Buying Rover Tickets

[ashworth]

I'm quite used to using rover tickets and so I know all the rules and regulations regarding their use etc. and how you can only buy them 3 days before their start date.
The question I want to ask is can you buy them on the train if your first journey begins at an unstaffed station?
I'm wanting to use a 7 day North West Rover later this summer but the nearest station to where I am staying is unstaffed. It won't be a great problem to drive into Ulverstone to buy one the day before but I just wondered if that was necessary.

 

[brompton rail]

I'm quite used to using rover tickets and so I know all the rules and regulations regarding their use etc. and how you can only buy them 3 days before their start date.
The question I want to ask is can you buy them on the train if your first journey begins at an unstaffed station?
I'm wanting to use a 7 day North West Rover later this summer but the nearest station to where I am staying is unstaffed. It won't be a great problem to drive into Ulverstone to buy one the day before but I just wondered if that was necessary.

This line is copied from Northern's information on Rail Rovers.
"Rail Rover tickets can be bought from any staffed station in Britain."

Therefore it follows that you are not able to purchase on the train, I would say.

 

[175001]

If the station is unstaffed, then of course you can. It is loaded in the Avantix, i've sold a NR Rover from Blackrod!

 

[tony_mac]

I have also bought a North West Rover on the train before.

However, they may struggle to issue it. On one occassion I had to buy it in Manchester, as after several minutes the guard had been unable to find it on his machine and gave up.
If you have an old one, it may be helpful to take that with you. Or if someone here can tell you what you need to put in to the machine!

 

[janb]

I'm quite used to using rover tickets and so I know all the rules and regulations regarding their use etc. and how you can only buy them 3 days before their start date.

There is no restriction on when you can buy a rover.

 

[142094]

Some booking office staff refuse to sell them before the advertised start time. Been a few threads on here where a train departs at say 08.46 when the rover becomes valid at 08.45 yet won't be sold by staff.

 

[rail-britain]

Some booking office staff refuse to sell them before the advertised start time. Been a few threads on here where a train departs at say 08.46 when the rover becomes valid at 08.45 yet won't be sold by staff

Report the staff they are just being awkward
The ticket starts when it is valid, so the staff only need to make the customer aware of that during the purchase
Equally, if it is purchased in advance then it will clearly show the date it is valid from

 

[yorkie]

Some booking office staff refuse to sell them before the advertised start time. Been a few threads on here where a train departs at say 08.46 when the rover becomes valid at 08.45 yet won't be sold by staff.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/simple_fares.html

"Buy any time, travel off-peak"

I would show them that. If they still refuse to comply, I'd ask for them to write a note stating that they refuse to sell it. If they refuse to do that, I'd ask for a complaints form. Make a note of their name, the time and any other details, fill out the form there and then but don't hand it to them, post it. Then buy on board the train, and if the guard says you should have bought it at the ticket office, explain why you didn't.

I've only complained about one member of ticket office staff, and when I mentioned his name to a member of Network Rail staff who uses the ticket office regularly, he told me that he had 2 separate incidents involving this member of staff, which makes me wonder just how many people he has been rude and/or given incorrect information to.

 

[rail-britain]

Even better, try and buy the ticket whilst there are other customers!

Not so much you couldn't buy the ticket, but you were unable to
As far as I would be concerned the ticket office is "closed" and would be quite happy to sell the ticket on the train or ask that they purchase the ticket at the next main station

I believe some rover tickets cannot be issued on the train as a specific ticket type is required, which has the validity boxes hard printed into it

 

[yorkie]

All rovers are now printed on orange stock. Unless you can find a station that still has old stock...

 

[Hager98]

All rovers are now printed on orange stock. Unless you can find a station that still has old stock...

Maybe thats more of a challenge for an ALR

 

[ashworth]

There is no restriction on when you can buy a rover.

I know that I have read in a number of different places that you cannot buy a rover more than 3 days in advance.

Rail Magazine (7th April 2010) Britain's Rail Rovers 2010
Barry Doe's Annual Review.
'Rovers may not be purchased more than 3 days in advance of the first day of validity, or 5 days if purchased via telesales or the internet (though very few rovers are valid on the internet). This rule, however does not apply to Scottish Rovers.

 

[yorkie]

That's strange as it's been stated here many times that the rule no longer exists!

 

[Solent&Wessex]

That's strange as it's been stated here many times that the rule no longer exists!

You can buy a rover at any time. The Avantix machines will let you forward date the start date to further than 3 days. You can buy your North West Rover ticket from the Guard if you start at an unstaffed station. If you have any problems, here is what the Guard needs to do-

From Main Menu-
1. Go to "Secondary".
2. Then go to "Rover Enquiry"
3. Where it says "Rover:" input either "N" which brings a list of all rovers starting with N, then scroll down till you find "North West 7 Day"; OR input "NW7" which jumps directly to the North West 7 Day. You can alter the start date, or apply any Railcard discounts at this stage once you have selected the rover required.
4. Press OK, which takes you directly to the payment screen.

Hey Presto.

 

[yorkie]

Brilliant - there's always someone who has the answer on this forum! Thanks for posting that.

 

[ashworth]

Brilliant - there's always someone who has the answer on this forum! Thanks for posting that.

I agree. It's great how you can usually quickly get answers to questions on this forum.
Thanks for all the information. Now that I know that you can buy rovers in advance I will probably buy my 7 Day North West Rover (full price) and that of a relative (Senior Railcard) from Newark North Gate before I set off for the wilds of Cumbria!

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I agree. It's great how you can usually quickly get answers to questions on this forum.
Thanks for all the information. Now that I know that you can buy rovers in advance I will probably buy my 7 Day North West Rover (full price) and that of a relative (Senior Railcard) from Newark North Gate before I set off for the wilds of Cumbria!

Or buy it on the train from the unstaffed station - at £116 for the pair, I'm sure the Guard would love the commission!

 

[cuccir]

I'm wanting to use a 7 day North West Rover later this summer but the nearest station to where I am staying is unstaffed. It won't be a great problem to drive into Ulverstone to buy one the day before but I just wondered if that was necessary.

It's Ulverston (awards pedant prize to self)

 

[317666]

On a slightly unrelated note, the Anglia Plus Day Rover can be bought on board the train according to the NXEA website.

 

[Donny Dave]

I must admit, TPE guards are the only ones who have sold me a rover on board a train in the past. I think the pound signs flashed up in front of his eyes however, when I said I wanted a rover and a few other tickets (total came to about £250 IIRC).

Northern guards don't want to know , they would rather sell a Anytime single/return unless you board at an unstaffed station.

 

[142094]

Northern guards don't want to know , they would rather sell a Anytime single/return unless you board at an unstaffed station.

Depends where you are I suppose. Newcastle based guards seem to be alright with Rovers, bought one last week and he didn't mind.

 

[nedchester]

Bought a South Pennine Day Ranger from the guard on a Liverpool to Manchester Vic service this morning. He had a bit of difficulty at first but took the leaflet off me and 'had a go' at it. He persisted and issued the correct ticket for me. Good customer service!

Oh and no problems on AXC between Wakefield W and Sheffield this time!!!!