Booking system quirks

[whole diary]

[swrural]

I think this is the right place for this subject but mods could please move it to somewhere better if i have overlooked a better choice.

I wrote a little while ago that we were planning to travel from Axminster (AXM) to Totnes to go and see the steamers.

I used the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) site to investigate but I have checked and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) was exactly the same.

I was more than a little disappointed with the connection from the 10 03 from AXM at St Davids (42 mins) arrive TOT at 11 57 but clearly we not in a hurry.

On the day, I looked up the web site at brekkers and instead of the double OAP card fares of ^12.50 return, previously shewn, it had changed overnight to ^15.75.  At the station I was charged ^12.50.  Curiouser and curiouser!

When we reached Exeter on time at 1042, to our pleasure, there was a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) waiting across platform due to depart at 1246.  A bit concerned, we checked it stopped at TOT and it did and we thus reached the destination at 11 20 (37 mins quicker than we had expected and enabling us to catch the 11 32 Auto train -5542 and W232W for enthusiasts).

I won't go into further great detail but the same happened on teh way back with an HST at 1550 and a 4 minute connection to the 1626 (arrive 1622 at St Davids but this time requiring a smart walk over teh footbridge at St Davids).

All on time and great!

Thinking back to use of TD (see acronyms, kindness of Mods) I have checked that system and there you can put in whether you are a slow walker or a fast one.

I did that for teh same trips above and it came up with exactly what we did!

So in fact the connections at St Davids are just dandy!  This is important because there was a big moan when the SWT 159s were cut short from reversing at St Davids to go down the coast.

Recapping, using TD would have given a much better impression of the service available than the ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) companies' web sites where no such option that I could see was given.

Then there are the fares.  In view of the hefty discussion on the other thread, it would appear that one could not book the trip we actually achieved (online) and also there is the oddity about why the online fare for a day return suddenly jumped on line but not an hour later in the booking office.  Any thoughts (the chief one I am interested in is the minimum change time being assumed but it's all interesting)?




 

[Brucey]

The official "minimum connection time" at Exeter St Davids is 6 minutes.  Any connection shorter than this won't be shown in journey planners.

[paul7575]

I think I can repeat/explain the price glitch.  Try selecting two adults as before, but when you select railcard type just select 'Senior' without telling it you have two railcards.

If I'm right you've only given yourself one discount when checking the second time?

The programmer cannot just assume that you both have the same railcard, ISTM.

Paul

[swrural]

Paul

Yes I think you are right, I checked and I made a mistake most likely, thanks.

Brucey, yes, that was my point.  To iterate, it would appear impossible to book the journey that in fact we made (with 4 minute changeover both there and back) online using FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or SWT^▸ (South West Trains) web site,  whereas using TD and then going over from that site ("book tickets" button) to FGW, it was.

Is that not peculiar?  I mean, had we booked in advance for the specific trains allowed us on the FGW or SWT 'Journey planner' (is that what it is called?) would we have been bothered by the TTI on the earlier XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains that we in fact used?

I had the impression that off peak day return tickets did not specify the train that one fished up, when booking online in advance?

There is also the rather bad PR^▸ (Public Relations) of telling pax it will take them 2 hours for that trip when in fact it's possible to do it in three quarters of an hour less.

If one could do on SWT or FGW, what one can do on TD, the issue would be solved.

Incidentally, out of the four trains we caught that day, our ticket was checked only once (XC Totnes to Exeter) and no barrier control anywhere.

Tickets on the SDR were checked in both directions.  'Would you like your ticket punched or not sir?'