buying SYConnect+ day ticket on train?

[njamescouk]

I'm travelling in s. yorks. tomorrow and going to get a SYConnect+ day ticket. I'm seeing conflicting information about where to buy one: do northern rail guards sell them on the train? plan b is to take a short bus journey and buy one on the bus - I'm out in the back of beyond...

 

[Nottingham59]

Well, the Travelmaster website says you can buy at staffed stations and on board.

"Our rail valid products can be purchased from any staffed railway station. For the 7 & 28 Day products you will need a passport sized photo, or a Railway photo card, prior to purchase. If you travel from a station that is not staffed the day products can be purchased on board from a conductor.
"Available Products: GetAbout+ (1 Day) & SYConnect+(1 Day, 7 Day & 28 Day)"

Which is your starting station, and is it staffed?

 

[njamescouk]

Well, the Travelmaster website says you can buy at staffed stations and on board.

"Our rail valid products can be purchased from any staffed railway station. For the 7 & 28 Day products you will need a passport sized photo, or a Railway photo card, prior to purchase. If you travel from a station that is not staffed the day products can be purchased on board from a conductor.
"Available Products: GetAbout+ (1 Day) & SYConnect+(1 Day, 7 Day & 28 Day)"

Which is your starting station, and is it staffed?

penistone, not staffed. I know what the travelmaster site says, but it's not to be relied on. some time ago I tried going to the local payzone place and was met with blank incomprehension when I tried to top a card up.

I'll go for plan b.

 

[robbeech]

Not tried for over a year but hit and miss on Northern.

Some said yes and some said no.
Cross country say no and try to prosecute so be advised if you boarded at Penistone and had a valid but tight connection at Sheffield and the Northern guard couldn’t sell you one then expect a lot of hassle from XC even though they’d be in the wrong.


If you have a smart phone they’re available on the Stagecoach App.
its like an M ticket where you have to activate it.

 

[njamescouk]

thanks, agree relying on northern is iffy, I'll get one from a bus.

 

[Nottingham59]

get one from a bus.

Yes, I agree. But do ask the guard on your first train if they would have been able to sell you a SY+ Connect day ticket, and do let us know!

 

[skyhigh]

Yes, I agree. But do ask the guard on your first train if they would have been able to sell you a SY+ Connect day ticket, and do let us know!

It is 100% possible to sell a SY+ Connect onboard using the revenue equipment guards have. Some might be unsure how to find it, but I'd expect the majority to be perfectly happy to sell one.

 

[robbeech]

It is 100% possible to sell a SY+ Connect onboard using the revenue equipment guards have. Some might be unsure how to find it, but I'd expect the majority to be perfectly happy to sell one.

If you know this to be true as of today, would you be able to tell people here what to tell the guards to look for on their equipment. I sat with an XC guard (after he had calmed down) for nearly 10 minutes between Sheffield and Doncaster going through alsorts of options and couldn’t find it. And I know that Northern would issue it every time without fail years ago, but more recently (into 2020 at least) they have not been able to, as if something has specifically changed.

 

[Haywain]

If you know this to be true as of today, would you be able to tell people here what to tell the guards to look for on their equipment. I sat with an XC guard (after he had calmed down) for nearly 10 minutes between Sheffield and Doncaster going through alsorts of options and couldn’t find it. And I know that Northern would issue it every time without fail years ago, but more recently (into 2020 at least) they have not been able to, as if something has specifically changed.

In the TIS we use in Travel Centres it's found in the Rovers menu, where you simply select SYConnect+. So the key is likely to be whether they know where to find rover tickets in the TIS - if they do, it should then be simple.

 

[skyhigh]

If you know this to be true as of today, would you be able to tell people here what to tell the guards to look for on their equipment. I sat with an XC guard (after he had calmed down) for nearly 10 minutes between Sheffield and Doncaster going through alsorts of options and couldn’t find it. And I know that Northern would issue it every time without fail years ago, but more recently (into 2020 at least) they have not been able to, as if something has specifically changed.

I'll have a look this afternoon and let you know the steps to find it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2021 ==

Right so on the handset guards use it's Fares --> Rangers & Rovers then in the product selection box use the search function, type in 'Connect' and the SY Connect+ is the only option, £8.80 for an adult. It's then sold in the normal manner. It's no different to selling any other rover.

 

[robbeech]

I'll have a look this afternoon and let you know the steps to find it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2021 ==

Right so on the handset guards use it's Fares --> Rangers & Rovers then in the product selection box use the search function, type in 'Connect' and the SY Connect+ is the only option, £8.80 for an adult. It's then sold in the normal manner. It's no different to selling any other rover.

Do you think that should be the same for all operators that have trains you can use or is the software likely to be different. Is there a way for an operator to stop a machine selling a particular ticket?

I realise that XC and TPE would rarely have to issue one as the stations are staffed with a ticket office, but a valid tight connection at Sheffield or Doncaster and no prior opportunity would mean they’d be obliged to sell one.

 

[skyhigh]

Do you think that should be the same for all operators that have trains you can use or is the software likely to be different. Is there a way for an operator to stop a machine selling a particular ticket?

I realise that XC and TPE would rarely have to issue one as the stations are staffed with a ticket office, but a valid tight connection at Sheffield or Doncaster and no prior opportunity would mean they’d be obliged to sell one.

Assuming they use STARmobile and have the same list of rangers we do, I assume they should be able to. We have pretty much any ranger you could want UK-wide available to sell, so I presume other TOCs will be the same. I honestly don't know what setup TPE and XC use, but I'll ask if they're able to sell one the next time I see one of their guards.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Both

Assuming they use STARmobile and have the same list of rangers we do, I assume they should be able to. We have pretty much any ranger you could want UK-wide available to sell, so I presume other TOCs will be the same. I honestly don't know what setup TPE and XC use, but I'll ask if they're able to sell one the next time I see one of their guards.

Both Star Mobile I believe

 

[Nottingham59]

Interestingly the SYConnect+ doesn't seem to appear on the NR webpage that lists rover and ranger tickets, so does it count as a ranger/rover?
[https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/rangers_and_rovers.aspx]

Though it does appear under Northern's list of Special Offers

National Rail Enquiries - Northern

The gateway to Britain's National Rail network. A portal into UK rail travel including train company information and promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[Haywain]

Interestingly the SYConnect+ doesn't seem to appear on the NR webpage that lists rover and ranger tickets, so does it count as a ranger/rover?
[https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/rangers_and_rovers.aspx]

Though it does appear under Northern's list of Special Offers

National Rail Enquiries - Northern

The gateway to Britain's National Rail network. A portal into UK rail travel including train company information and promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

It’s not a rail product as such, but for retailing purposes it is found in the same place as rangers and rovers.

 

[_toommm_]

I'm travelling in s. yorks. tomorrow and going to get a SYConnect+ day ticket. I'm seeing conflicting information about where to buy one: do northern rail guards sell them on the train? plan b is to take a short bus journey and buy one on the bus - I'm out in the back of beyond...

Travelmaster also have an app if you're willing to use mobile tickets.

 

[HSP 2]

If I'm thinking that I may have to buy a rover/ranger ticket on a train I tend to take a print out from the group UK Rail Rovers guide with me.
A link to the page showing the SY connect+ ticket.
GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - South Yorkshire Connect+

 

[njamescouk]

sYes, I agree. But do ask the guard on your first train if they would have been able to sell you a SY+ Connect day ticket, and do let us know!

sorry, got the train before I read this. buying from a bus dead easy though, plus you have a valid ticket when boarding the train.