Through ticket to Minehead by train and First bus

[whole diary]

[briantilley]

Hi everyone - my first post here 

I'm a pretty regular traveller by FGW^▸ (First Great Western), mainly to get to and from real ale festivals across the country from my home in Devon.  One of my favourite trips is to the one at Minehead WSR station in September.

In previous years, it has been possible to book a through ticket via the FGW website, taking the service train from Newton Abbot to Taunton, then the First bus service 28 to Minehead.  When I tried that this year the destination (XBV, I think) was no longer found.  I know the ticket itself still exists, because I then booked one over the phone with FGW.

Does anyone know why it is no longer on the website?

Thanks in advance!

Brian

[Phil]

Just a guess, but Webberbus used to run a similar number 105 service and are now, I notice, advertising a number 18 on the same route - http://www.webberbus.com/index.php?content=results

Maybe it's dropped off the First website because First have lost or are losing or are giving up the contract?

[Brucey]

Hello briantilley, welcome to the Coffee Shop Forum.

As you say, the fare definitely exists.  My only advice in this situation is to try another booking engine.  Sites powered by WebTIS (e.g. Southern and Red Spotted Hanky) are able to sell this fare (destination is MINEHEAD BUS).

I cannot see why the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website is unable to sell this.  It could be worth contacting them to see if there is an error/glitch in the system.

[briantilley]

Thanks for the replies!

I hadn't tried Red Spotted Hanky before, but just checked it and you're right that it does offer the ticket I wanted.  I'll remember that next time 

So maybe it is something to do with the booking engine - FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website doesn't even recognise "Mine..." as a destination, whereas thetrainline.com finds "Minehead Bus" but says no tickets are available for the route.

[Brucey]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website doesn't even recognise "Mine..." as a destination, whereas thetrainline.com finds "Minehead Bus" but says no tickets are available for the route.

When you get through to the second screen, Minehead is available as a destination on the FGW website.  Both FGW and TheTrainLine.com use the same booking engine.

[briantilley]

When you get through to the second screen, Minehead is available as a destination on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website.  Both FGW and TheTrainLine.com use the same booking engine.

Ah yes - thanks!  You're right that on FGW's "advanced search" page, "Minehead Bus" is recognised as a destination, the same as thetrainline.com.  But neither of them can find a ticket, whereas I now know that Red Spotted Hanky can 

[JayMac]

redspottedhanky to the rescue again it would seem.

But I'm a little perplexed as to how redspottedhanky are selling a ticket that was removed from the fares database in January 2011.

Minehead Bus has not been listed as a Bus Link destination in the last three fares manuals.

I'd caution against purchasing until it can be confirmed from redspottedhanky that the ticket is really available.

I've called them and I am awaiting an email response.

I've also asked FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via Facebook why the Minehead Bus fare is no longer in the database. It was a fare they set until January 2011.

[briantilley]

Thanks for your help!  It will be interesting to see what they say.

The ticket is definitely still available, though - as mentioned I purchased it over the phone with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) after failing on the website - I have it in front of me as I write this 

Brian

[JayMac]

That's reassuring then.

Kinda weird why it's no longer listed in the fares manual. 

[stationstop]

And we still regularly sell them in my ticket office.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

This obsession with buying walk up tickets online rolls eyes