Great Western Coffee Shop

Southern are now advertising group discounts on advance tickets:

^ 2 people travel for ^8 one way
^ 5 people travel for ^15 one way
^ 10 people travel for ^20 one way

http://www.southernrailway.com/offers/supergroup

Only problem ... their website doesn't let you book more than 8 adults in one transaction  ::) :P

You aren't meant to put in more than eight.

You should put in one adult, and ticket options will offer SuperGroup 2, 5 or 10 persons.

This product is issued only on one ticket. Rather than a ticket for each person.

More potential confusion.

That wasn't on their site yesterday ... they must have realised that they failed to explain how to buy the ticket after they got tonnes of emails from people like me!

Don't know when they updated their website but it was on their yesterday at some point!

It was there website I got that info from when I made the post last night.

And then even more confusion when the tickets arrive.

This is the first time I've tried this type of ticket and involved buying them for my parents.  Tickets are issued as ticket type "GROUP ADV 02", route "SN SUPER GROUP" with the passengers being just "Adult ONE".  Apparently this is valid for two people but won't do much to ease their mind when approaching the SWT barriers at their local station >:(

I'm just pleased FGW haven't jumped on this bandwagon as it is surely a recipe for confusion.

 They must have up-dated the website again, any queries are answered on the Conditions/FAQ's tab.
 
  Don't worry, unlikely to get anything as good on FGW.
 

Is that comment really justified, given the absolute bargains that are to be had with many local and branchline fares in the west of England, not to mention the fact that FGW is one of, if not the only, Intercity operator that still allows GroupSave tickets to be used? In most cases the supposedly "bargain" group fares are TOC-specific products that have popped up after said TOC ceased honouring GroupSave. They are generally more restrictive and often have an advance-purchase requirement, but because they're TOC-specific that one company gets all the revenue, less any sales commission. That's why the companies seem to like them, and also why I think it's very commendable that FGW stilll issues and accepts flexible GroupSave tickets for off-peak/weekend travel that are flexible don't need to be booked in advance.