Cotswolds Discoverer - Why The Missing Links?

[Envoy]

With the new direct GWR trains now operating between Swindon and Oxford, I really do wonder why the Cotswolds Discoverer Day Rover does not include the missing link between these 2 places?

It would be darn helpful - and induce more people to travel by train if the complete circuit could be made using this ticket. That would mean getting Cross Country to allow this ticket between Worcestershire Parkway and Cheltenham and GWR allowing its use between any of the Worcester stations and the rest of the circuit.

"Unlimited travel for one day with weekday time restrictions between Moreton-in-Marsh and Oxford; between Ashchurch for Tewkesbury and Yate; and between Gloucester and Swindon via Stroud - these lines are obviously not all connected."

Here is a website showing a map with the present route validity. I have not given the National Rail version of this because they don't include a validity route map - which is not exactly helpful to people.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Cotswolds Discoverer

How to find rail rover and ranger tickets on the national rail network. Rover and ranger tickets are cheap tickets for rail travel

www.railrover.org

 

[67018]

With the new direct GWR trains now operating between Swindon and Oxford, I really do wonder why the Cotswolds Discoverer Day Rover does not include the missing link between these 2 places?

It would be darn helpful - and induce more people to travel by train if the complete circuit could be made using this ticket. That would mean getting Cross Country to allow this ticket between Worcestershire Parkway and Cheltenham and GWR allowing its use between any of the Worcester stations and the rest of the circuit.



Here is a website showing a map with the present route validity. I have not given the National Rail version of this because they don't include a validity route map - which is not exactly helpful to people.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Cotswolds Discoverer

How to find rail rover and ranger tickets on the national rail network. Rover and ranger tickets are cheap tickets for rail travel

www.railrover.org

This looks like a pass that is overdue a more fundamental rethink to make it a bit more useful. These days it's not really worth it for explorng the area as the bus validity has been restricted to selected Stagecoach services only, mostly at the western end. That leaves the North Cotswold line disconnected from the rest by both bus and train.

There's a more complete validity map at https://explorethecotswolds.com/cotswolds-discoverer-pass/

 

[jimm]

Pulhams, wich runs the 801 buses between Moreton-in-Marsh and Cheltenham pulled out of the scheme (originally set up with support from the Cotswolds AONB, now National Landscape Area) as it felt GWR was taking too much of the income and while ownership of th firm has changed from the family to Go Ahead, I can't see them being that interested in rejoining, as they are doing just fine on the 801 without revenue from it - the route is now operating with double-deckers much of the time, due to the number of passengers using it.

How much demand there would be to do a rail circuit, I don't know but other than rail enthusisats, I can't see this ticket ever being much of a draw unless bus access to the North Cotswolds (and between Moreton-in-Marsh and Stratford upon Avon) was reinstated.

 

[Kite159]

And I dare say if Swindon - Didcot - Oxford was added to the rail validity, the cost will also likely increase somewhat

 

[Envoy]

Pulhams, wich runs the 801 buses between Moreton-in-Marsh and Cheltenham pulled out of the scheme (originally set up with support from the Cotswolds AONB, now National Landscape Area) as it felt GWR was taking too much of the income and while ownership of th firm has changed from the family to Go Ahead, I can't see them being that interested in rejoining, as they are doing just fine on the 801 without revenue from it - the route is now operating with double-deckers much of the time, due to the number of passengers using it.

How much demand there would be to do a rail circuit, I don't know but other than rail enthusisats, I can't see this ticket ever being much of a draw unless bus access to the North Cotswolds (and between Moreton-in-Marsh and Stratford upon Avon) was reinstated.

The 801 bus does not even reach Cheltenham train station - only the town centre - which is about a mile from the station. You would think that buses would reach Cheltenham station to enable onward travel to the hinterland but it appears to be only served by ‘town' buses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2026 ==

And I dare say if Swindon - Didcot - Oxford was added to the rail validity, the cost will also likely increase somewhat

GWR need to check how many empty seats they have on this new service between Swindon & Oxford? If spare capacity exists, then I can’t see why it should be a problem to throw these services into the Cotswolds Discoverer deal. Likewise, if spare capacity exists to complete the circuit via Worcester - then bring it into the Cotswolds Discoverer. This would surely generate extra revenue both for the deal and people travelling by train to a point on the ‘circuit’ from origin?

If possible, it would also be useful to include Swindon to Oxford via a change at Didcot Parkway.

As things stand, we have the north and south Cotswolds lines as part of the Cotswolds Discoverer but disconnected. This is made even worse by the fact that that no bus link through the heart of the Cotswolds links the two halves of the Cotswolds Discoverer rail deal.

 

[67018]

As things stand, we have the north and south Cotswolds lines as part of the Cotswolds Discoverer but disconnected. This is made even worse by the fact that that no bus link through the heart of the Cotswolds links the two halves of the Cotswolds Discoverer rail deal.

The sad thing is that people might actually be put off using public transport by looking at the map and assuming no bus links exist. In fact the 801 (and X52) are excellent links but aren't in the deal as explained above, and even some Stagecoach services like Moreton-Stratford and Kemble to Tetbury, Cirencester and Gloucester are also excluded.

I'd be happy to pay a bit more for something that's actually usable. If you're on a budget, it's easier to avoid the tran altogether given that the fare cap means you can do Oxford to Cheltenham on the bus for £3.