Wessex Rover

[Hassocks5489]

Hi all - can anybody help with info about the above? NB. Not the current Heart of Wessex Rover. I'm going through my collection of Rail Rovers at the moment, which include a series of "3-in-7" Wessex Rovers from various years between 1991 and 2004. The 1991 price was £22.00 for 3 days, and 2003 was £30.00 for 3 days, so not very expensive. Does anybody know any of the following:

• The boundaries;
• When it was introduced;
• When it was discontinued.

My usual sources have drawn a blank. Thanks for any help! A scan of an APTIS from Southampton Central Travel Centre is attached for interest.

 

[The exile]

IIRC the boundaries were Cardiff, Gloucester, Swindon, Portsmouth, Weymouth then Weston-s-Mare. Salisbury - Yeovil must also have been in there, remembering some of my moves in the late 1980s.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Can only see the 1 day 'Heart of Wessex Day Ranger' in NFM98 (early 2008), so presumably any longer period alternative ticket product had been discontinued by then.

 

[mrcheek]

IIRC the boundaries were Cardiff, Gloucester, Swindon, Portsmouth, Weymouth then Weston-s-Mare. Salisbury - Yeovil must also have been in there, remembering some of my moves in the late 1980s.

Until the early 2000s, it stopped at Salisbury. Portsmouth and Southampton werent included. But otherwise that is correct

They also used to reduce the price during the off season

It has never actually been discontinued. It was renamed as the Severn and Solent Rover, and still exists, with the boundaries now extended to Portsmouth, Worcester, and Taunton

 

[12LDA28C]

My usual sources have drawn a blank. Thanks for any help! A scan of an APTIS from Southampton Central Travel Centre is attached for interest.

Nicely pre-dated as well I notice!

 

[Hassocks5489]

Nicely pre-dated as well I notice!

Indeed! The good old "A"-marker in evidence!

Thank you all for the info - this has given me plenty to go on!

 

[D1062]

Until the early 2000s, it stopped at Salisbury. Portsmouth and Southampton werent included. But otherwise that is correct

They also used to reduce the price during the off season

It has never actually been discontinued. It was renamed as the Severn and Solent Rover, and still exists, with the boundaries now extended to Portsmouth, Worcester, and Taunton

The Rover we used in mid to late 1980’s was definitely valid to Portsmouth and Weymouth and Weston ,fairly sure that was the Wessex , Cost ?£15 .It had much the same boundary as the The Freedom of Severn & Solent Rover that is available currently. I think validity northwards from Bristol towards Gloucester & Worcester was added about 1990 with the loss of validity south of Salisbury. Southhampton and Portsmouth were reintroduced in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s .Tiverton parkway and Swindon maybe added then as well

 

[33017]

The Rover we used in mid to late 1980’s was definitely valid to Portsmouth and Weymouth and Weston ,fairly sure that was the Wessex , Cost ?£15 .It had much the same boundary as the The Freedom of Severn & Solent Rover that is available currently. I think validity northwards from Bristol towards Gloucester & Worcester was added about 1990 with the loss of validity south of Salisbury. Southhampton and Portsmouth were reintroduced in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s .Tiverton parkway and Swindon maybe added then as well

It was valid to Portsmouth Harbour (and across the coast to Weymouth) until 31/03/88, after which Salisbury was the limit, although you could still use it to Weymouth via Yeovil Pen Mill. I think is also when it became valid to Taunton, both via Castle Cary and Weston. The date sticks in my memory as there were six weeks left of Cromptons on the Cardiff-Pompey’s and guards were very keen on pointing out the change in validity…

 

[The exile]

It was valid to Portsmouth Harbour (and across the coast to Weymouth) until 31/03/88, after which Salisbury was the limit, although you could still use it to Weymouth via Yeovil Pen Mill. I think is also when it became valid to Taunton, both via Castle Cary and Weston. The date sticks in my memory as there were six weeks left of Cromptons on the Cardiff-Pompey’s and guards were very keen on pointing out the change in validity…

Ah - so that explains why my Crompton trips in April & May 88 didn’t venture south of Salisbury whereas earlier ones did…

 

[12LDA28C]

Ah - so that explains why my Crompton trips in April & May 88 didn’t venture south of Salisbury whereas earlier ones did…

You must be the only basher in history that has used their Rover solely within its area of validity...