Old All Line Rovers

[Jan Mayen]

Just wondering when were All Line Rovers introduced, and did they include anything that they don't now (eg: ferries, London Underground etc). Any one know?

 

[Trackman]

I am fairly sure some ferries were included, I'm not 100%.
I do not know when they were introduced, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will post on here.

 

[Beebman]

I think the Sealink-operated ferries on Lake Windermere were included but again I'm not 100%.

 

[stuving]

They were advertised as "new" in summer 1962, and covered all railways plus the Clyde and Loch Lomond steamers. However, I found a single reference in 1959 to the same thing, being commended as bringing tourists to Britain from abroad. That suggests that they may have initially been sold only via travel agents for inward tourism (but that's just a guess).

 

[John Luxton]

I had an All Lines in summers of 1978 and 1979 Portsmouth to Ryde passenger ferry was was definitely included as I went on it! I think also Windermere Steamers were included as well.

 

[WesternLancer]

They were advertised as "new" in summer 1962, and covered all railways plus the Clyde and Loch Lomond steamers. However, I found a single reference in 1959 to the same thing, being commended as bringing tourists to Britain from abroad. That suggests that they may have initially been sold only via travel agents for inward tourism (but that's just a guess).

Excellent info.

I think it may even have been the case that pre nationalisation the big four might have sold a go anywhere ticket available to overseas visitors to the uk.

Though each of the big four promoted their services to overseas visitors so it may be that they didn’t co operate with a single all linexstyle ticket. It’s an interesting question.

Brit Rail passes would be the equivalent of your 1959 reference. Sold at a much lower price than the All Line Rover iirc.

Old copies of National Geographic magazine are a good source of adverts aimed at American consumers interested in travel so you can occasionally find adverts by BR aimed at tourists.

 

[Laurencew]

To this day Northern's "Lakes Day Ranger" ticket includes the Windermere steamers.

 

[Trackman]

I've seen an ALR from 1972, it says 'All Sealink services', Which begs the question, how many were they?

 

[Jan Mayen]

Three to the Isle of Wight, Windermere Lake services, Tilbury ferry, Humber Ferry, at a guess.

 

[WesternLancer]

Three to the Isle of Wight, Windermere Lake services, Tilbury ferry, Humber Ferry, at a guess.

But then not the sea link services to France / Holland / Belgium and n&s Ireland?

 

[Harpers Tate]

Pretty certain that they used to include CalMac services and, yes, certain ferries (inc. for example, the Humber Ferry). And there weren't any restrictions at all on time of day unlike the current offering as regards certain London area limitations.

 

[Failed Unit]

Pretty certain that they used to include CalMac services and, yes, certain ferries (inc. for example, the Humber Ferry). And there weren't any restrictions at all on time of day unlike the current offering as regards certain London area limitations.

The Scottish one definitely did and certain city link coaches. I used these to get to Skye. Pretty sure it was valid on the Inverness - Fort William city-link. Then taking the train down to Glasgow.

Long time ago so may have paid. Was certainly valid to Skye (before the bridge)

 

[stuving]

Looking for further newspaper content, there were BR press releases, quoted in many near-identical newspaper reports, in 1987 and 1994. These appear to be for new or revised product ranges, though it's not explicit in 1994.

In 1987 there was a new range of all-line, regional, and local rovers. The all line rover included Sealink ships to the Isle of Wight - no others were mentioned. The regional rovers had "Freedom of ..." names as well.

In 1994 the all-line and regional rovers are mentioned,. but not the local ones, with nothing about ferries. The Freedom of Scotland travel-pass was featured, and that included Cal-Mac ferries plus P&O to Orkney and Stena ones from Stranraer to NI.

In the 1970s there were a few articles in Scotland that might be triggered by a BR announcement or might not. Most feature the all-line rover and the Freedom of Scotland one, listing some of the extras but perhaps not a complete list. For example, on 1975 and 1976 CalMac ferries included are those on the Clyde, Loch Lomond, and Kyle of Lochalsh to Skye.

In the 1960s there were a number of articles and one BR advert, in 1964. That only mentioned the all-line and Freedom of Scotland tickets, both including Clyde and Loch Lomond steamers. In 1964 you find a "Rail Rover" that covers any one BR region, though again the Freedom of Scotland one has a name too. In 1962 there was a brief mention of a "new 14-day all-line rail-rover ticket", though exactly what was new is unclear.

 

[Western Lord]

Pretty certain that they used to include CalMac services and, yes, certain ferries (inc. for example, the Humber Ferry). And there weren't any restrictions at all on time of day unlike the current offering as regards certain London area limitations.

I had an All Line Rover in 1972 for a trip around the country (King's Cross to Paddington via Thurso as I described it to people). It certainly was not valid on the MacBrayne's ferry from Stornoway which I used from Kyle of Lochalsh to Mallaig (this was the year before the CalMac merger). I remember having stayed the night at Kyle wondering how I was going to head south and enquired at the tourist information office whether it was possible to get to Mallaig rather than backtrack by rail to Inverness. The lady there regaled me with complete details of the MacBrayne's ferry off the top of her head and without drawing breath. I had to buy a ticket and enjoyed my cruise down to Mallaig (would it have been MV Hebrides, I can' t remember) and then the train to Glasgow. No longer possible. of course, I don't know if there is a bus from Kyle to Armadale for the ferry to Mallaig these days.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I don't know if there is a bus from Kyle to Armadale for the ferry to Mallaig these days.

No. Think you'd need to change buses somewhere in Broadford.

 

[Polarbear]

I’ve seen advertising for All Line rovers dating back to the mid-1960’s, so they’ve been around for at least 60 years.

Would have been entertaining to use one when there was a fair bit more network than is the case today.

 

[stuving]

It does look as if the ferry add-ons to the all-line rail rover changed over the years, so the full set of what people can remember were never included at once. You'd expect that where the range of ferries operated by BR or its associates changed, but also as a result of deals being done with other operators.

 

[Bevan Price]

When I had an all line rover in the 1970s, there were not available during the winter period. Not sure when they became available for the whole year. My first rover was for London Midland Region - £9 for a week on the London Midland Region, including some lines crossing regional boundaries. Before that, there were "Holiday Runabout Tickets, mostly covering smaller areas than current area rover / ranger tickets, and costing around £1 - £1.50; summer Saturday travel was not allowed on some of those.
.

 

[Tester]

I had two 7 day Southern Region Rovers in summer 1968 - Isle of Wight ferries included.

Price £3/3/0 child fare - the first was paid for by my parents; I enjoyed it so much I bought the second from my savings.