Finding cheapest train fare is the passengers responsbility?
Discussion
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-ra...
You'd almost think that the train companies had deliberately come up with schemes that offer so many tickets that it's almost certainly an impossibility that people will be buying the cheapest option to get from A to B.
It also seems that the railways have done everything under their power to f
k over anyone who wants to simply get up and go get on a train and go somewhere without having planned it and purchased the tickets two weeks in advance.
I'm internet savvy. My mum isn't and if my grandparents were still alive god help them if they ever found themselves at the booking office needing to get from A to B " as they'd simply accept whatever the nice man or lady told them they needed.
You'd almost think that the train companies had deliberately come up with schemes that offer so many tickets that it's almost certainly an impossibility that people will be buying the cheapest option to get from A to B.
It also seems that the railways have done everything under their power to f
k over anyone who wants to simply get up and go get on a train and go somewhere without having planned it and purchased the tickets two weeks in advance.I'm internet savvy. My mum isn't and if my grandparents were still alive god help them if they ever found themselves at the booking office needing to get from A to B " as they'd simply accept whatever the nice man or lady told them they needed.
AJS- said:
It is all a bit of a pain.
What annoys me is that it's apparently all in the name of the free market yet I believe they still hoover up subsidies and enjoy a government granted near monopoly on their routes.
There is no free-market, just a series of regional monopolies, leading to issues like this and lack of competitive pressure on prices more generally.What annoys me is that it's apparently all in the name of the free market yet I believe they still hoover up subsidies and enjoy a government granted near monopoly on their routes.
I can to a degree see the situation both sides. Its a business not a charity and there is no onus on them to offer the cheapest fare nor to make it openly obvious. They are there to make money.
On the flip side. Deliberately setting up the system to make it so confusing the customer cannnot easily find the cheapest fares is dishonest and against what I would describe as decent business ethics.
On the flip side. Deliberately setting up the system to make it so confusing the customer cannnot easily find the cheapest fares is dishonest and against what I would describe as decent business ethics.
AJS- said:
It is all a bit of a pain. What annoys me is that it's apparently all in the name of the free market yet I believe they still hoover up subsidies and enjoy a government granted near monopoly on their routes.
Look on the bright side at least our ticket prices and taxes help to subsidise other european state owned railway's 
swerni said:
DJRC said:
swerni said:
DJRC said:
Isn't this what thetrainline.com is for?
Great till someone hacks your account.DJRC said:
Isn't this what thetrainline.com is for?
I used to think so but booked 3 tickets out of London in peak time earlier this monthWhen the barrier wouldnt let me through I asked for help and was gleefully told my tickets werent valid until after 8pm or something similar
Im vague on the time because the exact terms were not actually written on the tickets
On saying nicely that I had booked onto this specific train on the website and even had seat reservation cards for this specific train to go with my tickets the inspector let us through and said it happens from time to time
Negative Creep said:
Slaav said:
Or National Rail enquiries?
Depends if you'd trust a Mumbai call centre to find you the best route?When I need a train, it is my first port of call. They highlight the cheapest etc even if not on that specific train. I then cross check with the train company and don't think I've ever found cheaper?
dub16v said:
DJRC said:
Isn't this what thetrainline.com is for?
I don't understand why people use thetrainline.com? The tickets on offer are exactly the same as those for sale through nationalrail.co.uk, but come without the £1 booking fee. What am I missing?
Slaav said:
Negative Creep said:
Slaav said:
Or National Rail enquiries?
Depends if you'd trust a Mumbai call centre to find you the best route?When I need a train, it is my first port of call. They highlight the cheapest etc even if not on that specific train. I then cross check with the train company and don't think I've ever found cheaper?
Ive used trainline because its quick simple and east. I don't have to sod about on different virgin sites, I don't have to remember if its network rail, Railtrack of whoever or then book with whoeven runs southern services.
You lot live in the UK, I dont, just commute in and out. I don't want to fk about and it works well for me.
You lot live in the UK, I dont, just commute in and out. I don't want to f
k about and it works well for me.numtumfutunch said:
I used to think so but booked 3 tickets out of London in peak time earlier this month
When the barrier wouldnt let me through I asked for help and was gleefully told my tickets werent valid until after 8pm or something similar
Im vague on the time because the exact terms were not actually written on the tickets
On saying nicely that I had booked onto this specific train on the website and even had seat reservation cards for this specific train to go with my tickets the inspector let us through and said it happens from time to time
More likely the donuts staffing the barrier line didn't have a clue as to the ticket restrictions, despite it being their job. And just to piss anyone off with a railcard or other discount ticket, they set the barriers to reject anything except a full price ticket.When the barrier wouldnt let me through I asked for help and was gleefully told my tickets werent valid until after 8pm or something similar
Im vague on the time because the exact terms were not actually written on the tickets
On saying nicely that I had booked onto this specific train on the website and even had seat reservation cards for this specific train to go with my tickets the inspector let us through and said it happens from time to time
PF62 said:
More likely the donuts staffing the barrier line didn't have a clue as to the ticket restrictions, despite it being their job. And just to piss anyone off with a railcard or other discount ticket, they set the barriers to reject anything except a full price ticket.
How would the barrier know if you were also carrying a valid railcard?Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff