SS0 and SS4 - Possible Southeastern DaySave Ticket?

[superalbs]

I was browsing the Rovers and Rangers section on the National Rail website, and noticed these odd listings in the list.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/183893.aspx
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/183900.aspx

They are named "SS0", and "SS4 Day Ranger", presumably for one person, and groups of four.

There is no other detail listed on the site except for this:

"Valid on Southeastern services only. Valid to.from Any Southeastern calling point."

Quite interesting, I'd rather fancy an SE DaySave to visit more of the Kent area.

 

[MikeWh]

Have you looked at the Kent Rover?

 

[superalbs]

Have you looked at the Kent Rover?

Yes, and have done one before, but a DaySave ticket would be plenty enough to finish off what I need.

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, and have done one before, but a DaySave ticket would be plenty enough to finish off what I need.

A DaySave ticket for the whole South Eastern network is really unlikely because it would cannibalise the revenue take for key parts of their network and there simply isn't enough competition from other transport modes to require this as an offer.

When South Eastern have had special offers (eg £10 day returns from London) you will note that they have never been offered to Canterbury and have always included a no break of journey restriction.

Similarly, Kent Rover is only valid outside the London area, presumably to protect revenue from London day trippers.

Maybe they would introduce a small area ranger

 

[ashworth]

I suppose that they could introduce a Day Ranger covering the same area as the Kent 3 Day Rover. However, as the 3 Day Rover is quite expensive for the area it covers at £45 with no railcard discount, I can’t see a one day ranger costing less than £20.
Off Peak Day Returns, especially in the East of Kent around the coast, are quite reasonably priced over long distances. As a Senior Railcard holder I would not pay £45 for 3 days for such a limited area when I can get Day Returns, and by using break of journey, I can use them a bit like a rail rover. When I stay in Folkestone I can get an Off Peak Day Return to Whistable, valid either around the coast or via Faversham, which opens up numerous opportunities for visiting various locations in a day. The Off Peak Returns to destinations right along the south coast, to Brighton and beyond, for just under £15 are even more useful.

 

[JonathanH]

Of course a lot of fares are undercut by the Southern fares from further afield.

Tonbridge to Ramsgate - off-peak day return £26.60
Southampton Central to Ramsgate via Barnham - off-peak day return £21.70

The fact that Tonbridge to Ramsgate is £26.60 gives you an indication that a £20 day ranger, even for Kent on its own is not going to be seen as viable.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I suppose that they could introduce a Day Ranger covering the same area as the Kent 3 Day Rover. However, as the 3 Day Rover is quite expensive for the area it covers at £45 with no railcard discount, I can’t see a one day ranger costing less than £20.
Off Peak Day Returns, especially in the East of Kent around the coast, are quite reasonably priced over long distances. As a Senior Railcard holder I would not pay £45 for 3 days for such a limited area when I can get Day Returns, and by using break of journey, I can use them a bit like a rail rover. When I stay in Folkestone I can get an Off Peak Day Return to Whistable, valid either around the coast or via Faversham, which opens up numerous opportunities for visiting various locations in a day. The Off Peak Returns to destinations right along the south coast, to Brighton and beyond, for just under £15 are even more useful.

Having seen the area covered by this ticket I would have said £15/day is actually very good value provided you do travel on all 3 days of validity. I suspect your view of its value is due to the lack of railcard discount but as a non-railcard holder I cannot agree with you!

 

[Joe Paxton]

The fact that Tonbridge to Ramsgate is £26.60 gives you an indication that a £20 day ranger, even for Kent on its own is not going to be seen as viable.

Though an advance purchase requirement would I suppose be one way that SE could mitigate against a day ranger product cannibalising their regular revenue - such a requirement exists for the Southern DaySave ticket (buy a minimum of 3 days before travel).

 

[cactustwirly]

I was browsing the Rovers and Rangers section on the National Rail website, and noticed these odd listings in the list.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/183893.aspx
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/183900.aspx

They are named "SS0", and "SS4 Day Ranger", presumably for one person, and groups of four.

There is no other detail listed on the site except for this:

"Valid on Southeastern services only. Valid to.from Any Southeastern calling point."

Quite interesting, I'd rather fancy an SE DaySave to visit more of the Kent area.

There are some day returns you can use if you're interested in doing a 'round robin'.

 

[ashworth]

Having seen the area covered by this ticket I would have said £15/day is actually very good value provided you do travel on all 3 days of validity. I suspect your view of its value is due to the lack of railcard discount but as a non-railcard holder I cannot agree with you!

Point taken. I was looking at it from a railcard users point of view. I must admit I did use a Kent Rover 3 years ago before I reached 60 and got a railcard. It was under £40 then. I’ve only had a railcard for just over a year and I’m already taking the cheaper prices for granted.
Not rail, but buses in Kent and East Sussex. I do find the Stagecoach 7 Day South East Megarider Ticket very good value at only £23.50. Despite a few cuts in services recently the Stagecoach network is still quite comprehensive in East Kent. I might have a Senior Railcard but I won’t get a bus pass, if they are still going, for another 5 years!