Can you no longer buy a season ticket in advance on the train?

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Just used the last of my return tickets so about to purchase good old season ticket.

As there is a good chance (1) WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) will be closed at 2142 when we get in and (2) It wont be open at 050X when I get the insomniac special in the morning - I tried to do what I've done before

Buy a seven day season ticket starting tomorrow ........ machine would not allow him to do it.  Which actually ties up with the scenario in Ludlow SAturday when I tried to buy it there but they could not post date it either.

I KNOW I've done this before (although that may have been a renewal of some sort be it a one week or a month to a week).

Seems a bit silly if at 19:51 at night I cant buy a season to start tomorrow.

[Ollie]

If you was renewing it should let him, if it's a new issue then I don't think it would.

[Mookiemoo]

If you was renewing it should let him, if it's a new issue then I don't think it would.

So what do you do if the ticket office isnt open in the morning?  Try to get a season at the excess window at reading?

Also - is there REALLY that much of a fraud issue allowing people to buy a ticket the night before its valid!

[readytostart]

FallenAngel, if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) have been upgraded in the same fashion as FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail) then they have removed the ability to post date a season from the fare enquiry screen.

Assuming you had a ticket to cover the journey for that day, and that you were already in possesion of a photocard, and the guard was willing to sell you one (strictly speaking with a season being a reduced ticket it falls into the buy before you board can of worms) then there is a way to do it, though the conductor / TM^‡(resolve) / guard may not appreciate being told how to do it! In my experience guards are quite happy to sell a weekly due to the commision aspect of it.

Please note that it has to be after midday the day before you want the season to start.

Rather than going through the Fare Enquiry menu the guard should go through the Season Enquiry menu, change the start date and then alter the period to 7 days, this should allow them to issue it.

If their system is different to mine or they are unwilling to sell you a season, ask them for a single and to endorse it as a part exchange, this will allow you to purchase your season at your destination (the price of the single will be deducted from the season price on presentation).


Please bear in mind that this is ScotRail policy, GW^▸ (Great Western) may differ slightly, one of my coleagues from a booking office or on-train can probably correct any difference.

[vacman]

FallenAngel, if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) have been upgraded in the same fashion as FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail) then they have removed the ability to post date a season from the fare enquiry screen.

Assuming you had a ticket to cover the journey for that day, and that you were already in possesion of a photocard, and the guard was willing to sell you one (strictly speaking with a season being a reduced ticket it falls into the buy before you board can of worms) then there is a way to do it, though the conductor / TM^‡(resolve) / guard may not appreciate being told how to do it! In my experience guards are quite happy to sell a weekly due to the commision aspect of it.

Please note that it has to be after midday the day before you want the season to start.

Rather than going through the Fare Enquiry menu the guard should go through the Season Enquiry menu, change the start date and then alter the period to 7 days, this should allow them to issue it.

If their system is different to mine or they are unwilling to sell you a season, ask them for a single and to endorse it as a part exchange, this will allow you to purchase your season at your destination (the price of the single will be deducted from the season price on presentation).


Please bear in mind that this is ScotRail policy, GW^▸ (Great Western) may differ slightly, one of my coleagues from a booking office or on-train can probably correct any difference.

I've tried doing it through season enquiry before and it's not let me do it?? we used to be able to pre date seasons by one day only on Avantix 1 (the old blue heaps of crap) but never with Avantix 2, but like you say, buy a FOS on the day and you'll get that fare taken off your new season.

[Mookiemoo]

FallenAngel, if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) have been upgraded in the same fashion as FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail) then they have removed the ability to post date a season from the fare enquiry screen.

Assuming you had a ticket to cover the journey for that day, and that you were already in possesion of a photocard, and the guard was willing to sell you one (strictly speaking with a season being a reduced ticket it falls into the buy before you board can of worms) then there is a way to do it, though the conductor / TM^‡(resolve) / guard may not appreciate being told how to do it! In my experience guards are quite happy to sell a weekly due to the commision aspect of it.

Please note that it has to be after midday the day before you want the season to start.

Rather than going through the Fare Enquiry menu the guard should go through the Season Enquiry menu, change the start date and then alter the period to 7 days, this should allow them to issue it.

If their system is different to mine or they are unwilling to sell you a season, ask them for a single and to endorse it as a part exchange, this will allow you to purchase your season at your destination (the price of the single will be deducted from the season price on presentation).


Please bear in mind that this is ScotRail policy, GW^▸ (Great Western) may differ slightly, one of my coleagues from a booking office or on-train can probably correct any difference.

I've tried doing it through season enquiry before and it's not let me do it?? we used to be able to pre date seasons by one day only on Avantix 1 (the old blue heaps of crap) but never with Avantix 2, but like you say, buy a FOS on the day and you'll get that fare taken off your new season.

Due to a sleepless night I was up early enough to get it done at WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) this morning but there are two things I *know*.......

Before the engineering works and I stopped getting seasons temporarily............

1. I could rget one on a friday for the following monday or even tuesday (yet the ticket offices could not issue me one on saturday for tuesday)

2. I HAVE bought them in advance on the train

And that was the period 27th April to 27th July this year - so something has changed and not just on the avantix machines

[super tm]

You can no longer buy a season ticket in advance on advantix. 

In the scenario you describe you can buy it on the train in the morning - or is there something I am missing.  If no one comes to sell or is unable to sell a season then yes you can buy it at the excess fare window at Reading as the ticket office was closed at Wos at that time of the morning.

Basically it has been done like this to stop those staff on 5% commision checking tickets in the evening and 'offering' to issue a new weekly for the next day 

[IndustryInsider]

Basically it has been done like this to stop those staff on 5% commision checking tickets in the evening and 'offering' to issue a new weekly for the next day 

Which in FallenAngel's case would mean them pocketing almost ^14 for a couple of minutes work.

[vacman]

Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) 2 has never been able to issue advance seasons!

[readytostart]

Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) 2 has never been able to issue advance seasons!

We can at FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail), but only after midday the day before on Avantix two, it may be the case with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) that because of the amounts involved for some fares and the related commision that they have put a restriction on it.

[Mookiemoo]

Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) 2 has never been able to issue advance seasons!

We can at FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail), but only after midday the day before on Avantix two, it may be the case with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) that because of the amounts involved for some fares and the related commision that they have put a restriction on it.

I don't see why this should be an issue - especially if it encourages ticket checks to be done.

One of the reasons (apart from always running late) I buy on the train is because of commission for the staff.  If I know I'm doing a journey on friday, I will try to get the ticket tonight on the way home.  The staff my get some benefit.

[Mookiemoo]

You can no longer buy a season ticket in advance on advantix. 

In the scenario you describe you can buy it on the train in the morning - or is there something I am missing.  If no one comes to sell or is unable to sell a season then yes you can buy it at the excess fare window at Reading as the ticket office was closed at Wos at that time of the morning.

Basically it has been done like this to stop those staff on 5% commision checking tickets in the evening and 'offering' to issue a new weekly for the next day 

Okay, you can, and I know I am talking about a specific individual case here but........

1. The ticket check is done after CHarlbury - before that the TM^‡(resolve) is too busy playing with the doors - as that is where the assistant ticket thingy my bob gets on.  Now, if you use your journey as an extra two hours sleep - having to wake up half way through to get a ticket is enough to put you in sleep deprivation.

2. Yes - I could queue at REading but with my train getting in at 0823, the connection leaving at 0831 and the usual queue PLUS the having to buy a season ticket - dont fancy my chances!  ANd slough would be a nightmare as I had my chance at Reading.........

And yes, I'm just in a grump I cant do it in advance anymore as it did make things easier ..........the question is now - can you do renewals in advance?   And if so, how long?

[readytostart]

Okay, you can, and I know I am talking about a specific individual case here but........


...And yes, I'm just in a grump I cant do it in advance anymore as it did make things easier ..........the question is now - can you do renewals in advance?   And if so, how long?

From good old NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service):

Renewing an existing 7 day season ticket or travelcard:
If the start date is a Sunday or Monday (or Tuesday after a Bank Holiday), the season ticket may be issued from noon on the previous Friday.If the start date is any another day, the ticket may be issued after noon on the previous day.

Renewing an existing season ticket valid for one month or longer:
The ticket may be issued anytime up to seven days in advance.