First class 7-day all line rover

[CallySleeperKid]

I have been promising myself that I will do a 7-day all line rover for ages now, so I have decided that 2010 is the year, all being well.

I have just looked it up and with a railcard (disabled adult) its is just £429, which is a lot cheaper than I thought!

I am looking for anyone who has done the first class rover, for any advice and information that you found helpful when you did the week.

A basic question I need to know is, do you need to still make reservations with first class, or can you just jump on and grab a seat? I know some services, live Pendolino services out of Euston, would recommend getting a reservation, and the Caledonian Sleeper and Night Riviera would need a reservation and a sleeper suplememt paying for a berth. Can you just walk up to the booking office on the day and make a reservation or does this have to be done in advance? I would expect to plan the whole week out in advance anyway, so making prior reservations shouldnt be a problem.

Obviously with a first class rover, I would want to be making the most of the first class services available, including meals etc (basically all the freebies) and would expect to be doing at least 3 nights on the sleepers (2 Caledonain and 1 Riviera) to cut down on hotel costs.

Planning to also take advantage of stations with showers and first class lounges!

A few trips I would want to take in are Wrexham & Shropshire, the cross wales diesel hauled service (Cardiff - Holyhead?), Pendolino, Caledonain Sleeper, Night Riviera and East Coast. What other trips would anyone advise, taking into account the first class services? Also id want to try first class on the morning and evening trains when you get more than just a sandwich and can of pop!

I can see this taking some planning, but be one hell of a week in the end.

Will be starting out in Nottingham/Derby, HELP!

 

[gordonthemoron]

I can get an 8 day high season consecutive Britrail pass for €329

 

[EltonRoad]

How about the full-length Inverness - King's Cross journey? Get two meals served.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

How about the full-length Inverness - King's Cross journey? Get two meals served.

Did think about that, but would be going up on the Caledonain Sleeper, so would be stranded in Inverness, not that thats a problem, almost 24 hours until the departure for London the next morning. I have done the Kyle and Thurso lines and they don't have first class either.

I have got a million and 1 different routes going round my head at the minute!:roll:

 

[mrcheek]

I can get an 8 day high season consecutive Britrail pass for €329

wow, thats really helpful.I can see how you got your name.

For most 1st class services, no reservation will be necessary, as they rarely fill up. For London departures, just be sure you arrive in good time, and you will have a good choice of seats. Ive heard that Pendolinos from Euston are usually busy, but when I got on the 0930 to Glasgow in June, it was virtually empty in first.
XC 1st class is different, and will often fill up. So I try and avoid XC as much as possible. You can usually get a seat of some kind, but on most other servcies you can get 2 seats or more to yourself.
On the other hand, XC is a useful way to do certain journeys that you might otherwise have to do on local services with no 1st class at all.

Recommended journeys:
The Dawlish coast is essential. Best to do it as a complete journey from Paddington to Penzance. Returning via sleeper perhaps.
North Wales coast is another good one. Just try and do it on a Virgin service (0900 from Euston, stays about an hour in Holyhead before returning), instead of a crappy Arriva Wales with no 1st class.
NXEA 1st class is crap. Mediocre seats, and no freebies! Not much of a journey out to Norwich either. dont bother with it.
When travelling around the north, try and use TPX when you can rather than Northern. TPX 1st class isnt up to much, but there are free drinks, and more comfortable seats. Better than Northern anyway.
Sometimes though, you just have to go without. The Cumbria Coast, and Settle to carlisle are essential journeys, which you will have to make on Northern services, with no 1st class.But still worth it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
For Kings Cross to Inverness, the direct daytime service departs at 1200, scheduled arrival at 2000. This then gives you 25 minutes until the sleeper departs Inverness to return to London.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

wow, thats really helpful.I can see how you got your name.

For most 1st class services, no reservation will be necessary, as they rarely fill up. For London departures, just be sure you arrive in good time, and you will have a good choice of seats. Ive heard that Pendolinos from Euston are usually busy, but when I got on the 0930 to Glasgow in June, it was virtually empty in first.
XC 1st class is different, and will often fill up. So I try and avoid XC as much as possible. You can usually get a seat of some kind, but on most other servcies you can get 2 seats or more to yourself.
On the other hand, XC is a useful way to do certain journeys that you might otherwise have to do on local services with no 1st class at all.

Recommended journeys:
The Dawlish coast is essential. Best to do it as a complete journey from Paddington to Penzance. Returning via sleeper perhaps.
North Wales coast is another good one. Just try and do it on a Virgin service (0900 from Euston, stays about an hour in Holyhead before returning), instead of a crappy Arriva Wales with no 1st class.
NXEA 1st class is crap. Mediocre seats, and no freebies! Not much of a journey out to Norwich either. dont bother with it.
When travelling around the north, try and use TPX when you can rather than Northern. TPX 1st class isnt up to much, but there are free drinks, and more comfortable seats. Better than Northern anyway.
Sometimes though, you just have to go without. The Cumbria Coast, and Settle to carlisle are essential journeys, which you will have to make on Northern services, with no 1st class.But still worth it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
For Kings Cross to Inverness, the direct daytime service departs at 1200, scheduled arrival at 2000. This then gives you 25 minutes until the sleeper departs Inverness to return to London.

Great information, thanks.

I had considered the King Cross - Inverness then hop on the sleeper, but that relies on the Kings Cross -0 Inverness being on time, or you have wasted the £40 odd that it is for a berth, plus there would be 2 of us.

On way I though was arriving at Inverness on the sleeper, travel over to Aberdeen and either get the sleeper from the back south, or a connecting service to Edinburgh and get the lowland sleeper.

 

[Pumbaa]

I would recommend reservations for your East Coast journeys in FC, getting a seat can be a bit of an issue of Anglo-Scottish services. Conversely, don't bother getting them for Virgin unless you're getting a peak-time evening service from Euston.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

I take it a reservation is free on most services? So would it not make sense to make reservations if I am planning everything in advance? There would not be to much changes to the plans as I would have to book a few hotels.

Its going to be ome fun booking this I can see.

On a side note, can you make seat reservations at any station (staffed obviously) once I have got my ALR?

 

[furryfeet]

I can get an 8 day high season consecutive Britrail pass for €329

How ?
I thought that one had to be non UK resident in order to get such a ticket ?

P.S. this does not answer the questions about routes and food/service which were raised by the Opening post of this thread.

I would definitely recommend WSMR for the food, the WAG train is supposed to be good, but I have no personal experience of that train.

 

[MCR247]

How ?
I thought that one had to be non UK resident in order to get such a ticket ?

P.S. this does not answer the questions about routes and food/service which were raised by the Opening post of this thread.

I would definitely recommend WSMR for the food, the WAG train is supposed to be good, but I have no personal experience of that train.

Hes in Germany IIRC.
EDIT: Heres what I found by looking for about 2 seconds

gordonthemoron
Driver

Join Date: 4 Sep 2006
Location: München
Posts: 683

 

[voyagerdude220]

How about the full-length Inverness - King's Cross journey? Get two meals served.

Are they complimentary on East Coast?

I think it's a restaurant service/ First Class at-seat dining which all passengers have to pay for?

 

[garnon]

Great information, thanks.

I had considered the King Cross - Inverness then hop on the sleeper, but that relies on the Kings Cross -0 Inverness being on time, or you have wasted the £40 odd that it is for a berth, plus there would be 2 of us.

On way I though was arriving at Inverness on the sleeper, travel over to Aberdeen and either get the sleeper from the back south, or a connecting service to Edinburgh and get the lowland sleeper.

If the 12.00 kings x - inverness were late - you could probably pick up the sleeper further south (eg Aviemore ??)

 

[37401]

My plan for next year is to head to penzance do the FGW sleeper, get the EC service to inverness and do the FSR sleeper, then do a grand central HST bash and head home from newcastle...ok thats as far as ive got but still got time

 

[yorkie]

I think it's a restaurant service/ First Class at-seat dining which all passengers have to pay for?

That's right.

There are some reviews of meals served in First Class on this blog. For example there is a review of NXEC, but I suspect there will be a lot of changes to that by the time the OP travels (if there haven't been already!)

 

[CallySleeperKid]

I have been having a good think while I have been on a lazy night shift, and this has come to me, although it will change many time, as I have gone nowhere east or south east of London!

Derby - Newcastle (Cross Country)
Newcastle - London Kings Cross (East Coast)
London Paddington - Penzance (First Great Western Night Riviera)

Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads (First Great Western)
Bristol Temple Meads - Cardiff Central (First Great Western)
Cardiff Central - Holyhead (Arriva Trains Wales North South Premier)

Holyhead - Wrexham General (Arriva Trains Wales)
Wrexham General - London Marylebone (Wrexham & Shropshire)
London Euston - Inverness (First ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

Inverness - Glasgow (First ScotRail)
Glasgow - Fort William (First ScotRail)
Fort William - London Euston (Fisrt ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

The trips in italic are ones I assume will have first class.

Into the 5th day and im stuck, there is an option to spend an extra night in Penzance and do a couple of the branch lines down there, plus my partner has family there to, Or a night in Inverness and maybe do Kyle line, or grab a visit to a distillery. Have already done Kyle line a couple of times but it may be a good idea to have a day break half way through.

I would also like to do a Pendolino run from London Euston to Glasgow, but what I have put above is as far as I got!

 

[Aictos]

For Kings Cross to Inverness, the direct daytime service departs at 1200, scheduled arrival at 2000. This then gives you 25 minutes until the sleeper departs Inverness to return to London.

Just make sure there's no problems with the incoming service - It's single track in places up there and we got delayed by about a hour or so last year as the radio on the Down HST packed in so had to stop at Darlington for a 91 to bring one down from Newcastle/Edinburgh so lost our path on the Highland Mainline.

Still, I found the first class service on the sleeper much better then the standard class service - although I wasn't impressed with being the only one in the first class lounge at Edinburgh having my ticket checked while everyone else didn't have their ticket checked.

Mind you, the onboard crew more then made up for it with a Whisky and Haggis, Neeps and Tattis with a Whisky and Redcurrent source which was beautifully done.

 

[MCR247]

I have been having a good think while I have been on a lazy night shift, and this has come to me, although it will change many time, as I have gone nowhere east or south east of London!

Derby - Newcastle (Cross Country)
Newcastle - London Kings Cross (East Coast)
London Paddington - Penzance (First Great Western Night Riviera)

Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads (First Great Western)
Bristol Temple Meads - Cardiff Central (First Great Western)
Cardiff Central - Holyhead (Arriva Trains Wales North South Premier)

Holyhead - Wrexham General (Arriva Trains Wales)
Wrexham General - London Marylebone (Wrexham & Shropshire)
London Euston - Inverness (First ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

Inverness - Glasgow (First ScotRail)
Glasgow - Fort William (First ScotRail)
Fort William - London Euston (Fisrt ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

The trips in italic are ones I assume will have first class.

Into the 5th day and im stuck, there is an option to spend an extra night in Penzance and do a couple of the branch lines down there, plus my partner has family there to, Or a night in Inverness and maybe do Kyle line, or grab a visit to a distillery. Have already done Kyle line a couple of times but it may be a good idea to have a day break half way through.

I would also like to do a Pendolino run from London Euston to Glasgow, but what I have put above is as far as I got!

If I was you I'd start on a Sunday because you can have more sleepers (or choice). ie you can have 6 nights when you start on a sunday, opposed to 5 if you start on say a Wednesday.

 

[garnon]

I have been having a good think while I have been on a lazy night shift, and this has come to me, although it will change many time, as I have gone nowhere east or south east of London!

Derby - Newcastle (Cross Country)
Newcastle - London Kings Cross (East Coast)
London Paddington - Penzance (First Great Western Night Riviera)

Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads (First Great Western)
Bristol Temple Meads - Cardiff Central (First Great Western)
Cardiff Central - Holyhead (Arriva Trains Wales North South Premier)

Holyhead - Wrexham General (Arriva Trains Wales)
Wrexham General - London Marylebone (Wrexham & Shropshire)
London Euston - Inverness (First ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

Inverness - Glasgow (First ScotRail)
Glasgow - Fort William (First ScotRail)
Fort William - London Euston (Fisrt ScotRail Caledonain Sleeper)

The trips in italic are ones I assume will have first class.

Into the 5th day and im stuck, there is an option to spend an extra night in Penzance and do a couple of the branch lines down there, plus my partner has family there to, Or a night in Inverness and maybe do Kyle line, or grab a visit to a distillery. Have already done Kyle line a couple of times but it may be a good idea to have a day break half way through.

I would also like to do a Pendolino run from London Euston to Glasgow, but what I have put above is as far as I got!

My advice is skip the branches...you could do these another time for a tenner using one of the local freedom passes.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

My advice is skip the branches...you could do these another time for a tenner using one of the local freedom passes.

The only thinking behind it is to keep my partner sweet with a day of rest along the way without having to drag a case around, but like I have mentioned, it is very early days, and I have not even told her I am planning it yet!

 

[87031]

Did the 7 Day 1st class ALR last July and have to say it is worth paying for the 1st class one considering the long distance journeys and extra freebies. I didnt reserve any seats on daytime trains and didnt have a problem getting a seat in 1st class, one thing you should do is book your sleepers WELL in advance,i booked my first two to Fort William and back but in the middle of the week i couldnt get a berth on the Aberdeen sleeper so had to go to Inverness instead then i did the line via Elgin to Aberdeen. Also couldnt get a birth on the Night Rivera on a Sunday either so had to doss in the coach not ideal!

Avoid Voyagers if your gona do X Country use the HST diagrams the new refurb 1st class is very good. WAG express food is superb and you also get a free breakfast on Grand Central HST from Kings X at 0804. I didnt do everthing i wanted on mine so am planning another this year but wont make the same mistake in not booking ALL the sleepers before, you can cancel them if you change your plan but there is a charge of £5.00 with FSR and £15 with FGW. ALso had a meal on East Coast from Aberdeen which wasnt free but was very good, all in all plan whatever you wanna do properly and id recommend starting on a Tuesday and finishing Monday p.m and going home on a Saturday and one night in the week and use the Sleepers as much as you can cos the extyra £43 quid is still much cheaper than a hotel and you get breakfast with it as well. any more questions you got just fire away and happy planning!

 

[garnon]

Did the 7 Day 1st class ALR last July and have to say it is worth paying for the 1st class one considering the long distance journeys and extra freebies. I didnt reserve any seats on daytime trains and didnt have a problem getting a seat in 1st class, one thing you should do is book your sleepers WELL in advance,i booked my first two to Fort William and back but in the middle of the week i couldnt get a berth on the Aberdeen sleeper so had to go to Inverness instead then i did the line via Elgin to Aberdeen. Also couldnt get a birth on the Night Rivera on a Sunday either so had to doss in the coach not ideal!

Avoid Voyagers if your gona do X Country use the HST diagrams the new refurb 1st class is very good. WAG express food is superb and you also get a free breakfast on Grand Central HST from Kings X at 0804. I didnt do everthing i wanted on mine so am planning another this year but wont make the same mistake in not booking ALL the sleepers before, you can cancel them if you change your plan but there is a charge of £5.00 with FSR and £15 with FGW. ALso had a meal on East Coast from Aberdeen which wasnt free but was very good, all in all plan whatever you wanna do properly and id recommend starting on a Tuesday and finishing Monday p.m and going home on a Saturday and one night in the week and use the Sleepers as much as you can cos the extyra £43 quid is still much cheaper than a hotel and you get breakfast with it as well. any more questions you got just fire away and happy planning!

87031
When you reserved your sleepers, had you already purchased your 1st ALR? (in other words, do you have to prove you have the ticket at the time you make the reservation??)
Thanks

 

[yorkie]

87031
When you reserved your sleepers, had you already purchased your 1st ALR? (in other words, do you have to prove you have the ticket at the time you make the reservation??)
Thanks

You don't have to prove you have the ALR, because reservations open a long time in advance and it would be unreasonable to expect you to have it already. Also there used to be a rule that they could not be bought more than 3 days in advance, but that's been abolished now.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

On the subject of booking reservations, can this be done online? or do you have to nip down to a staffed station (Nottingham in my case)?

And what about booking sleeper berths? Would that have to be done through a phone call to ScotRail/Great Western or can that be done at a staffed station?

So much to think about here, im really looking forward to it!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

We're doing one in February:

Starting Sunday

Liverpool - Wrexham (MR and ATW)
Wrexham - London Mar (WSMR)
London Eus - Edinburgh (FSR Sleeper)

Edinburgh - Glasgow (EC)
Glasgow - London Eus (VT)
London Pad - Penzance (FGW Sleeper)

Penzance - Exeter - London Pad (FGW)
London Eus - Edinburgh (FSR Sleeper)

Edinburgh - Newcastle - Durham - York (EC/XC/TPE)
York - Liverpool (TPE)

BACKPACK CHANGE IN LIVERPOOL - CLOTHES FOR REMAINING DAYS

Liverpool - Windermere (TPE+VT)
Windermere - Oxenholme - Euston (TPE+VT)
Euston - Romford (staying with family)

Romford - Cambridge (via Cntl London)
Cambridge - Romford

Romford - Euston (LUL)
Euston - BhamNS (VT)
BhamNS - Liverpool (LM)

 

[CallySleeperKid]

I like that, and the idea of calling at home mid week to change bag etc, will have to fit that in somewhere!

 

[Shrub Hill]

book 2 nights in glasgow, then you could do glasgow-euston and kings x - glasgow in one round trip, you would have a bit of time to explore edinburgh after your trip down from inverness and the next day you could head up to fort william and do the sleeper back ,

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I like that, and the idea of calling at home mid week to change bag etc, will have to fit that in somewhere!

Also saves you a night in a hotel

We're starting on a Sunday (so we're home by Sat night when the sleepers don't run) but if you started on a Wednesday, your stopover night would be Saturday, thus solving that problem

 

[mrcheek]

Is the ALR valid on the Javelin Preview services?
Might be worth giving those a try, shouldnt take up too much of your time, the speed they go at!

 

[HORNIMANS]

are you sure about the 3 day rule? Have a good trip Ihave on at least 2 times a year for about the last 40 years. The first one I had cost £40 for 2 weeks!!!!! time I had free one!!!! Yes as previously posted always start on a Sunday as early has you can.
Do plenty of planning, it usually takes me about 2 months till I am happy with the routes. If your route doesn't work one way try it in reverse it could have better conections and quiker times. Above all enjoy it, as it is your holiday. Would not even consider going std class.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

It must vary for different people.

For mine, there are no tight connections as we're going and visiting destinations as tourists, and not going "line bashing"