Ride Cornwall and plusbus?

[sor]

Hi,

I'm looking to go from mid-Cornwall to somewhere in Plymouth in a couple of weeks.

I was planning to buy a Ride Cornwall ticket on the bus as it would be valid to get me from village to St. Austell (or maybe Bodmin, I don't know yet) plus train to Plymouth (and around here the bus fare alone would be similar to the train fare), but I will need to get a bus within Plymouth too, which the Ride Cornwall does not cover.

Can I therefore buy a Plusbus at Plymouth station even though I don't have a "proper" rail ticket?

I did a quick search and saw posts relating to all-line rovers and multi-page bickering over what constitutes a train ticket, but no real answer.

It's not a big deal as the Plusbus isn't that much cheaper than Plymouth CityBus's own all-day ticket but it'd be nice to save money if I can.

(and slightly related, I'm guessing the bus driver can't/won't issue the Ride Cornwall on rail ticket stock so I'd have to just show it at the barrier to get through at Plymouth?)

 

[causton]

As it is a rail ticket valid to Plymouth, I do not see why not! Your mileage may vary though, I have known some people to be awkward when issuing PlusBus tickets, although in the local area I once had a ticket to Severn Beach and got a PlusBus from Bristol Temple Meads for the Bristol area, which I believe isn't strictly allowed, so I think it will be fine...

 

[bb21]

Bus companies won't be able to issue them on rail ticket stock, so yes, you will need to use manual barriers. Also beware that if you want a Railcard discount, I don't think bus drivers can issue them.

Some say that because a Ride Cornwall ticket has no origin or destination, you cannot be sold a PlusBus with it, but there have also been success stories reported on this forum with them being sold in conjunction with a Rover ticket. I guess it is a bit of a grey area and all will depend on your luck on the day.

 

[richw]

Where in Plymouth do you need to get the bus to? There are ways around using the Ride Cornwall on buses to Plymouth.

 

[Be3G]

I'd also add a cautionary note that not all bus drivers are au fait with issuing the Ride Cornwall ticket full stop.

 

[SWTH]

Some of that comes down to how rarely drivers issue them. Certainly on the WGL machines the RC isn't in the main Rover menu.

Also, be aware a Ride Cornwall can only be issued after 0900. You may already know that but many people don't.

 

[Be3G]

Ah, it was indeed a Western Greyhound driver who couldn't sell me the ticket. Out of interest, where should I have told him to look?

As for the 9am restriction, that's only on weekdays.

 

[richw]

I always try to purchase from a station, firstly get my D&C railcard discount, secondly its a much more clearer ticket for validity. I've had issues with bus issued Ride Cornwalls but never a train issued one.
A WG chap made conversation with me last week when I did a Ride Cornwall, and appeared genuinely interested in my plans for the days exploring.
It is certainly good value for getting to a few places in a day.
I've slowed down now, but when I first did them I just tried to see how far and how many bueses I could get in a day. Now I spend an hour or so in each destination.

 

[SWTH]

Ah, it was indeed a Western Greyhound driver who couldn't sell me the ticket. Out of interest, where should I have told him to look?

As for the 9am restriction, that's only on weekdays.

Indeed it is, should have remembered that

It's been nearly six months now since I last logged on to a WGL ERG 5000, put one in front of me and I could find it in seconds but I'm afraid from memory I can't remember the menu title.

The best advice would be to do as richw does - next time you're near a staffed railway station, buy a Ride Cornwall for your intended day of travel, and if you have a railcard you'll get your discount on it.

 

[Kite159]

Or if you don't live near a staffed railway station (or near a station where the ticket office is open at times not suitable), the Ride Cornwall can be purchased online from FGW (7 days in advance to get free postage). Not so good for the "I fancy a trip to X today" moments but for preplanned trips an useful tool.

 

[Be3G]

Yeah, exactly. The failed purchase from a Western Greyhound bus was when my family and I were in Cornwall to do something, and I suggested that we take a day to do a bit of sight-seeing. Being based in the Hayle Premier Inn meant that purchasing from the bus was the only option!

 

[sor]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Where in Plymouth do you need to get the bus to? There are ways around using the Ride Cornwall on buses to Plymouth.

Estover I think. I wasn't planning on getting off the train at Liskeard or Saltash and going in by bus if that's what you mean.

Bus companies won't be able to issue them on rail ticket stock, so yes, you will need to use manual barriers. Also beware that if you want a Railcard discount, I don't think bus drivers can issue them.

Some say that because a Ride Cornwall ticket has no origin or destination, you cannot be sold a PlusBus with it, but there have also been success stories reported on this forum with them being sold in conjunction with a Rover ticket. I guess it is a bit of a grey area and all will depend on your luck on the day.

I do have a railcard but unless I can buy before I get on the bus I think I'd be better off paying full price for the rover, the bus fare is going to be a few quid anyway and the non-rover train ticket price is about £9 offpeak return I think.

I guess the best thing to do is to chance it and see what happens. As I say it's not the end of the world as isn't dramatically cheaper.

Some of that comes down to how rarely drivers issue them. Certainly on the WGL machines the RC isn't in the main Rover menu.

Also, be aware a Ride Cornwall can only be issued after 0900. You may already know that but many people don't.

I was going to try First (I live in the area of the newly extended 27) in the hopes that they might be a bit more with it, but I guess I'll just get on whatever turns up first.

The time restriction is not a problem in my case.

Someone says that FGW's site will sell rovers, how do you get it to do that if it's asking for a set origin/destination?

 

[Kite159]

Someone says that FGW's site will sell rovers, how do you get it to do that if it's asking for a set origin/destination?

The link to direct rovers from FGW:

http://tickets.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/gw/en/journeyplanning/roversandrangers

Normally I find hitting "Find tickets" on the homepage without entering anything will send you to the mixing desk, where Rovers is listed at the top.