Massive increases for ALRs

[yorkie]

It looks like that passenger-hating body ATOC have decided that Lord Adonis was giving too much publicity to ALRs and they have gone up by a huge amount...

According to a source on uk.railway...

All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 7 days GBP430 (Child GBP284)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 7 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)


All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 14 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 14 days GBP990 (Child GBP653)

 

[glynn80]

It looks like that passenger-hating body ATOC have decided that Lord Adonis was giving too much publicity to ALRs and they have gone up by a huge amount...

According to a source on uk.railway...

All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 7 days GBP430 (Child GBP284)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 7 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)


All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 14 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 14 days GBP990 (Child GBP653)

After 5 years of 0% increases for the All Line Rover....

 

[richa2002]

It's such a niche ticket though that it seems rather pointless increasing the price by such a substantial amount. It will no doubt just to turn away more people.

 

[yorkie]

It's still unacceptable at a time when many people are losing jobs and we have deflation.

It's obvious that they are worried that people are using them after recent publicity, hence the increase.

 

[glynn80]

It's such a niche ticket though that it seems rather pointless increasing the price by such a substantial amount. It will no doubt just to turn away more people,

But if your increasing SORs and FORs year upon year and not the ALR your going to get some serious anomalies.

They held off for 5 years and now we have an increase to eliminate some of those ridiculous anomalies.

It's still unacceptable at a time when many people are losing jobs and we have deflation.

It's obvious that they are worried that people are using them after recent publicity, hence the increase.

Doubt the jobless are too worried that their ALR jaunts have been cancelled. Do you really think a £55.00 difference is going to affect someone on the dole who gets that a week.

I really doubt too many jobless are undertaking ALRs and if they are, then good if this increase stops them, they should be out looking for work rather than jollying it up on my taxes.

 

[Metroland]

Still to much though, especially when you can get a months worth of travel round Europe for around the same price as the 14 day one. It would make more sense to advertise it more or even drop the price to get more takers. Its like these £400 tickets from Bath - Northallerton, there must be so few takers they are hardly worth having.

 

[yorkie]

The £300 daft FORs need to be reduced - we're in a recession for goodness sake! I don't accept that argument that the ALR needs to increase to compensate for daft fares that were priced by people who have the brains of an amoeba and think that growth lasts forever and inflation is wonderful.:roll:

Don't forget that David Mapp does not like us having good value fares, and don't forget he wants us to buy CDs instead... “Unlike season tickets, there is no economic justification for [Off Peaks] because they are being offered to customers who are using their income on a leisure journey rather than going to the theatre or buying CDs.”

* The original quote said "Savers" which are now known as "Off Peak" with a few exceptions.

Can you imagine a spokesperson for UK Music saying that customers should not purchase CDs and should instead go to the theatre instead?

 

[glynn80]

Still to much though, especially when you can get a months worth of travel round Europe for around the same price as the 14 day one. It would make more sense to advertise it more or even drop the price to get more takers. Its like these £400 tickets from Bath - Northallerton, there must be so few takers they are hardly worth having.

Agreed the Global Interrail Pass is great value but remember that is a tourist only product which cannot be used within your home country which is why it gives a great low price.

A true comparison with the Global Interrail pass would be the One Country Great Britain Interrail Pass. An 8 in 1 month pass is £275 for the whole of Great Britain, substantially lower than the £430.00 a UK citizen would pay and giving greater flexibility and validity to boot.

 

[me123]

I could appreciate a need for an increase in a stable economy. But a 15% increase (based on an adult 7 day rover) is, frankly, unacceptable. It seems like Lord Adonis's comment that the ticket "represents good value for money" has spurred them to increase it as a result of potential increased demand. Madness. I think they'd make more money, at least in the short term, keeping the prices as they are given the recent coverage of such a fantastic ticket.

Don't forget that David Mapp does not like us having good value fares, and don't forget he wants us to buy CDs instead... “Unlike season tickets, there is no economic justification for [Off Peaks] because they are being offered to customers who are using their income on a leisure journey rather than going to the theatre or buying CDs.”

What a stupid comment. Buying CDs and enjoying these cultural activities may well be cheaper, but tourism is a huge part of this country, from Blackpool to Brighton, London to York, Glasgow to Cornwall. To restrict the leisure market is a key step in economic suicide.

 

[Techniquest]

Epic shame, proves that this moron who went on a week's jolly's only gone and made it worse value now for the rest of us. I agree with yorkie, the SOR/FORs should come down and the ALR should have stayed as is.

 

[Broken Viking]

It looks like that passenger-hating body ATOC have decided that Lord Adonis was giving too much publicity to ALRs and they have gone up by a huge amount...

According to a source on uk.railway...

All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 7 days GBP430 (Child GBP284)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 7 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)

All-Line Rail Rover (Standard) 14 days GBP650 (Child GBP429)
All-Line Rail Rover (First) 14 days GBP990 (Child GBP653)

Oh cr@p... hock::mad:
Assuming that what ye've heard on that newsgroup is the truth, when will these new fares be effective from? hock:

I do find it verrry interesting that this comes at a time when I was planning out my first ever 7-day ALR (As it is, I've literally just this minute been looking at the ferry timetable for Mallaig > Armadale, and considering routes across Skye to allow me to complete the Hebridean Loop in twelve hours) and the way I would see the timing of such an increase is as a direct and personal attack by AToC against both myself, and anyone else who's planning an ALR trip at this time!

As it is, I have quite a reputation for pulling blisteringly fast changes and being able to cover obscene distances by rail in a surprisingly short space of time...So I suppose I can see why AToC would want to sting me further because I'd be aiming to pull at least 5,500 miles of Pendo running alone on such an ALR trip - With a cumulative mileage as high as 12,500 miles or more across the week. However, it doesn't make any odds how much AToC may detest the more "efficient" travellers amongst us, they have no right whatsoever to go increasing ALR or other fares like this without giving passengers appropriate notice of the increase! :mad:

Simply put: If this rumbling of new ALR fares turns out to be the truth and AToC decide to do the decent thing and give us at least a final month or two before bringing the new fares in, then I'd accept it as a normal fare increase. However if they try and bring this in literally overnight without giving us an acceptable amount of notice, then I'll have a damned good reason for striding into their offices with my Bloodstained and rapidly running Chainsaw in hand. True, the news of this unexpected ALR increase has got me seriously p***ed off, but having the legitimate opportunity to spill AToCs worthless Blood would at least be a nice consolation in my own eyes... hock:

AToC...Ye have been warned. Don't go signing thy own execution warrant just yet...
>> Death <<

Addendum: Just in case anyone is unfortunate enough to get an enthusiast hating ticket seller or ToC, I've attached the relevant pages from the NR website (As .ZIP files) that show ALRs as being £375,- for the 7-day and £565,- for the 14-day which can be printed out and used as evidence of the correct fare to be charged. Consumer laws in Britain clearly state that if a price is advertised for a product or service, then a company cannot legally charge any more than said published price for that product or service. These pages - When opened and printed - Can be the proof of price that ye can use to leverage the current ALR prices.
Failing that though...I often find that a sharp Blade, a decent Chainsaw (Rated 50bhp or better), or any suitable dual-bore shotgun are also very effective tools in the consumer war against being treated like dirt that has no rights...

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Fares changes apply for tickets bought to commence travel on or after 17 May 2009.

 

[Mintona]

Is this actually confirmed? If it is, then it looks very poor on ATOCs behalf. Maybe Lord Adonis should get in contact with them.

 

[Thewanderer]

Typical!

Barry Doe carried an article in the latest edition of RAIL on the increase to the ALR.

I commence my first ALR (Priv) the following week after the increase, when I and several others will be over for the Eastleigh 100.

 

[gordonthemoron]

€299 for an 8 day in one month interrail single country ticket, can be used for travel in the UK by a british citizen providing they have been non resident in the uk (but resident in another participating country) for at least 6 months

 

[Mojo]

Is this actually confirmed? If it is, then it looks very poor on ATOCs behalf. Maybe Lord Adonis should get in contact with them.

Yes, see Newsrail Express 390.

 

[glynn80]

Simply put: If this rumbling of new ALR fares turns out to be the truth and AToC decide to do the decent thing and give us at least a final month or two before bringing the new fares in, then I'd accept it as a normal fare increase. However if they try and bring this in literally overnight without giving us an acceptable amount of notice, then I'll have a damned good reason for striding into their offices with my Bloodstained and rapidly running Chainsaw in hand.

Err this is the notice, the fares changes come in on 17th May so you have close to a month to let it sink in.

Addendum: Just in case anyone is unfortunate enough to get an enthusiast hating ticket seller or ToC, I've attached the relevant pages from the NR website (As .ZIP files) that show ALRs as being £375,- for the 7-day and £565,- for the 14-day which can be printed out and used as evidence of the correct fare to be charged. Consumer laws in Britain clearly state that if a price is advertised for a product or service, then a company cannot legally charge any more than said published price for that product or service. These pages - When opened and printed - Can be the proof of price that ye can use to leverage the current ALR prices.

The file with which you have extracted those ZIP files is the NFM 02. I am assuming you downloaded it from one of the sites hosting it rather than purchasing it directly via the TSO bookshop. If you had purchased it directly you would have realised it clearly states the fares are for the period from the 02nd January till the 17th May.

By your logic I could buy an old fares manual from 1995 look up the ALR price then and take that into a ticket office claiming false advertising beacuse that is the "published" price.

I also don't think you know consumer law very well either. The price listed in any fares manual for any ticket is an invitation price and is the first of three stages.

The advertised price is the first stage, it's an invitation to buy the product only and is not leagally binding.

An offer is made by you to buy the ticket when you enquire at the ticket office or request on a WebTIS.

The contract is sealed when the offer is accepted by the seller. Who is under no obligation to sell you anything, for whatever price.

1. Invitation to treat (legal term)
2. Offer
3. Acceptance

Trading Standards on their website state the same(http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV1011-1111.txt).

Under law, a retailer is entitled to decide the price he wants to charge for his goods. The price on display is simply what the law calls an 'invitation to treat'. In the same way you don't have to buy goods from anyone, a retailer is under no obligation to sell you anything. You cannot insist that a shop sells you anything at a marked price, whether or not they have made a mistake.

In this case the retailer would be any of the TOCs ticket offices or a WebTIS and the person deciding the price would be the TOC who prices the particular fare.

If a retailer were to consistently be producing advertising or were running a campaign which were to include false information, you can complain to the Advertising Standards Agency who can rule to ban the advert in question. They cannot however rule a retailer to sell you the good at the advertised price which was false.

Yes, see Newsrail Express 390.

Yes it has been posted on The Ticket Collector site (http://theticketcollector.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/newsrail-express-390/)

 

[mrcheek]

This is disappointing, but I guess as they havent gone up in years, its not a surprise. They still represent excellent value. Im doing 2 weeks 1st class in JUne, and this increase will not stop me. Ill just have to cut down on something else...

 

[furryfeet]

But if your increasing SORs and FORs year upon year and not the ALR your going to get some serious anomalies.

They held off for 5 years and now we have an increase to eliminate some of those ridiculous anomalies.



Doubt the jobless are too worried that their ALR jaunts have been cancelled. Do you really think a £55.00 difference is going to affect someone on the dole who gets that a week.

I really doubt too many jobless are undertaking ALRs and if they are, then good if this increase stops them, they should be out looking for work rather than jollying it up on my taxes.

They held off for 5 years and now we have an increase to eliminate some of those ridiculous anomalies.

This argument of using anomalies has been used time and time again as an excuse to hike fares.

Come on glyn80, put your money where your mouth is and show figures for
a) how much more revenue this is going to generate
b) how much revenue will be lost because the new fares stop people buying the ticket altogether. ( as yorkie suggests )

 

[Metroland]

Don't forget that David Mapp does not like us having good value fares, and don't forget he wants us to buy CDs instead... “Unlike season tickets, there is no economic justification for [Off Peaks] because they are being offered to customers who are using their income on a leisure journey rather than going to the theatre or buying CDs.”

Well yes, you wonder where these people come from:

Value of Music industry to UK: £5 billion [source http://www.ukmusic.org/page/submission-6 ]

Value of UK Tourism: £86.3 billion, the vast majority of which is leisure journeys within the UK, by UK residents, especially as more money goes out, than comes in by foreign tourists.

http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/MarketIntelligenceResearch/KeyTourismFacts.asp

It seems to me ALR's would do a lot to promote inbound tourism, rather than people taking trips abroad. An ALR not only generates revenue for unused capacity off-peak, but must generate a lot for hotels, restaurants and attractions around the country.

 

[Broken Viking]

Fares changes apply for tickets bought to commence travel on or after 17 May 2009.

See Newsrail Express 390.

Cheers for the info guys, that at least gives me a little bit of time to get things in order.
Just to avoid ambiguities: If I start an ALR on the 15th May (For example) would I still be able to get it at the current price, or would I have to pay the higher price because it extends into the new pricing period?

Err this is the notice, the fares changes come in on 17th May so you have close to a month to let it sink in.

Well, the first that I heard about this news was when I came here at 01:45 Thursday morning, and although it's nice to have until the 17th (Or the 10th if the new fares also apply to ALRs that run into them from beforehand) to buy our ALRs at the "cheap" rate, I still feel that the notice period of 27 days (Going from when NRX 390 was published) is still a little short for tickets like the ALR, which most people presumably plan well in advance of purchase.

Moreso, I've just had a very brief skim of a couple of public AToC websites (AToC themselves, the NR site, SWT and VT) and I can't find any info or warning about the forthcoming ALR hike. We're fortunate here in that we got to hear the news almost as soon as NRX was published...But that's an industry publication, and it seems that the general public - Including the majority of enthusiasts who don't have direct access to AToC publications and portals - Are deliberateley being kept in the dark about it!

Given the nature of the ALR and the fact that it's a sort of "holiday" ticket; If I were the person at AToC who announced new fare increases, then Id've published this at least three months in advance of the forthcoming increase...And Id've posted it across railway enthusiast and rail user forums to ensure that the majority of rail users were made aware of the increase and have enough time to "get 'em whilst they're still hot".

The file with which you have extracted those ZIP files is the NFM 02. I am assuming you downloaded it from one of the sites hosting it rather than purchasing it directly via the TSO bookshop. If you had purchased it directly you would have realised it clearly states the fares are for the period from the 02nd January till the 17th May.

As it is, my copy of the NFM is a downloaded version - Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind (The data is free I believe...TSO charge only for the CD, packaging and postage) - But that still lists fares as being valid until the 16th May. Those ZIP files contain offline web pages from the NR website (There's no Avantix stuff in 'em) and I posted 'em here for others reference.
Incidentally - Despite it being three days since NRX was published - I notice that the ALR pages on the NR website aren't showing any info about the forthcoming ALR increase...Could it be an attempt to hide it from the public, or are NR just slow in updating their site?

To be brief: My main issue here is the suddenness at which this increase has been sprung upon us, and the relatively short space of time we now have for planning our ALRs. Thankfully I'm a little calmer now, as last night I was given the impression that AToC were trying to up the ALR prices at some point in the next couple of days! hock::eek:

I also don't think you know consumer law very well either. The price listed in any fares manual for any ticket is an invitation price and is the first of three stages.

The advertised price is the first stage, it's an invitation to buy the product only and is not leagally binding.
An offer is made by you to buy the ticket when you enquire at the ticket office or request on a WebTIS.
The contract is sealed when the offer is accepted by the seller. Who is under no obligation to sell you anything, for whatever price.

Hmmm...I might need to update my understanding of consumer laws then (Cheers for the link! ) as I seem to recall that If a sale price is displayed upon a product or service - Even if the price displayed is erroneous - The customer has the right to purchase the product/service at the price displayed, despite the fact that the price displayed is not the correct one.
I seem to recall that a while ago, a lot of consumers managed to exercise this caveat when Argos mistakenly listed widescreen televisions on their website at £2.99 each (It was presumably supposed to be £299.99) - Although I suppose that particular incidence might've led to a change in consumer law. :?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Anyhow...So clearly that means I need to get a move on with planning my ALR then! Fortunateley I'm a fairly durable and quick traveller and I could wing the whole lot off of the bat if I had to.
I'll get cracking with the eNRT as soon as I've done posting here for the night and had a coffee...But to assist me with planning and execution of my run, would anyone here happen to know:

• Whether or not an ALR can be purchased in advance of it's start date, like an Apex or Shaver ticket?
• The minimum advance booking period for seated spaces on Sleepers (I'll probabally be using 'em a lot, and I'll be booking my seats when purchasing the ALR.) and any booking fee that would be payable for ALR holders? Are standees allowed on board sleeper services?
• The dates/times for forthcoming full moons and moonlit nights over the Isle of Skye.
• Whether there is a half-decent minicab firm (Or failing that, Hackney carriages) available in the Kyle of Localsh, and if so their name and telephone number for bookings.
• Although I've found the eNRTs available for download from the Network Rail website (See Here for the eNRT 2009CE)...Not wanting to take a laptop etc. with me due to the intensity of my journey, I'd find the paper version much more convenient. I seem to recall that there used to be some kind of discount on the paper NRT available for holders of ALRs - Is this still available, and if so how/where (Not online, preferably) may one have the discount from?
• If I purchase an ALR starting on a Monday and decide to kick-start my journey using a sleeper service from London, would I be able to purchase a cheap single for the first part of the journey (To the first station passed after Midnight) and use it in conjunction with my ALR to get an early start without paying about £90,- for the entire journey between Farnborough and Stirling?
• And finally: Is there any limit on maximum distance covered or number of services used with each ALR? Although I'm completely uncertain about the possibility of pulling such mahoosive coverage in such a space of time, I'm going to try and have a go at exceeding 10,000 miles in the space of a week if I can! hock:8)

Farewell, and thanks in advance for any advice!
>> Death <<

 

[me123]

If I start an ALR on the 15th May (For example) would I still be able to get it at the current price, or would I have to pay the higher price because it extends into the new pricing period?

The wording is:

Fares changes apply for tickets bought to commence travel on or after 17 May 2009.

From that wording, it would appear that all tickets starting before that date are still priced at the old fare. So, for good value, start on the 16th!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Whether or not an ALR can be purchased in advance of it's start date, like an Apex or Shaver ticket?

Yes, any ticket office can issue an ALR with any start date. There will be a limit as to how far in advance they can go, but I'm not sure what that would be.

The minimum advance booking period for seated spaces on Sleepers (I'll probabally be using 'em a lot, and I'll be booking my seats when purchasing the ALR.) and any booking fee that would be payable for ALR holders? Are standees allowed on board sleeper services?

At the moment, sleeper reservations are available until 10th June. You need reservations for both sleepers, and they don't convey standing passengers. However, seated sleeper reservations are free. If you want a berth, you pay the supplement for the berth as needed.

Whether there is a half-decent minicab firm (Or failing that, Hackney carriages) available in the Kyle of Localsh, and if so their name and telephone number for bookings.

You can take the ferry over to Armadale on Skye if you so wish, and buses to Kyle. (NOT included in the price of an ALR) Problem is the connections aren't always great due to the low frequency. I don't know Mallaig too well, but giving local taxi firms a quick call to book your cab may be worthwhile. It'll also let you compare prices.

If I purchase an ALR starting on a Monday and decide to kick-start my journey using a sleeper service from London, would I be able to purchase a cheap single for the first part of the journey (To the first station passed after Midnight) and use it in conjunction with my ALR to get an early start without paying about £90,- for the entire journey between Farnborough and Stirling?

No, I think you need to pay for the full length of your journey (unless you could get away with Preston or Carlisle?). Check Bargain Berths before you go, though. You might get a really good deal on your sleeper. On the last day of your journey, you can board the sleeper in the evening and arrive London the next morning; with no charge!

And finally: Is there any limit on maximum distance covered or number of services used with each ALR? Although I'm completely uncertain about the possibility of pulling such mahoosive coverage in such a space of time, I'm going to try and have a go at exceeding 10,000 miles in the space of a week if I can! hock:8)

Nope; any train at any time is valid!

 

[will1337]

[*]Although I've found the eNRTs available for download from the Network Rail website (See Here for the eNRT 2009CE)...Not wanting to take a laptop etc. with me due to the intensity of my journey, I'd find the paper version much more convenient.

I'd have thought that a laptop would be just about as heavy.

 

[glynn80]

From that wording, it would appear that all tickets starting before that date are still priced at the old fare. So, for good value, start on the 16th!

That isn't actually the case.

The FRPP make a handy table to explain what happens in these circumstances.

Selling Fares In Advance of a Fares Change Date (FCD)

Fares Retained at a FCD (although prices and restrictions may change)

Travel Date- Up to and including 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= Current price

Travel Date- On or after 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= New price

So up to four weeks prior to the FCD (fares change date) of 17 May you can purchase tickets for travel after this date at the current/old price.

When you past the four weeks prior to the FCD, you will have to purchase tickets at the new price.

Unfortunately for people that date to purchase tickets at the current/old price has past as it was on 19 April.

 

[martyn29]

Priv 7 day All line rover was £93.75 will be £107.55 when it goes up.

 

[dan_atki]

Yes, any ticket office can issue an ALR with any start date. There will be a limit as to how far in advance they can go, but I'm not sure what that would be.

With rovers they can only sell them 3 days in advance of the start date to avoid fraudulent travel before the start date.

That isn't actually the case.

The FRPP make a handy table to explain what happens in these circumstances.

Selling Fares In Advance of a Fares Change Date (FCD)

Fares Retained at a FCD (although prices and restrictions may change)

Travel Date- Up to and including 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= Current price

Travel Date- On or after 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= New price

So up to four weeks prior to the FCD (fares change date) of 17 May you can purchase tickets for travel after this date at the current/old price.

When you past the four weeks prior to the FCD, you will have to purchase tickets at the new price.

Unfortunately for people that date to purchase tickets at the current/old price has past as it was on 19 April.

Travel here is commencing on 15th/16th May, and as such tickets are offered at the lower price for journeys starting then. If the rover starts on or after the 17th then the new fare will apply.

Same way with season tickets and anytime/off-peak returns with one leg going over into the new period. SWT actually displayed posters encouraging people to purchase their annual season tickets the day before the prices went up (even if it meant surrendering a few days) so as to purchase it at the lower fare.

 

[Railjet]

Selling Fares In Advance of a Fares Change Date (FCD)

Fares Retained at a FCD (although prices and restrictions may change)

Travel Date- Up to and including 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= Current price

Travel Date- On or after 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= New price

So up to four weeks prior to the FCD (fares change date) of 17 May you can purchase tickets for travel after this date at the current/old price.

When you past the four weeks prior to the FCD, you will have to purchase tickets at the new price.

Unfortunately for people that date to purchase tickets at the current/old price has past as it was on 19 April.

Your comments don't seem to reflect the quoted rule. It seems to me that for travel commencing before 17 May, the current price is valid in all cases.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....

If I purchase an ALR starting on a Monday and decide to kick-start my journey using a sleeper service from London, would I be able to purchase a cheap single for the first part of the journey (To the first station passed after Midnight) and use it in conjunction with my ALR to get an early start without paying about £90,- for the entire journey between Farnborough and Stirling?

No, I think you need to pay for the full length of your journey (unless you could get away with Preston or Carlisle?). Check Bargain Berths before you go, though. You might get a really good deal on your sleeper. On the last day of your journey, you can board the sleeper in the evening and arrive London the next morning; with no charge!....

I disagree.

You can use two or more tickets for a journey provided the whole journey is covered and either, they meet at a station that the train stops at, or, one is a season ticket or leisure pass (valid for atleast 7 days, or 3 in 7 days, including rovers) and the other(s) is/are not. In my view a ticket to cover you till midnight should be fine, but you will need reservations for the sleeper.

For a berth you would need to pay for it and have a reservation for the length of journey you make on the sleeper, but this is available as a supplement in advance of travel should space be available.

 

[glynn80]

Your comments don't seem to reflect the quoted rule. It seems to me that for travel commencing before 17 May, the current price is valid in all cases.

Yes, which is exactly what I have posted

Travel Date- Up to and including 17 May 2009
Sale Date- More than 4 weeks before a FCD= Current price
Sale Date- 4 weeks or less before a FCD= Current price

If you read what I actually posted my comments were discussing if you were to travel after 17 May 2009.

"So up to four weeks prior to the FCD (fares change date) of 17 May you can purchase tickets for travel after this date at the current/old price."

 

[yorkie]

Tonight the first station the Highland passes after midnight is Winsford and for the Lowland it's Wolverton. So a ticket to one of those places would be fine!

However I thought that tickets dated for either the date of departure or the date of arrival were accepted anyway? (Can someone check?) In which case all you need is a ticket to London!