For a few weeks now I have seen countless complaints to Trainline and companies that use their booking engine such as Cross Country and EMT referring to overcharging for railcard users on (usually) early morning services.
What is happening?
A user with a 16-25 railcard wishes to make a return journey and despite having bought tickets before they’re suddenly several pounds more expensive.
Examples of this are Burton on Trent to Birmingham. Nottingham to Leicester.
Social media teams are straight into stock responses such as £12 minimum fares and advances are cheaper and neither of these are directly related.
It seems the issue comes from the ticket type. For some reason on SOME platforms (computer related not station related) if you select an open return then you are offered the CDR or SDR as relevant. But if you select a return and put in a time (same date of course) then you’re only offered the SVR or SOR as applicable.
This issue seems to crop up where an outward journey is in the ‘void’ between the off peak restriction finishing (say 0930) and the railcard minimum fare restriction finishing.
I can no longer generate one to give an example but other people still can. I shall try to obtain some to post here.
The issue is that regular users will spot this and complain if they notice it’s different or to those less familiar they’ll just complain that the fair has gone up 40% in a week.
Unfamiliar occasional users will just pay it and think nothing of it. There could be hundreds of these and thousands in unnecessary cost between them.
It seems despite talks and explanations nothing is being done about this. The cynic in me says that errors in favour of the railway are never really the highest priority but I appreciate that isn’t really true.
What is happening?
A user with a 16-25 railcard wishes to make a return journey and despite having bought tickets before they’re suddenly several pounds more expensive.
Examples of this are Burton on Trent to Birmingham. Nottingham to Leicester.
Social media teams are straight into stock responses such as £12 minimum fares and advances are cheaper and neither of these are directly related.
It seems the issue comes from the ticket type. For some reason on SOME platforms (computer related not station related) if you select an open return then you are offered the CDR or SDR as relevant. But if you select a return and put in a time (same date of course) then you’re only offered the SVR or SOR as applicable.
This issue seems to crop up where an outward journey is in the ‘void’ between the off peak restriction finishing (say 0930) and the railcard minimum fare restriction finishing.
I can no longer generate one to give an example but other people still can. I shall try to obtain some to post here.
The issue is that regular users will spot this and complain if they notice it’s different or to those less familiar they’ll just complain that the fair has gone up 40% in a week.
Unfamiliar occasional users will just pay it and think nothing of it. There could be hundreds of these and thousands in unnecessary cost between them.
It seems despite talks and explanations nothing is being done about this. The cynic in me says that errors in favour of the railway are never really the highest priority but I appreciate that isn’t really true.