East Midlands Round Robin

[tamesidedepot]

I have been pondering getting an East Midlands Round Robin for a few weeks now when I'm next off, but am confused by one aspect. That is the route between Worksop and Nottingham

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/managed/promotions/pr5f41fce01a4514a20671e36b5182d4/areaMap/East%20Midlands%20Round%20Robin.pdf

the blurb on the National Rail website says that the ticket allows a circular journey in either direction with BOJ at any station within the area, however how does Nottingham - Worksop fit in with this?
I have avoided round robins previously, using rangers and rovers instead, as my understanding is that you can't double back with them etc.

any advice will be appreciated

cheers

 

[WillPS]

I think in effect these are treated as Rovers, but I'd love to know officially how it's supposed to be possible without retracing track too.

 

[John @ home]

I have avoided round robins previously, using rangers and rovers instead, as my understanding is that you can't double back with them

The leaflet advertising the East Midlands Round Robin (which can be downloaded from this page) states:

Have a great day out when you go by train using one of our Day Ranger or Round Robin tickets. Our tickets offer you the freedom to explore and the flexibility to hop on and off trains all day within your chosen area for a set price.

That is not consistent with a prohibition on doubling back, that is passing through the same station more than one on a single journey. On the contrary, it is clear that this ticket is valid for an unlimited number of journeys "within your chosen area".

 

[maniacmartin]

My understanding of the wording is that you can do one circular journey - so you would only be able to cover two of the three routes in.out of Nottingham http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr5f41fce01a4514a20671e36b5182d4/details.html states:

The East Midlands Round Robin allows a circular journey in either direction with break of journey permitted at any station within the validity area.

 

[John @ home]

My understanding of the wording is that you can do one circular journey

A limitation of "one circular journey" would not be consistent with the advertised "flexibility to hop on and off trains all day within your chosen area".

 

[tamesidedepot]

A limitation of "one circular journey" would not be consistent with the advertised "flexibility to hop on and off trains all day within your chosen area".

This is where my quandry comes from - although thinking about it, how could it be checked that you haven't been to say Nottingham, then to Lincoln and back to Nottingham?

thanks for the answers

 

[WillPS]

This is where my quandry comes from - although thinking about it, how could it be checked that you haven't been to say Nottingham, then to Lincoln and back to Nottingham?

thanks for the answers

Precisely.

 

[323235]

I never had so much as a word from any guards when I used an East Midlands Round Robin a couple of years ago.

The only problem I had was trying to buy one because no one could find it as they were searching for East Midlands Round Robin when in fact it is in the fares database as EM Round Robin.

When I arrived in Sheffield I had to be quite assertive and prompt the clerk at Sheffield to ask her colleagues if they new how to issue it because she seemed quite happy to tell me she couldn't issue it and do nothing to resolve it. It turned out that someone did know and it was very quickly resolved in no more than 2 minutes.

 

[IanXC]

This issue crops up with the East Yorkshire Round Robin too. That definately prints with a ticket type of "Ranger".

I think the likely explaination for the issue is that the 'enables circular journey' spiel is simply marketing speak for what TOCs expect most passengers to use the ticket for.

 

[tamesidedepot]

Thanks for all of the advice - I shall remember the bit about it being in the system as an EM Round Robin as I too shall be buying at Sheffield.

 

[Rover]

Barry Doe in his annual rail rover article in "Rail" states that round robins have the same validity as ranger tickets, you can double back as many times as you want.

Kev