Northern Rail rovers

[Leylandlad]

Cracking value..just done day 1 on the 4 out of 8 North West rover.

£70 or it's £85 for 7 straight days.

http://www.northernrail.org/tickets/dayrangers/Rail+Rover

Whopping area...WCML from Warrington to Lockerbie. Cumbrian Coast, Leeds-Carlisle, Southport-Manchester etc...

Valid from 0845...thanks to the Chorley biz there's a train from Leyland to Preston at 0846...never miss a minute

Schedule today was as follows...

0846 Leyland - Preston (156420)
0941 Preston - Carlisle (390046)
1150 Carlisle - Barrow (153363)
1440 Barrow - Preston (185117)

Then it collapsed at Preston....:roll:

Tomorrow planning a trip on the S&C and the Little NW from Lancaster.

Highlights? Got to be the Cumbrian Coast around Harrington-Parton. Sea on one side, cliffs on the other. Not done the route in 30 years...top recommendation The Pendo over Shap was awesome as well. It was a Lancaster to Penrith non stop so took a flyer up Grayrigg, except for a PWS at Hay Fell...

Looking forward to tomorrow....especially stopping off for fish & chips in Skipton

 

[Crossover]

I agree both this and the Freedom of the North East provide excellent value days out - sounds like you made good use too

 

[Kite159]

The Cumbrian Coast is one bit of line I want to try and do before the year is out, still need to work out on some details to find if I can get it down from £52.20 for a round trip (including a trip to Windermere) using a mix of advances & anytime singles.

 

[Leylandlad]

Day 2 today.

0923 Leyland-Lancaster (TPE 185 stopping due to Chorley diversion)
1020 Lancaster-Morecambe
1034 Morecambe-Lancaster-Skipton (same unit 150/1)

Off into Skipton for fish and chips sat in the sun by the canal, then off for a pint to wash it down...well it was rather warm

1326 Skipton-Carlisle (158)...lovely run over the S&C, 1st time for 18 years!

1539 Carlisle-Preston (TPE 350406) My 1st trip on a 350. Quiet and smooth, huge improvement on 185's on the TPE Scottish routes.

1700 Preston-Lostock Hall (150)

Another great day out thanks to the rover ticket, thankfully without the end problems of yesterday.

Working tomorrow and Saturday, out with the wife somewhere on Sunday, but planning day 3 for Monday....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The Cumbrian Coast is one bit of line I want to try and do before the year is out, still need to work out on some details to find if I can get it down from £52.20 for a round trip (including a trip to Windermere) using a mix of advances & anytime singles.

The Cumbria Day Ranger is £40.50.

No time restrictions on use unlike most where it's 0845 onwards M-F.

Cracking route the Cumbria coast...so long as it's not on a 142

 

[Kite159]

£52.20 included travel from down south (although looking it appears I missed off GRT to London @ £24.30) so £76.50 total for a day-trip.

Grateley 5:25 to Waterloo 6:49, Waterloo to Euston
Euston to Whitehaven advance @ £17, arriving into Whitehaven at 12:39 from Euston at 7:30 (changing at Lancaster & Barrow).
Whitehaven to Carlisle @ £10.20 (anytime single)
Carlisle to Windermere @ £8 (TPE advance)
Windermere to Euston @ £17

40 minutes should be enough for the trip up the northern line

 

[Leylandlad]

£52.20 included travel from down south (although looking it appears I missed off GRT to London @ £24.30) so £76.50 total for a day-trip.

Grateley 5:25 to Waterloo 6:49, Waterloo to Euston
Euston to Whitehaven advance @ £17, arriving into Whitehaven at 12:39 from Euston at 7:30 (changing at Lancaster & Barrow).
Whitehaven to Carlisle @ £10.20 (anytime single)
Carlisle to Windermere @ £8 (TPE advance)
Windermere to Euston @ £17

40 minutes should be enough for the trip up the northern line

Some amazing fares if you plan ahead.

Also shows up the the fares structure...ie £10.20 from Whitehaven to Carlisle (perhaps on a 142 :roll yet only £17 Windermere to Euston.

Enjoy whatever. The two towns hate the site of each other, but Whitehaven to Workington is incredible...you're right on the edge of the cliff.

 

[Kite159]

Indeed, I would imagine Barrow to Whitehaven will be a pacer as well

 

[Karl]

I've subscribed to this thread and looking forward to your further adventures. Thanks for sharing.

My last rover from Preston was back in 1975 and was, I think, a Freedom of the North-West (Area C) 7 day rover. I remember it crossed the border and extended to Annan. My 1st ever trip to Scotland.

I keep meaning to try another rover but the trains are so different today. The views from today's rolling stock and the general comfort of the trains isn't the same. Oh for the days of 1st generation DMUs and MK1/MK2 locomotive hauled coaching stock.

Good luck Monday!

 

[Leylandlad]

Indeed, I would imagine Barrow to Whitehaven will be a pacer as well

It's usually either a 156 or 153 (x 2 sometimes).

1010 Barrow-Carlisle was a 142 yesterday. Passed it at Aspatria. It was running a bit late and looked rammed.

At Carlisle yesterday thanks to the rover flexibility I had plan B in case a 142 turned up to work the 1150 to Barrow..ie get the 1155 to Leeds and do the coast route today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I've subscribed to this thread and looking forward to your further adventures. Thanks for sharing.

My last rover from Preston was back in 1975 and was, I think, a Freedom of the North-West (Area C) 7 day rover. I remember it crossed the border and extended to Annan. My 1st ever trip to Scotland.

I keep meaning to try another rover but the trains are so different today. The views from today's rolling stock and the general comfort of the trains isn't the same. Oh for the days of 1st generation DMUs and MK1/MK2 locomotive hauled coaching stock.

Good luck Monday!

Those old rovers were cracking value (or they seemed it at the time). Did a couple in 1981/2 Under 16 fare then...cant remember the price about £5 for the week?

No time restrictions in those days either. Usually got the 0752 from Windermere to Lancaster...then the North west was our oyster...

Monday not sure of the plans yet. Might well do Preston-Carlisle multiple trips and log the running. Mixture of 390, 350, 221 would be nice.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Another great day today, lots of good running on the WCML

Until BB21 apologies to me, I wont publish any information sorry.

 

[D6975]

Haven't done the Cumbrian coast in years. Last time the day's trip was:

53973 54263 CARLISLE - BARROW
31469 BARROW - MANCHESTER VICTORIA
31435 MANCHESTER VICTORIA - LIVERPOOL LIME STREET
31415 LIVERPOOL LIME STREET - MANCHESTER VICTORIA
47443 MANCHESTER VICTORIA - PRESTON
86228 PRESTON - CARLISLE

If only you could do that now..

 

[FQ]

Haven't done the Cumbrian coast in years. Last time the day's trip was:

53973 54263 CARLISLE - BARROW
31469 BARROW - MANCHESTER VICTORIA
31435 MANCHESTER VICTORIA - LIVERPOOL LIME STREET
31415 LIVERPOOL LIME STREET - MANCHESTER VICTORIA
47443 MANCHESTER VICTORIA - PRESTON
86228 PRESTON - CARLISLE

If only you could do that now..

I wish... Although I would flag the DMU and do another loco hauled to Lancaster, for another loco hauled to Barrow for the 31.

 

[43074]

I have just done a 4/8 North West rover and I would also agree they are cracking value. To give an idea of the area of validity, I have visited Chester, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool & Carlisle on one in the past week.

I was based near the Cumbrian Coast so travelled over this fantastic stretch of line every day and never got bored of it; although it was rather painfull doing an ex Merseyrail 142 from Ravenglass to Lancaster.

I also like the WCML between Carlisle and Lancaster, particularly around Shap, and the Lancaster - Leeds line which is underated IMO in the shadow of the S&C.

Only downside was the amount of D/EMU haulage - I would have liked more loco haulage - and as of Friday I refuse to travel on 142s. But that aside I have had a fantastic week. I may do a full trip report if I have time.

 

[FQ]

I have just done a 4/8 North West rover and I would also agree they are cracking value. To give an idea of the area of validity, I have visited Chester, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool & Carlisle on one in the past week.

I was based near the Cumbrian Coast so travelled over this fantastic stretch of line every day and never got bored of it; although it was rather painfull doing an ex Merseyrail 142 from Ravenglass to Lancaster.

I also like the WCML between Carlisle and Lancaster, particularly around Shap, and the Lancaster - Leeds line which is underated IMO in the shadow of the S&C.

Only downside was the amount of D/EMU haulage - I would have liked more loco haulage - and as of Friday I refuse to travel on 142s. But that aside I have had a fantastic week. I may do a full trip report if I have time.

Glad you had a good time!

When did you visit Chester as I was there on both the 1st and 2nd of August?

 

[pennine]

I have a very stupid question but if I don't ask I won't know. How does a 4 in 8 work, I understand the concept, but are you given a card where you mark the days?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I have a very stupid question but if I don't ask I won't know. How does a 4 in 8 work, I understand the concept, but are you given a card where you mark the days?

Yep, you get a second ticket separate from the rover ticket with rows of small boxes for the day and month. Excess boxes are crossed out accordingly.

 

[pennine]

Can anyone recommend which it better, freedom of the north east or the north country one. Thinking of best value etc

 

[Techniquest]

Depends where you want to go and what you want to travel on. Need a lot of 91s/HST power cars? North East Rover. Need to cover routes in general across the north? North England. Want to underline some 221s, 350s and 390s? North West Rover.

I'm sure you get the idea, look at where you want to go, what you want to do, when you can do it and what you can afford.