The ^327 rail ticket from Bath to Northallerton

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

I've always got a reply within about 1-2 days

That's pretty much the norm so I am very surprised you've not heard anything yet Nick unless FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are carrying out an investigation.

[smokey]

Even if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are investigating this issue a simple Reply to say we are looking into this, and will report back later, would be BASIC GOOD MANNERS.

[smokey]

....there's always the 7-day All-Line Rail Rover at ^375 (or ^565 for the 14-day version)...

Reading this reminded me of something that vacman said a while ago :

I may be staff but I have a RIGHT to free travel and I pay tax on my free travel (it's reflected in my tax code as it's a privilege of my employment)!

My maths are notoriously suspect, but if I'm right then in effect what this means is railway staff are enjoying a pre-taxed annual entitlement worth either at best

52 (the number of 7 day periods in a year) x ^375 = ^19,500

or at least,

26 (the number of fortnights in a year) x ^565 = ^14,690

- which I have to say, either way isn't exactly to be sniffed at. Any jobs going?

The whole issue of Staff travel is now complex, Some railway staff get free National Travel some get free travel on the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) they work for, others Get NO free or discounted travel.

Now this is as I understand it, Vacman I thought worked for a TOC, but if he pays tax on his travel privilege then he  must work for someone else.

To keep it simple those who get the EX BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) free and Priv rate travel may OR may NOT pay tax on this travel, is that FAIR I think NOT

If the EX BR Worker works for a (A)TOC, then his BR travel consession is free of TAX as it's a reciprocal arangement FGW^▸ (First Great Western) allow NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) staff free travel in return for NXEC allowing FGW staff free travel in return, etc across all ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) member companies.

However if the Ex BR worker works for Network Rail or other NON ATOC company, then ATOC makes a charge for the issue of the BR travel Consession, for 2008-9 this was charged at ^506.65 (paid by the Employer) and being a payment in kind is Taxable, so some workers pay about ^112 a year for this perk.

So it's Rail staff as well who have it UNFARE!! 

[Super Guard]

I don't appear to pay any extra tax on my benefits....  (Free TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) travel & reduced priv rate on others)

[oilengineer]

Nick

Please do try us again though, and also let us know whether you get any joy in trying to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to admit that they should have sold you the cheaper ticket (and more to the point, compensate you!)
You might find another reminder pointing out that it's the "media case" might have some more joy.

I was thinking about contacting them again. But maybe I ought to leave it just to see how long it takes for FGW to come back to us to address the complaint.

I don't think I deserve any special or priority treatment above anyone else. If FGW think the bad media coverage should push it further up the priority list that should be up to them. I fear that it's been 20+ days already.

I can tell you that I left work at 6pm on Friday and we hadn't had a reply up to then.

Just as an aside. Does FGW really care about customer complaints? The only reason I mention this. Is if I don't like the sevices or prices in Tesco, I can choose to shop at ASDA. However if I don't like the prices or service at my local railway station, who do I go to?

This may be a very simplistic view but it is the way I see it.

Nick

This might be a little of topic, but when it comes to FGW customer service I wrote to them back in January and posted my letter it in a Post Office (signed for) as I was aware the electrical box on Exton station was open (it looks closed) but on storm days it comes Open.

I had no reply, and to this day that Box is still open, I just wonder what it will take for someone to fix it, I'd have thought some-one would have picked this issue up on a maintenance visit.

So all I can say is Nick don't hold your Breath waiting for a reply.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

use the contact us link on there website they reply to that.... parcels dont always get to the correct address 

[NICK]

So all I can say is Nick don't hold your Breath waiting for a reply.
[/quote]

I'm not holding my breath! I have a feeling that just maybe, this case is just a little to embarrassing to even reply to?

Nick

[John R]

How was your journey to Lincoln, Nick?

[NICK]

How was your journey to Lincoln, Nick?

It was OK. I had a fairly good run!

I have got to go to Newton le Willows on January 7th. When I have a confimed time I may well come back to you gents and see if you fancy trying to find me a train. Usual conditions apply, namely price and convenient times!

Nick

[NICK]

How was your journey to Lincoln, Nick?

It was OK. I had a fairly good run!

I have got to go to Newton le Willows on January 7th. When I have a confimed time I may well come back to you gents and see if you fancy trying to find me a train. Usual conditions apply, namely price and convenient times!

Nick

OK

I said I would give you guys another try after the Northallerton fiasco. Also we didn't get much luck with the Lincoln trip, so can we try this one?

I have got to be in Newton le Willows by 12.15 on the 7th of January. Looking on the map, the nearest main station seems to be St Helens. Newton le Willows looks to be a ^15 taxi fare from there. According to multimap it is 196 miles each way. So by my reckoning It will cost me about ^40 in diesel.

I have plenty of time to pre-book so hopefully one of you gents can find me a ticket that will tease me out of my car?

Regards
Nick

[devon_metro]

^119. No Advance tickets!

[IndustryInsider]

There is a station at Newton-Le-Willows.

[NICK]

^119. No Advance tickets!

^119 + ^15 taxi 

Surely we can do better than that?

[tramway]

I suspect the 7th January is all booked up with Christmas revellers, all advanced fares will have gone. If you want to do it on the 7th Feb as a day return from the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) web site you could have done it to Newton for ^66.50 leaving at 07.22, which gets you in for 12.00.

There are probably other split journey options that others around here know about which might make a bit of difference, but at that time of year all the cheap seats will have gone on holiday makers as soon as they were available.

[grahame]

^119. No Advance tickets!

^119 + ^15 taxi 

Surely we can do better than that?

Can someone check this one ...

40 pounds single, Bath to Birmingham New Street
10.50 advanced purchase single to Newton-le-Willows

13.00 advanced purchase single back to Birmingham New Street
15.50 advanced purchase single back to Bristol Parkway
6.60 Off Peak Single to Bath Spa

Splitting on the way up at Bristol Parkway did no good, but I didn't try a Cheltenham split or anything . Total price of above (to Newton-le-Willows) is 85.10.  I have assumed a peak time, same day return.