Megatrain fares

[whole diary]

[Btline]

Some questions:

How far ahead can you book a megatrain fare?

Is there an "alert" system (like on thetrainline.com) which tells you when the fares come out?

Do you get a compulsory booked seat?

Are they available in the Summer months?

Many thanks if you can answer (some of) these!

Regards,

Btline

[Ollie]

http://www.megatrain.com/uk/timetables/

[G.Uard]

To anyone seeking ultra budget travel, but living in the northern reaches of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) land, megabus is probably of more interest, (same URL). Otherwise, megatrain services run from Exeter, Weymouth and Pompey to London Waterloo.

[Btline]

http://www.megatrain.com/uk/timetables/

Thanks, but this url only shows routes. Is there a url which can answer my questions?

[devon_metro]

They are available when and where they choose. I've never found a decent fare on a train, always on a hideous coach journey.

[grahame]

http://www.megatrain.com/uk/timetables/

Thanks, but this url only shows routes. Is there a url which can answer my questions?

Well I found some times ....

http://www.megabus.com/uk/timetables/london_bristol_train.php

Why not email them your questions and post the answers here 

[Btline]

According to the help section of the website, booking opens no more than 45 days in advance. Seems a little small.....

It looks like you only get a number, which you have to quote to barrier staff, guards etc. (sounds fun... )

On SWT^▸ (South West Trains), a coach is reserved for megatrain passengers.

They call the number a reservation, but obviously, it is not a seat reservation!

The fares look very good  BUT:

Seems very weird to me! Has anybody here gone through the process?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

ive never been able to book a megatrain!! the website is useless why advertise tickets that dont exist? why not just have a list of the actual tickets available and how many are left?

[The Grecian]

I've never actually used one but I believe they're (not surprisingly) very inflexible. Unlike some tickets you can't get off short of the destination e.g. Clapham Junction, otherwise you'll be treated as not having a valid ticket. You obviously can't break your journey either. While in theory you could get off at an unbarried station I think the staff at the barriers have a list of booking references, so if they don't tick yours off it could lead to problems.

It sounds as though you're best sticking to advance purchase tickets - they seem to be easier to buy on SWT^▸ (South West Trains) routes into London than FGW^▸ (First Great Western) routes in my experience.

[Tim]

While in theory you could get off at an unbarried station

Surely you mean, "whilst in practice you could get off at an unbarried station, as a matter of law you would be travelling illegally on an invalid ticket"?

[inspector_blakey]

Similar conditions apply to Advance tickets: you cannot break your journey or alight short of destination using these. Were you to do so at a barriered station you would be liable to an excess or possibly even penalty fare.

[Tim]

Similar conditions apply to Advance tickets: you cannot break your journey or alight short of destination using these. Were you to do so at a barriered station you would be liable to an excess or possibly even penalty fare.

I am sure that you know the rules but just to clarify your post for the benefit of everyone - there is no distinction between barried and non-barriered stations in the ticket rules. 

If you alight-short on a ticket that does not allow you to do so you will be liable to an excess/penalty/prosecution regarless of whether the station is barriered or not. 

At a barriered station you may be more likely to be caught, but the fraud is committed regardless of whether or not there is a barrier.  I wouldn't want this board to be seen as promoting ticket fraud.  Anyone who does it must be prepared to take the consequnces. 

[super tm]

Quite right.  Always best to give the correct information even if it is not you want to hear. 

[thetrout]

Similar conditions apply to Advance tickets: you cannot break your journey or alight short of destination using these. Were you to do so at a barriered station you would be liable to an excess or possibly even penalty fare.

Thats Interesting...!

Whilst i'm not condoning any such activities

I had a booked and Advance Ticket from Birmingham New Street - Bristol Temple Meads. However due to circumstances beyond my control with regards to my erm... "Stress Levels"  I had to get off at Bristol Parkway. I had a bag so I went to the human at the ticket gate, who just asked if I was aware that I was at Parkway and not Temple Meads which I said I was, and no more was said

*reminds self not to do so ever again *

[The Grecian]

While in theory you could get off at an unbarried station

Surely you mean, "whilst in practice you could get off at an unbarried station, as a matter of law you would be travelling illegally on an invalid ticket"?

Sorry, yes I meant in practice. What I was trying to say is that it's more likely that anyone not abiding to the terms of use of a Megatrain fare would have a higher likelihood of being caught out than an advance fare.

That said, I obviously don't condone ticket fraud in anyway. If you want the advantages of an advance fare, you have to accept the lack of flexibility and abide by the terms. If you deliberately choose not to, you can't complain if you're caught out.