Atomic Systems

I've found myself with a few months of 'gardening leave' from work, and i'm thinking of taking out a All lines rover and having a bit of fun, can anyone recommend some journeys to take, I got as far as the routes detailed below:

Day 1 London to Glasgow via ECML and return via WCML
Day 2 London to Penzance and return

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I'm based in Bedford too if that helps.

A trip to Fort William on the sleeper hauled by a 37

Sadly sleeper services aren't covered

London to Cardiff, including a trip up the valleys to Treherbert or somewhere.

all lines are valid on the sleepers, just need to make a reservation to go in the seats. will need to pay a supplement for a berth. If the Fishguard run comes off in the new timetable, that would seem a good day out to me!

Also, isn't the Fort William sleeper treated as a normal service from a certain destination forward (the NB one)?

I used the Fort William sleeper on an all-lines rover years ago by just paying the sleeper supplement, and that hasn't changed as the all-line is seen as a normal travel ticket for the Sleeper, and so can be used for sleeper travel by paying the supplement. I used to do Euston-Fort William, change to the train to Mallaig, then catch the summer only Mallaig-Kyle ferry (the old mv Lochmor which was a dinky little tug-like boat which usually did the Small Isles service) and return to Inverness from Kyle, then take another sleeper back to London before catching an early service to Cornwall for the St Ives or Looe branches. Bit of a marathon, but very relaxing as the sleeper was comfortable and of course it got you into London for a good early start on what would otherwise be a difficult journey to do in a day in Cornwall.

Obviously the opening of the Kyle Bridge has changed things a bit, but it might be worth seeing if there are any connections between Mallaig and Kyle via Skye, using ferries and buses.

I also used to use the railrover to visit branches and places that would otherwise not be feasible, such as Whitby, West Wales and the Isle of Wight. Windermere and the Cumbrian Coast are quite interesting, and East Anglian branches out of Norwich still retain a lot of semaphore signalling (except to Cromer) and interesting little stations, although sadly the 47 hauled Mk3 set to Yarmouth has ceased.

It's worth checking out the Rail magazine from earlier in the year which details rail rover tickets as to what additional perks come with the all-line, there are some reduced admissions/fares on some steam railways, free use of some bus links and the like. I know I was able to get a discount on a Windermere sailing years ago, and the ferry across to the Isle of Wight used to be free but probably isn't now since privatisation.

chrispierce wrote:Sadly sleeper services aren't covered

All trains should be covered by All line railrovers,you just have to pay extra for a Berth as "lynnfizzy"87015" said above

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/promotion ... e1b9798124


The only train you can not use is between London Kings cross and hull(that may have changed),for some reason they wont let you use All line rover on there Trains

MARTIN

PS.Have a read of this guys Travels on a rover

http://orthanc.coris.org.uk/jdc/Rail/19 ... intro.html

Kings Cross to Hull except for one GNER train a day is operated by Hull Trains, which isn't a National Rail franchise.

As the MV Lochmore has been replaced with the MV LochNevis Kyle is no longer served as on 1999

Ive been looknig for a route between Kyle and Mallaig and the best option seems to be with an overnight stay at the GlenElg in.

They will collect visitors from Kyle or Mallaig with their Fast Boat (translate that as woodenhulled rower with outboard motor fitted)

Room rate for the winter is 50 quid but i will be travelling in spring or sumemr if i do the journey