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Booking train tickets online with 75% TOC discount
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No you cannot book online. No you do not have to book on the day of travel; you can either buy in advance or on the day.
You can buy from an open ticket office, if there is one, or failing that on board the train or at the first a available opportunity (this could be at an interchange station if there is sufficient time without missing an onward connection).
You can buy from an open ticket office, if there is one, or failing that on board the train or at the first a available opportunity (this could be at an interchange station if there is sufficient time without missing an onward connection).
I was led to believe that you cannot purchase a priv ticket in advance but only on the day of travel.
RST where you can travel pdf doesn't appear to offer much clarity either.
How to buy a Priv-rate ticket, and what to do if this is not possible
At present it is not possible to buy Priv-rate tickets online, by phone, or
from ticket machines.
Where the station has a manned ticket office, you must purchase a valid
ticket before you start a journey, irrespective of the length of queue or
wait time.
If the ticket office is closed and local ‘promise to pay’ tickets are available
from vending machines you must obtain one before travelling.
If you board a train from a manned station without a ticket, or from a
station where ‘promise to pay’ tickets are in use and you haven’t obtained
a ‘promise to pay’, the train operator is within their right to refuse to sell
you a Priv-rate ticket.
Only if the ticket office is closed, and there is no local ‘promise to pay’ in
use, can you buy a Priv-rate ticket on board a train. You must actively seek
staff on-board the train, have your fare ready and offer to pay it at the
first available opportunity. By offering to pay there can be no question
that you are trying to travel without paying.
If you don’t actively offer to pay, then you may be accused of fare
avoidance, and risk committing a Travel Irregularity. (See the separate
section on Travel Irregularities for the consequences).
RST where you can travel pdf doesn't appear to offer much clarity either.
How to buy a Priv-rate ticket, and what to do if this is not possible
At present it is not possible to buy Priv-rate tickets online, by phone, or
from ticket machines.
Where the station has a manned ticket office, you must purchase a valid
ticket before you start a journey, irrespective of the length of queue or
wait time.
If the ticket office is closed and local ‘promise to pay’ tickets are available
from vending machines you must obtain one before travelling.
If you board a train from a manned station without a ticket, or from a
station where ‘promise to pay’ tickets are in use and you haven’t obtained
a ‘promise to pay’, the train operator is within their right to refuse to sell
you a Priv-rate ticket.
Only if the ticket office is closed, and there is no local ‘promise to pay’ in
use, can you buy a Priv-rate ticket on board a train. You must actively seek
staff on-board the train, have your fare ready and offer to pay it at the
first available opportunity. By offering to pay there can be no question
that you are trying to travel without paying.
If you don’t actively offer to pay, then you may be accused of fare
avoidance, and risk committing a Travel Irregularity. (See the separate
section on Travel Irregularities for the consequences).
It really is about high time it was.
Trainguy90
Member
You can only purchase from a booking office (or on train if there wasn’t the opportunity to purchase before travel)
But you can purchase the walk up fare at anytime pretty much, just remember that if you change your mind there’s the £10 refund fee
But you can purchase the walk up fare at anytime pretty much, just remember that if you change your mind there’s the £10 refund fee
Last edited:
221129
Established Member
How can staff abuse it? And its definitely not an official thing.
theironroad
Established Member
Never seen anything to say that it's not possible to buy in advance and have done so many times without issue.
Why on earth should it be?
Why on earth should it be?
theironroad
Established Member
The RDG (who I believe now run RSTL ) need to get a system in place for allowing staff to use online , phone and machines.
This could be an online account linked to an individual's staff travel record that already exists.
I noticed at gare du Nord a couple of months ago that SNCF staff can buy from machines in conjunction with a oyster card style staff card that has to be presented to allow discount. Priv discounts can already be added to oyster cards, we just need a national system that allows a digital staff card to be used.
This could be an online account linked to an individual's staff travel record that already exists.
I noticed at gare du Nord a couple of months ago that SNCF staff can buy from machines in conjunction with a oyster card style staff card that has to be presented to allow discount. Priv discounts can already be added to oyster cards, we just need a national system that allows a digital staff card to be used.
In a relatively minor step into the digital world, Virgin can now sell tickets with PRIV discount and put the ticket onto GPay/Apple Wallet.
Sam
Sam
theironroad
Established Member
Can they be bought online or by phone?
train_lover
Member
- Joined
- 2 Nov 2007
- Messages
- 409
Caledonian Sleeper used to allow you to book tickets online with a priv. I've done it a couple of times, however this has now been stopped because of people abusing it.
theironroad
Established Member
I'd used that facility loads of times and was very convenient, shame it was being abused. It's a lot harder having to do it in person.
Kenny Dollman
New Member
If you was to go to the ticket office I believe you can use your PRIV to book tickets in advance?
Aictos
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 10,403
Indeed, on a personal note I’ve brought such tickets days if not weeks in advance and never had a issue.
May I also point out that the staff discount also applies to some rail rovers unless it’s changed, example is the Central Scotland Rover which can have the staff rate applied to it.
No.
Sam
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