Day rovers in South-East?

[TheManOnThe172]

With "DaySave Southern" having been withdrawn in May, are there any other reasonably wide-area off-peak one-day rovers still available in the South-East?

 

[cactustwirly]

There is a Kent Rover, for the whole of Kent, except HS1. But it is £39.50

http://www.railrover.org/pages/kent-rover.html

For something a bit cheaper there is the North Downs Line rover for £16

http://www.railrover.org/pages/north-downs-day-ranger.html

You can also get a Thames Branches Ranger or a Kennet Day Ranger.

There is a Thames Rover which combines the 3 for 3 days, for £46.55

 

[louis97]

Southern Daysave is still available. Go to the Southern website and press the yellow "Buy Rail Tickets" button and then on the pop up above the from/to, etc is a button saying 'Daysave'. Click it and you can then specify your starting station and date of travel.

 

[NeilWatson]

There is a Kent Rover, for the whole of Kent, except HS1. But it is £39.50

http://www.railrover.org/pages/kent-rover.html

For something a bit cheaper there is the North Downs Line rover for £16

http://www.railrover.org/pages/north-downs-day-ranger.html

You can also get a Thames Branches Ranger or a Kennet Day Ranger.

There is a Thames Rover which combines the 3 for 3 days, for £46.55

The £39.50 is for three consecutive days, which while not fulfilling the OP's brief of a one-day card makes the rover good value if more time is available.

 

[AlterEgo]

With "DaySave Southern" having been withdrawn in May, are there any other reasonably wide-area off-peak one-day rovers still available in the South-East?

I know this is a point of pedantry, but a one-day rover is called a ranger.

Southern DaySave is still available, I had cause to use one only last month. Peak and weekly versions are however extinct.

http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave/

 

[extendedpaul]

The North Downs Line Day Ranger isn't a good value ticket in my opinion. Unless I'm missing something it's just the direct line between Reading and Redhill via Guildford.

The ticket costs £16 and an off peak day return, allowing breaks in journey, is £15.30 so it's probably not worth buying if starting at Redhill or Reading unless wishing to double back.

 

[paul1609]

With "DaySave Southern" having been withdrawn in May, are there any other reasonably wide-area off-peak one-day rovers still available in the South-East?

The tickets now called Southern Daysave Off Peak and its back available on line now at £18.50

 

[FenMan]

The North Downs Line Day Ranger isn't a good value ticket in my opinion. Unless I'm missing something it's just the direct line between Reading and Redhill via Guildford.

The ticket costs £16 and an off peak day return, allowing breaks in journey, is £15.30 so it's probably not worth buying if starting at Redhill or Reading unless wishing to double back.

I'd imagine the Ranger is intended to cover double backs when using the infrequently served stations in the Surrey Hills section, as this flexibility can save a fair amount of waiting around.

 

[matt_world2004]

Not being funny but isn't a travelcard a perfect example of a rover ticket.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not being funny but isn't a travelcard a perfect example of a rover ticket.

No.

It's a perfect example of a ranger ticket.

 

[Hadders]

No.

It's a perfect example of a ranger ticket.

Pendant alert.

A one day Travelcard is a perfect example of a ranger ticket.
A period Travelcard is an example of a Rover

 

[AlterEgo]

Pendant alert.

A one day Travelcard is a perfect example of a ranger ticket.
A period Travelcard is an example of a Rover ??????

*pedant

A period Travelcard is an example of a weekly (or longer) season ticket, because it has no time restrictions (and they are usually marketed as "Travelcard Seasons").

 

[30907]

I know this is a point of pedantry, but a one-day rover is called a ranger.

For even more pedantry, except in North Wales where it's called a Rover. Nothing to do with the South East either

 

[paul1609]

If you've got a photocard you can get a 7 day season ticket from Wye to Beaulieu Rd Route Barnham for £63.90 or go the whole hog with a £84.80 Margate to Weymouth route Barnham Season. Both these are valid along the coast and up as far as Redhill on the Brighton Mainline and of course have no off peak restrictions. At least one SWT guard thought that Wye was up near Wales and couldnt understand why anyone would go via Barnham.

 

[Bishopstone]

If you've got a photocard you can get a 7 day season ticket from Wye to Beaulieu Rd Route Barnham for £63.90 or go the whole hog with a £84.80 Margate to Weymouth route Barnham Season. Both these are valid along the coast and up as far as Redhill on the Brighton Mainline and of course have no off peak restrictions. At least one SWT guard thought that Wye was up near Wales and couldnt understand why anyone would go via Barnham.

Good value. Would that ticket be valid to Dorking Deepdene on the North Downs Line, walk to Dorking Main then down to Horsham and Barnham?

 

[Cletus]

Where on the Southern website do you have to go book the Daysave?

I seem to remember from the past that it was on a different page from the standard planner.

 

[superkopite]

https://ticket.southernrailway.com/search/other/daysave

 

[Cletus]

https://ticket.southernrailway.com/search/other/daysave

Cheers!

 

[swt class 450]

Is the Thameslink Daysave still available to purchase anywhere?

 

[bb21]

At least one SWT guard thought that Wye was up near Wales and couldnt understand why anyone would go via Barnham.

I reckon he was probably thinking of the River Wye, which forms part of the border between England and Wales.

 

[causton]

Is the Thameslink Daysave still available to purchase anywhere?

As per National Rail:

DaySave cannot be bought at stations or on trains - it must be purchased before you travel from one of the following outlets:

• Bedford Tourist Information Centre
• Brighton Visitor Information Point at the Brighton Centre Box Office
• Brighton One Stop Travel
• Dunstable Tourist Information Centre

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/prb652dac35ce74101b69190b10455bf.aspx

Allegedly, the Southern one may be available to purchase from ticket office staff as it normally shows up on ticket office systems as a standard ranger/rover, with no obvious notice telling them not to issue it...

 

[swt class 450]

As per National Rail:



http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/prb652dac35ce74101b69190b10455bf.aspx

Allegedly, the Southern one may be available to purchase from ticket office staff as it normally shows up on ticket office systems as a standard ranger/rover, with no obvious notice telling them not to issue it...

Thanks for the info. Yes i have purchased the Southern Daysave tickets at the ticket offices at both Dorking and Lewes before. They are probably not suppose to sell it but they have always been happy to.

The Southern Daysave has gone up in price so much. I remember when it was only £10!

The Thameslink Daysave does seem much more hidden though. There is no mention of it at all on the Thameslink website. Does the Thameslink Daysave not show up on the ticket office systems as well?

 

[causton]

The Thameslink Daysave does seem much more hidden though. There is no mention of it at all on the Thameslink website. Does the Thameslink Daysave not show up on the ticket office systems as well?

Nope. The Southern one probably only does to facilitate ToD bookings. The Thameslink one probably still says First Capital Connect on it to be honest, can't imagine many actually being sold

 

[Wookiee]

If you've got a photocard you can get a 7 day season ticket from Wye to Beaulieu Rd Route Barnham for £63.90 or go the whole hog with a £84.80 Margate to Weymouth route Barnham Season. Both these are valid along the coast and up as far as Redhill on the Brighton Mainline and of course have no off peak restrictions. At least one SWT guard thought that Wye was up near Wales and couldnt understand why anyone would go via Barnham.

What would be the route for that Wye to Beaulieu Road trip? (i.e. how would you get to Barnham?)

 

[RJ]

What would be the route for that Wye to Beaulieu Road trip? (i.e. how would you get to Barnham?)

Along the coast all the way from Ashford, via Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton.

 

[paul1609]

Along the coast all the way from Ashford, via Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton.

You can go via Tonbridge, Redhill Horsham and Arundel as well as its within 3 miles of the shortest route.

 

[swt class 450]

Nope. The Southern one probably only does to facilitate ToD bookings. The Thameslink one probably still says First Capital Connect on it to be honest, can't imagine many actually being sold

It wouldnt surprise me if it still says First Capital Connect! GTR certainly arent the most organised TOC! Out of interest how do these Tourist Information Centres issue them? I presume that they use a different ticketing system to the ticket offices?

 

[paul1609]

Brighton One stop travel as the name suggest can issue any UK rail ticket. You can also buy a off peak day return ticket to any Southern Station (not west London line) or any Thameslink station on Brighton Buses. http://www.buses.co.uk/tickets/southernfirst.aspx

 

[causton]

It wouldnt surprise me if it still says First Capital Connect! GTR certainly arent the most organised TOC! Out of interest how do these Tourist Information Centres issue them? I presume that they use a different ticketing system to the ticket offices?

I presume they are just a scratch off card and are not integrated with the normal railway ticketing system at all, a bit like this:

http://www.roberthampton.me.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/saveaway-scratch.jpeg

 

[swt class 450]

Brighton One stop travel as the name suggest can issue any UK rail ticket. You can also buy a off peak day return ticket to any Southern Station (not west London line) or any Thameslink station on Brighton Buses. http://www.buses.co.uk/tickets/southernfirst.aspx

Yes those tickets are available from the bus driver on any of these companies.

• Brighton & Hove Buses
• Metrobus
• Compass Bus
• Big Lemon Buses

It just prints on normal bus ticket machine stock. I would be interested to know if many people buy these tickets.

I presume they are just a scratch off card and are not integrated with the normal railway ticketing system at all, a bit like this:

http://www.roberthampton.me.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/saveaway-scratch.jpeg

Interesting. I have never known of scratch card train tickets before. I wonder if many railway staff are aware of them. Interestingly on this website - http://nfm16.nationalrail.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/tm_ticket_stock_images/1283.html - it shows green "Southern" branded RSP 7599/298 ticket stock. Is this actually used anywhere any more? Do any ticket offices stock these tickets? Whenever i have bought one from a ticket office it is just on normal ticket stock.

It seems like a wide range of ticket stock is used. I have attached some of the photos i found of Southern Daysave. I cant seem to find any of the Thameslink Daysave though.