Cambridge to Shanklin

[tivoli]

Travelling Cambridge to Shanklin on a bank holiday Saturday. Although longer, would Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour be less busy than from Waterloo?

Also, with through ticket, is it just turn up and go on ferry to Ryde, difficult to assess from websites which are mostly geared up for car passengers.

 

[wintonian]

I'm going to have to make some assumptions here as your question is a little vague.

If you intend to go Portsmouth - Ryde Pier Head whichever way you go with a rail ticket, then just turn up, sit down and wait for the ferry to board.

As for the route if you can get a Southern only ticket it will likely be cheaper than a SWT one and although I am not overly familiar with the Portsmouth direct line the West Coast way always seem packed to me on a weekend but the London trains may be different to the Brighton ones.

 

[tivoli]

Thanks for reply, Wintonian. Despite my vague question, your answer makes sense! However, looking at return on Saturday 1 June, journey planner routes via Ryde Esplanade, hovercraft and Portsmouth & Southsea. Not a problem, but prevents booking of through return ticket. Can't see problem on Wightlink website, have e-mailed them to see if they can enlighten me.

 

[wibble]

Thanks for reply, Wintonian. Despite my vague question, your answer makes sense! However, looking at return on Saturday 1 June, journey planner routes via Ryde Esplanade, hovercraft and Portsmouth & Southsea. Not a problem, but prevents booking of through return ticket. Can't see problem on Wightlink website, have e-mailed them to see if they can enlighten me.

The fare between Cambridge and Shanklin is valid on Wightlink services between Portsmouoth Hbr and Ryde Pier Head only. If you're being routed via the Hovercraft, you won't be able to book it as a through journey.

 

[Goatboy]

The fare between Cambridge and Shanklin is valid on Wightlink services between Portsmouoth Hbr and Ryde Pier Head only. If you're being routed via the Hovercraft, you won't be able to book it as a through journey.

I think he realises that but the problem is the journey planner won't route him home via any method over than Hovertravel so he cannot book his ticket as it isn't giving him the correct Ryde Pier Head service.

 

[wintonian]

The fare between Cambridge and Shanklin is valid on Wightlink services between Portsmouoth Hbr and Ryde Pier Head only. If you're being routed via the Hovercraft, you won't be able to book it as a through journey.

Just to clarify you can book to Ryde Hoverport as a through journey but if you want to book a through journey to any IOW rail station then (for obvious reasons) you will need to travel on Wightlink Portsmouth Harbour - Ryde Pier Head.

Through tickets are avalible to:-

• Ryde Pier Head and IOW stations
• Ryde Hoverport (next door to Ryde Esplanade)
• East Cowes
• West Cowes
• Yarmouth

There are no through ticketing arrangements to Fishbourne.

 

[jopsuk]

From Cambridge to Portsmouth (and beyond?) there are fares routed Southern and Greater Anglia only- a combination of Cambridge-London Greater Anglia only and London-Portsmouth Southern-only.

From what I remeber, they print as "Southern & AGA" for validity.

 

[wintonian]

From what I remeber, they print as "Southern & AGA" for validity.

Well that's clear then. :roll:

 

[A1]

Can anyone help with translating this. It has to do with the through fares to Isle of Wight and the ferry ticket integration:

"Fares from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head are shown, however they are not offered from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head. The reason for this is that at Ryde Pier Head, Wightlink have a National Rail ticketing system but do not have this facility at Portsmouth Harbour. Fares are priced the same in either direction and passengers may buy their ticket at Wightlink booking office at Portsmouth Harbour or alternatively via Wightlink website "

I think it basically says that you can't use the through fare to get a "free" trip on the ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde Head Pier, but can on the return jouney. Can anyone confirm?

I think instead, I'll probably use the Hovercraft rail integration, seems easier. But still curious what the statement above means in reality.

 

[FenMan]

Can anyone help with translating this. It has to do with the through fares to Isle of Wight and the ferry ticket integration:

"Fares from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head are shown, however they are not offered from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head. The reason for this is that at Ryde Pier Head, Wightlink have a National Rail ticketing system but do not have this facility at Portsmouth Harbour. Fares are priced the same in either direction and passengers may buy their ticket at Wightlink booking office at Portsmouth Harbour or alternatively via Wightlink website "

I think it basically says that you can't use the through fare to get a "free" trip on the ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde Head Pier, but can on the return jouney. Can anyone confirm?

I think instead, I'll probably use the Hovercraft rail integration, seems easier. But still curious what the statement above means in reality.

Perhaps I'm missing the point, but train tickets from the mainland to Isle of Wight rail destinations include the ride on the cat from Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier, out and return.

Using the cat is normally much more convenient than the hovercraft.

 

[Searle]

Can anyone help with translating this. It has to do with the through fares to Isle of Wight and the ferry ticket integration:

"Fares from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head are shown, however they are not offered from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head. The reason for this is that at Ryde Pier Head, Wightlink have a National Rail ticketing system but do not have this facility at Portsmouth Harbour. Fares are priced the same in either direction and passengers may buy their ticket at Wightlink booking office at Portsmouth Harbour or alternatively via Wightlink website "

I think it basically says that you can't use the through fare to get a "free" trip on the ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde Head Pier, but can on the return jouney. Can anyone confirm?

I think instead, I'll probably use the Hovercraft rail integration, seems easier. But still curious what the statement above means in reality.

You can't buy Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head tickets on NR stock AT the ferry stop at Portsmouth Harbour, where as you can at Ryde Pier Head. However at Portsmouth you can buy the ticket at the same price but it won't be on NR stock. That's what I took from it

Cambridge to Shanklin isn't affected by this as it's a through ticket, and it can be used on the ferry both ways. The text is only applicable to Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head tickets.

I'm welcome to be corrected if I'm wrong though.

 

[Gathursty]

I too encountered a similar issue at Portsmouth Harbour (the NR ticket booth). Here I asked for a return to Ryde Esplanade but was told to go buy a ferry ticket from the Wightlink people. I was a bit bemused and decided to return home earlier without going 'abroad'. At the time I just thought that it was Wightlink wanting to seal their piece of the pie by adding this peculiarity in their ticketing arrangements with NR/SWT/Southern. It seems this supports my hunch.

 

[34D]

Surely it is soimoply saying that the railway company won't sell a ticket that is exclusively on ferry? If you'd asked for Portsmouth to Lake or wherever you'd have been fine.

 

[Gathursty]

Surely it is soimoply saying that the railway company won't sell a ticket that is exclusively on ferry? If you'd asked for Portsmouth to Lake or wherever you'd have been fine.

I did toss and turn mentally over the clerk's decision to not serve me but as I was asking for a return between two stations in the UK, I believe he missed a chance to sell me a ticket. I can't think of another pair of stations which this issue may arise. I can see this opening a can of worms though.

 

[tivoli]

Had forgotten I originated this thread. For the record, found booking through train and ferry in advance too confusing. Ended up buying coachcards, travelled National Express, Cambridge to Victoria, had a break, then Victoria to Southsea and straight on to Hovercraft, granddaughters loved that, then finally Ryde to Shanklin. Worked perfectly.

 

[30mog]

Surely it is soimoply saying that the railway company won't sell a ticket that is exclusively on ferry? If you'd asked for Portsmouth to Lake or wherever you'd have been fine.

I believe this is about right! Once upon a time. I only wanted to cross the water and went straight to the Wightlink ticket booth. To my surprise, the lady asked if I had a Network railcard - which I had then as I lived in Cambridgeshire - and gave me a third off just like a rail/ferry journey. On another occasion, I wasn't sure where to buy a ticket from at Portsmouth Harbour and a notice on the ticket office window happened to be there to answer my question. "We sell through tickets to stations on the Isle of Wight. If you require a ticket for ferry only please purchase from Wightlink office down the slope."

 

[Birdbrain]

Yep, its Wightlink trying to secure their money. Its a similar thing on the Yarmouth route. If you go into Yarmouth booking office and ask for say a return to Bournemouth they will try and sell you a return on the ferry and a Lymington Pier to Bournemouth return instead of a through ticket! There is an easy way round all of this, just book online, even on your phone on the day and then pick up at the TVM. You can then get any ticket you want.

 

[khib70]

Surely it is soimoply saying that the railway company won't sell a ticket that is exclusively on ferry? If you'd asked for Portsmouth to Lake or wherever you'd have been fine.

But surely Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade is not exclusively on the ferry - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade is a rail journey, no?

Apologies if I've misread

 

[Birdbrain]

But surely Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade is not exclusively on the ferry - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade is a rail journey, no?

Apologies if I've misread

Exactly, and for this reason I think the ticket office should have sold the ticket.

 

[34D]

But surely Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade is not exclusively on the ferry - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade is a rail journey, no?

Apologies if I've misread

My bad