that return travel is only allowed on the Saturday and Sunday.

 

[seahermit]

Thanks very much for the replies. I am sure you are right about the return journey, although I can't find words similar to "break the return leg .. as many times as you like" in the vague official explanations!

Also, I suspect that South Eastern wouldn't like it if I tried to use this ticket like a Rover e.g. on my return journey diverting from say Faversham to Canterbury, then re-tracking to Faversham in order to take the other line along the coast from port to port (eventually through Dover and back to Ashford) ... Presumably the return journey has to be made along precisely the same route as the outgoing one - but it's impossible to know without talking to some little man from the railway!

 

[ji459]

Also, I suspect that South Eastern wouldn't like it if I tried to use this ticket like a Rover e.g. on my return journey diverting from say Faversham to Canterbury, then re-tracking to Faversham in order to take the other line along the coast from port to port (eventually through Dover and back to Ashford) ... Presumably the return journey has to be made along precisely the same route as the outgoing one - but it's impossible to know without talking to some little man from the railway!

You can either travel via Dover or Canterbury, so you're right that you can't go to Faversham. You don't have to return the same way as the outward journey.

If you want to see a bit of the North Kent coast, a return to Birchington is the same price as a return to Ramsgate.

 

[greatkingrat]

The only permitted route from Ashford to Ramsgate is via Canterbury. Travel via Dover is only allowed under the through train rule, so you might experience problems if you try and break your journey at any of the stations on that route.

 

[seahermit]

Thanks again, very helpful. I'm sure you're right about the Dover route, though again no mention of this in the terms and conditions.

No doubt I'll discover exactly what you can and can't do when I'm travelling - hoping to re-visit some old haunts and maybe catch up with one or two people as well!

 

[paddington]

P.S. I know there is a Kent Rover ticket for three days' travel but at almost £40 I think it is really poor value - I am planning to do an 8-day rail tour of East Anglia later this year and it's half the price!

What ticket allows you to travel around East Anglia for 8 days for £20?

The Anglia Plus is a 3 in 7 days rover for £36.20. Another option is 7 days in Norfolk and Suffolk at £86.70.

 

[extendedpaul]

The only permitted route from Ashford to Ramsgate is via Canterbury. Travel via Dover is only allowed under the through train rule, so you might experience problems if you try and break your journey at any of the stations on that route.

Please can you clarify this. I've travelled Ramsgate to Ashford via Deal, Dover and Folkestone and back via Canterbury West on a day return ticket with breaks of journey. National Rail Enquiries offers both route options. I don't understand the meaning of "only allowed under the through train rule". Was my itinerary not permitted - nobody queried it ?

 

[seahermit]

I think someone should get an award for an excellent site like this! I wasn't sure I'd even get a reply to my simple question (it seemed simple at first) - in the event, there has been much useful clarification of issues which I daresay South Eastern managers failed to even think about.

I am an oldie with itchy feet and time atlast to take a break. Hoping to do some new photography along the coast too (Nikon DSLR camera kit).

My next trip may well be using the Anglia Plus 3-Days-in-7 Flexi-Rover (I thought it used to be 8 days? - no matter) - £36.20, but for me discounted to £24. On the non-rail days I can walk or get local buses (which will be free), so a pretty good way of travelling around for a week for very little cost.

Back to Kent – it seems fairly clear that you can go out and return by different routes, the only rule being “no journey breaks on the outward leg”. I was hoping to divert to Canterbury but that may not be permissible and is anyway not practicable – I am more intent on travelling actually way beyond Ramsgate and then on my return stopping off at a number of coastal towns.

The Weekender is so cheap at £13 that I’ll make Canterbury another trip! (accommodation costs permitting – that will cool my enthusiasm somewhat, I’m sure!)

 

[greatkingrat]

There is certainly nothing wrong with stopping off in Canterbury, that is the shortest and quickest route.

 

[paddington]

My next trip may well be using the Anglia Plus 3-Days-in-7 Flexi-Rover (I thought it used to be 8 days? - no matter) - £36.20, but for me discounted to £24. On the non-rail days I can walk or get local buses (which will be free), so a pretty good way of travelling around for a week for very little cost.

Back to Kent –

Hmm, so Kent Rover can't be used with railcards. I'm actually planning a similar trip around Kent so this means I should do it now while I don't have any railcard instead of later when I will have one...

Thanks for bringing this up in a slightly roundabout way

 

[extendedpaul]

I mentioned the Kent Rover ticket to the ticket office clerk at my local station recently and she said she could not recall when she last sold one...

They are extremely poor value. Would be more appealing in my opinion if the validity were extended Swanley to Bromley South, Bromley South to Sevenoaks via Orpington, and Gravesend to Dartord and Ebbsfleet, plus on Thameslink on the six minute journey from Otford to Sevenoaks via Bat & Ball.

 

[seahermit]

No, the Kent Rover cannot be discounted with a railcard. Therefore, £39.50 for just three days of consecutive travel (not really time to linger for a few hours or stay somewhere for a day) is extremely poor value.

As I said, the Greater Anglia Rover is excellent - 3 days' travel in a 7-day period at almost down to half the price.

The Weekender illogically is very good value! £13 for a three-day trip.

 

[paddington]

They are extremely poor value. Would be more appealing in my opinion if the validity were extended Swanley to Bromley South, Bromley South to Sevenoaks via Orpington, and Gravesend to Dartord and Ebbsfleet, plus on Thameslink on the six minute journey from Otford to Sevenoaks via Bat & Ball.

They used to be valid on the Thameslink bit when it was not (solely?) operated by Thameslink.

Well, I don't want to get off and linger around for a few hours, my purpose would be to take trains all day long then go home, so it will be good value for me. Oyster can be used from Swanley although the Gravesend bit is annoying.

Yes, the Anglia one is better, even without a railcard, particularly since it doesn't have to be 3 days in a row. I did use it to take all the AGA lines 2 years ago.