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grahame
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« Reply #30 on: December 02, 2011, 21:20:54 » |
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Thanks, Chris ... and Devonian's issue with a member of the party not turning up is exactly what I'm wondering about. BUT it's a big group with a number of 1 pound children, so I guess what we do is simply promote a child into an adult if an adult fails to turn up, and not use the child's ticket, if it happens. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #31 on: December 02, 2011, 21:25:00 » |
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That's 'just the ticket', grahame!  The guard on our train explained that treating a child (12 years old, in our case) as an adult on a GroupSave is actually cheaper!   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #32 on: December 02, 2011, 21:53:04 » |
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And, as those topics covered much the same discussion points, I've now merged them here - as ever, in the interests of continuity and clarity.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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devonian
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« Reply #33 on: July 25, 2012, 07:24:03 » |
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A group of us are travelling to Reading during the Olympic periods and whilst our journey up is clear of restrictions, we want to travel back on a Sunday evening. Groupsave is banned on all services leaving Paddington between 1600 and 2000. Ash the last train I can catch would be the ex-Pad 1957, is groupsave also banned from Reading? I.e. is it. the entire service that is restricted or just travel from London?
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JayMac
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« Reply #34 on: July 25, 2012, 13:38:18 » |
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What are your specific dates of travel devonian? Looking at the barred times/dates at National Rail Enquiries it does show there are restrictions on, for example Sunday 5th August. I can't get FGW▸ 's booking engine to offer GroupSave to Reading on any service from Devon/Cornwall on that day, or for this coming Sunday. However, the following Sunday, August 12th (last day of Games) their are no restrictions on GroupSave on FGW's booking engine. FGW's Customer Services tell me there are also restrictions on 5th August until 1400 due to racing at Newbury and those restrictions apply regardless of whether the services actually call at Newbury! I've asked FGW via Facebook for some clarification as the info online and by phone is as clear as mud. |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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bobm
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« Reply #35 on: July 25, 2012, 15:56:01 » |
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There does seem to a problem with Groupsave on the FGW▸ booking engine. I've found several occasions where it won't give me a Groupsave on West Country branch lines when it should. Have raised this with FGW via Twitter.
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Btline
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« Reply #36 on: July 25, 2012, 17:27:04 » |
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The FGW▸ website often denies you GroupSaves when it shouldn't. Either buy at the ticket office or use a different booking website.
I gave up using FGW's site several years ago when it refused to let me buy GroupSaves on the Cotswold line into Paddington before midday. Instead we went to the ticket office, and didn't have to ask for the discount.
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JayMac
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« Reply #37 on: July 25, 2012, 18:03:47 » |
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Unfortunately, one can't use a different booking engine to try and get GroupSave online when it should be eligible. Only thetrainline.com powered websites offer GroupSave as a discount option and they all apply the same restrictions as FGW▸ 's booking engine, regardless of whether those restrictions are correct.
It's perverse that one can't buy GroupSave online for a journey from say, Liskeard to Truro on Sunday 5th August because of racing at Newbury!
I concur with Btline, buy your GroupSave tickets from a station or onboard if no facilities exist at your start station.
The only clear bit of information I got from FGW Customer Services was that the time restrictions during the Olympics^ period only apply to journeys to/from London Paddington and not for the whole journey of a particular service. Unfortunately website ticket retailing doesn't reflect this. So it should be okay to travel on a service from Reading to Devon/Cornwall even if the train started at Paddington during the restricted period.
I say 'should be okay', please don't take that as gospel as FGW Customer Services may be wrong. There is however enough ambiguity in the published information and that ambiguity, contractually, should favour the passenger if any dispute over validity arose.
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« Last Edit: July 25, 2012, 18:12:31 by bignosemac »
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Btline
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« Reply #38 on: July 25, 2012, 19:15:00 » |
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Unfortunately, one can't use a different booking engine to try and get GroupSave online when it should be eligible. Only thetrainline.com powered websites offer GroupSave as a discount option and they all apply the same restrictions as FGW▸ 's booking engine, regardless of whether those restrictions are correct.
Incorrect. GroupSaves are available using London Midland, who use WebITS (not sure about the others) Of course, WebITS is a superior booking platform anyway, so I'd avoid all trainline style ones unless there is a TOC▸ specific deal. Why FGW still uses trainline system I don't know! |
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JayMac
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« Reply #39 on: July 25, 2012, 20:50:30 » |
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Well, I'm suitably embarrassed.  You are right Btline. WebTIS booking engines do indeed now offer GroupSave. A fairly recent change I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the clarification. Just checked a specimen journey on redspottedhanky.com between Bristol TM‡ and Bath Spa for 4 adults and it offered GroupSave with a small 'G' in the relevant fare box:  Good news for Devonian's earlier query. I can now get redspottedhanky to sell GroupSave tickets to Reading form Devon/Cornwall destinations across a range of journeys on the Sundays during the Olympics period, with no apparent 'barred trains' issues. If he comes back with specifics about his journey then it may just be possible to advise booking GroupSave tickets online through a WebTIS based booking engine. If they can be purchased then they are valid, regardless of what the restrictions may say. Bit of a result. Thanks again Btline. |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Btline
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« Reply #40 on: July 25, 2012, 21:00:30 » |
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Try and keep up BNM!  You were right that for a long while WebITS didn't permit it. This led to complaints so some booking engines put Groupsave as a railcard option. Now it's fully integrated.  Why do WebIts have fewer restrictions on tickets than Trainline? |
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JayMac
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« Reply #41 on: July 25, 2012, 21:09:40 » |
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Why do WebIts have fewer restrictions on tickets than Trainline?
I'd guess it's all down to interpretation of restrictions, old boy.  These booking engines are only as intelligent as the person programming them and uploading the fares inmformation. There are many 'anomalies' between thetrainline and WebTIS, most usually when it comes to routeing permissions. Looks like now, another 'anomaly' is the interpretation of GroupSave restrictions. Ho hum. If everything was precise, correct and unambiguously clear there'd be no need for this forum's 'Fare's Fair' board. bignosemac is still learning. I don't think I'll ever be fully versed in the ways and means of interpreting UK▸ rail ticket validities. I do try though. |
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« Last Edit: July 25, 2012, 21:15:29 by bignosemac »
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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bobm
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« Reply #42 on: July 25, 2012, 21:23:21 » |
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I can't check if redspottedhanky gives the Groupsave discount where FGW▸ doesn't. The redspottedhanky app doesn't allow multiple passengers and the website when displayed on an iPhone tells you to use the app.
Was looking at a Groupsave 3 for 22nd August from Teignmouth to Paignton. FGW won't give me it!
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JayMac
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« Reply #43 on: July 25, 2012, 21:39:08 » |
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I can't check if redspottedhanky gives the Groupsave discount where FGW▸ doesn't. The redspottedhanky app doesn't allow multiple passengers and the website when displayed on an iPhone tells you to use the app.
Was looking at a Groupsave 3 for 22nd August from Teignmouth to Paignton. FGW won't give me it!
Can't comment on the apps as I don't do that smartphone/iPhone malarky, but redspottedhanky.com will certainly allow a booking of GroupSave 3 between Teignmouth and Paignton on Aug 22nd:  In this particular case FGW will also sell GroupSave 3 online:  |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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bobm
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« Reply #44 on: July 25, 2012, 21:58:27 » |
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That's good news. Wonder if it was fixed after I mentioned it. Had problems with both the lines to PGN and BNP▸ in recent weeks. |
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