Smartphone apps - FGW, Trainline, Rail Planner Live, Tickety Split (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[readytostart]

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) app appears to just be a pink and purple version of the "Trainline" app.

Transactions via the app do indeed appear on the bank statement as the Trainline.com while those on the website show as First Great Western.

Also remarkably similar to the Virgin Trains and CrossCountry apps too!

[WelshBluebird]

Is there a booking fee for buying tickets with the app then? (As IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the trainline charge a booking fee don't they?).

[ChrisB]

No

[BerkshireBugsy]

From watching passengers (including myself) use these apps I have come to the conclusion that the major advantage of having one of these is it gives the user the opportunity to moan about late running/cancelled services even of it doesn't affect them

And of course the ability to board a train a paddington before the plmatform appears on the customer information screens

[inspector_blakey]

And of course the ability to board a train a paddington before the plmatform appears on the customer information screens

Now that would be handy! Although I suspect if too many people cottoned on the information would simply be redacted from the apps... 

[BerkshireBugsy]

Trust me IT IS handy (although my current commute doesn't take me VIA paddington at the moment)

[bobm]

I have seen posters at stations advertising the app. They claim the tickets are available for collection after 10 minutes rather than the previous two hours. Anyone tested the claim?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

It is not ten mins from all machines, and if it is what's the point it's quicker to buy the ticket from the self serve than it is to run threw the ticket on departure procedure

[ChrisB]

I understand that its only tickets for trains leaving within the two hour window for which earlier collection is available.....Virgin introduced this in their app & FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have obviously had it added to theirs

[BerkshireBugsy]

http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/08/app_of_the_week_android_national_rail_enquiries/

I saw the above posted on ElReg this morning and wondered if anyone here has any experience with comparing this with the Rail Planner Live app which I currently use on Android? It seems to me it is swings and roundabouts...the Rail Planner Live app allows the user to buy tickets which the NRE^‡(resolve) one doesn't seem to but that doesnt bother me at the moment.

Note to mods: Is it worth considering creating a sub area for smartphone related topics?

Just a thought

Dave

[lordgoata]

MoneySavingExpert have launched a split ticket app on iphone and via their website, for finding the cheapest walk-on split ticket prices.

Thought it might be on interest.

http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com/

[grahame]

Thanks for posting that. An excellent little tool.  I've just had a "play" with London (Paddington) to Westbury.

16:36 -> 18:02, 39.00 can be reduced to 32.60 with a split at Pewsey
17:33 -> 18:59, 84.00 can be reduced to 36.20 with a split at Newbury
17:45 -> 19:27, 84.00 can be reduced to 68.90 with a split at Swindon (change trains there)
18:06 -> 19:52, 84.00 can be reduced to 27.20 with a split at Theale
18:33 -> 20:04, 39.00 can be reduced to 32.60 with a split at Pewsey

To confirm for new readers here.  These are single adult fares, buying tickets on the day. It's all perfectly legal to do this.  You can choose which ticket you buy, and buy your journey in sections provided that the train you're travelling on actually stops at the station at which each section ends / starts, and that each individual ticket is valid on the train you're travelling on.

I really wish that the fares system was such that apparent absurdities such as huge savings through split ticketing wasn't a part of it - that if I walked up to a ticket office and asked for a ticket on the next train to Westbury, I would be sold the lowest cost fare and perhaps even advised in the case of the 17:45 that I could pay 27.20 rather than 68.90 if I could wait 25 minutes.

For the record, whilst I fully support and encourage people to travel using the lowest fare that applies to them, I abhore fare evasion - the illegal failure to pay for travel, or travelling in such a way that you pay less than the lowest legal fare.

Rail fares are complex.   Even lower fares than the examples above may be available by booking in advance, by buying return tickets, by using railcards, and perhaps in other ways too such as buying a ticket for a longer journey

[Southern Stag]

As with other spilt ticketing tools it still doesn't seem to find the best splits. Just had a play around with it and I can't get it to give me more than one split for a journey, where often multiple splits will be cheaper. Doesn't beat researching the split ticketing options for yourself.

[JayMac]

Okay for quick reference, but limited in its function.

No multiple splits which often vastly increase the savings and no routeing options which also yield savings.

Worst of all, it'll only offer single fares.

A good start, could do better. 5/10

[TonyK]

I saved half of a single PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) fare by splitting at Didcot Parkway. This tool replicates that. I'm impressed, and will keep it for reference, but still do my own research.