Thames Rover validity

[Mojo]

A Thames Rover is valid "after 0930 (Monday-Fridays) or when Cheap Day Return is valid (whichever is earlier)."

A CDR from Thatcham to Paddington (or Reading) is valid after 0840, so therefore can be used on the 0843 from Thatcham to Reading. Once I get to Reading, the FGW timetable suggests I connect onto the 0915 which gets to Paddington at 0944. However a Reading to Paddington CDR is not valid on this train.

Given a passenger with a CDR from Thatcham to Paddington would be valid on this train, can I use it? Or would I have to

• wait at Thatcham for the 0902 which arrives Paddington 0955
• wait at Reading for the 0934 which arrives Paddington 1002?

 

[yorkie]

NFM06 says Thatcham - London/Reading is valid at or after 0850

 

[Mojo]

NFM06 says Thatcham - London/Reading is valid at or after 0850

Not what mine says! If it was; the same question would apply from Theale.

Restriction : L5
Available as listed below     
Mondays to Fridays (By any    
train Saturdays, Sundays and  
Bank Holidays)                
                              
OUTWARD TRAVEL.               
By any train timed to depart  
at or later than 0840, except 
those listed in the table     
below:

L5 in The Manual also says 0840; but I can't get WebTIS to say it's valid...

 

[sonic2009]

fgw and southern website both showing first cheap day rtn, from thatcham to london paddington is avaiable on the 0902 service arr 0955.

 

[Mojo]

fgw and southern website both showing first cheap day rtn, from thatcham to london paddington is avaiable on the 0902 service arr 0955.

Yes WebTIS also showing this as per my post above, but both Avantix and The Manual show the ticket as valid after 0840. Still leaves me with a problem as to what to do, as a CDR is valid after 0840.

 

[Ivo]

A pretty lame answer here, but if you can get to Reading but not London why not use the intermediate time to find a place to have some breakfast, or something?

 

[Mojo]

National Rail would appear to have gotten it right; showing the Off-peak validity on the 0840 from Bedwyn! I'd really like to get to London ASAP and not have to mess around at Reading. It's clear that the ticket from Bedwyn/Thatcham/Theale is valid on this train, but I am not sure how it relates to the use of the Rover.

 

[RJ]

Your journey starts at Thatcham, therefore any restrictions on the ticket apply from there.

For the Thames Rover;

Monday to Friday: Valid from 0930, or when Off-Peak Day Return is valid (whichever is earlier).

For journeys with Thatcham as the origin, an Off-Peak Day Return (CDR) to Paddington is valid on the 08:43.

For journeys with Reading as the origin, the Off Peak Day Return (SVR) is subject to a completely different restriction which would makes it invalid on trains arriving at Paddington before 10:00. Your Thames Rover must show Thatcham as the origin, this is important because its validity is dependent on the Off Peak conditions from its station of origin.

 

[yorkie]

I see the problem. I was looking at NFM05.

In NFM06, it refers to the "table below" but there is no table below!

I would say this means it's valid after 0840, but I bet FGW would give the typical TOC response of "it's a mistake, it's not meant to be valid until the 0902" and refuse to accept the mistake as their responsibility, claiming you are are responsible for their mistake.

I would advise taking a printout of NFM06 restrictions, and also printouts from journey planners that show validity on the earlier train.

 

[RJ]

The table is supposed to show a list of services departing Paddington or Reading at specific times on which Off Peak tickets are not accepted. They're all in the afternoon/evening peak.

 

[yorkie]

The table is supposed to show a list of services departing Paddington or Reading at specific times on which Off Peak tickets are not accepted. They're all in the afternoon/evening peak.

NFM05 had a table of exceptions for outward journeys (toward London), in addition for the exceptions for return journeys (from London).

Either FGW made a mistake or are being generous by making some trains available to Off Peak Day ticket holders for certain journeys, that were previously not available to such ticket holders.

 

[Mojo]

Your Thames Rover must show Thatcham as the origin, this is important because its validity is dependent on the Off Peak conditions from its station of origin.

Rover tickets do not show anywhere as an origin, they are valid for unlimited travel in the area.

This is the problem I have; I would be travelling between Thatcham and Reading at a time when the CDR would be valid yet between Reading and Paddington at a time where they are not valid if starting at Reading (but okay if starting at Thatcham). Surely this throws the restrictions into disrepute as someone wanting to travel east from Reading could board a train over 15 minutes before they ought to, by claiming they had originated at Thatcham.

 

[yorkie]

True. But they do show an issuing station which some staff mistake for an origin, so it would look more valid (to them!) if it was issued at Thatcham, however in reality it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever!