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  1. J

    Ride on a ghost train

    Yesterday 8 February 2024 a passenger arrived at Milton Keynes Central with the intention of catching the 20.19 service to Stafford. This train was announced as cancelled. Wishing to proceed towards Stafford she opted to catch the late running 1Y67 service hoping to find further transportation...
  2. J

    Definition of next available service

    My daughter has decided to use the train to visit after Christmas, and I have sent her the e-tickets for the trip from Leeds to Southport. I bought them using the forum's ticket site. Trip is on 28 December. Dep Leeds 10.43 arrive Manchester Vic. 1201. Dep MCV 12.09, arrive Southport 13.25...
  3. J

    Milton Keynes to Stafford (1719 direct train cancelled)

    In the real world. Today a passenger presented themself at Milton Keynes Central to travel to Stafford. Intended to catch the 17.19 LNR service to Crewe, due Stafford 18.37 Holding an Off-Peak Single MKC to Stafford. 17.19 cancelled. Next direct service 18.19 already announced to terminate at...
  4. J

    Merseyrail to adopt national Penalty Fare policy

    According to a large poster displayed at Southport Station, with effect from today 17 July, Merseyrail is introducing the national Penalty Fare process, i.e £100 plus avoided fare, reduced by £50 for prompt payment. Who knew? 1689606131 https://www.merseyrail.org/about-us/penalty-fares/
  5. J

    Ticketing challenge

    Ticketing challenge: My daughter has challenged me to propose the best tickets/trains for her journey with the following itinerary: Tuesday 11 July: Stafford to Birmingham, arrive before 9am. Birmingham to Exeter, depart after 1pm (e.g. 13.12) Wednesday 12 July: Exeter to Digby & Sowton at...
  6. J

    Tickets to/from London for Eurostar connection?

    Hello. I have booked a trip on Eurostar to Brussels and back. Out on the 15.04 on 13 March, back arriving 13.57 on 18 March. It is my intention to travel to St. Pancras from Southport (SOP) by departing SOP 10.05 changing at Wigan, departing Northwestern at 11.13 arriving Euston 13.12. This...
  7. J

    Delayed Delay Repay

    I submitted a Delay Repay Request to CrossCountry on 22 September, and received an automated response with a reference number. On 15 November I received an email from them as follows: "Thank you for your recent communication. Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in replying. We...
  8. J

    Specified trains on Northern?

    Just completed a fine day out using British Rail Sale tickets, but which threw up a question about the specified trains to use on Northern. Returning from Carlisle to Southport with tickets as follows: Carlisle to Wigan NW Valid only Avanti West Coast services. 16:49 Avanti West Coast Wigan...
  9. J

    A Greater Anglia experience from a few years ago

    This is a GA story from many years ago. I hope it amuses someone. My wife and I visited Ely from Billericay using some special offer £5 each Advance tickets. We arrived at Ely to catch the train for the first leg of our return journey, i.e. Ely to Ipswich. Oddly the train was waiting in the...
  10. J

    No fares available?

    I am attempting to plan a trip from Southport to Billericay, travelling out on 12 January and back on 13 January 2022. The obvious fare to aim for seems to be the Off-Peak return for £68.80 (Senior Railcard rate). The booking engines I have tried are telling me no fares at all are available on...
  11. J

    Rare sighting of a swallow

    Sitting on Lancaster station today, my wife looked across at the Avanti brand station sign and said “Is that a bird?”. Sure enough, there it was, an Intercity Swallow on the supporting bracket. Anyone know where else such a bird may be spotted?
  12. J

    longest time closed for a station which has re-opened

    Dalston Kingsland has been nominated. Closed on 1.11.1865 when Dalston Junction opened. Re-opened 16.5.1983. I make that a few months short of 118 years. Dalston Junction closed from 30.6.1986 to 27.4.2010 so the two stations did have a short overlap in the 80s but now seem to co-exist happily.
  13. J

    Compulsory reservations and walk-up tickets

    I am considering a trip as follows: 6 Sep Southport to Wylde Green, 8 Sep Wylde Green to Birmingham International and then to Southport. Senior Railcard Off Peak return fare applies. I suppose I will need a Day Return Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International as well. I could just buy...
  14. J

    Multiple platform branding

    At Romford platform 1 is branded London Overground, while platforms 2, 3, 4 & 5 are TFL (Crossrail/Elizabeth line). I wondered whether the independent branding of platforms happens at other places too.
  15. J

    Red Spotted Hanky refund policy

    Hi. I bought Advance tickets on RSH on 8 March for travel on 5 June. Now considering requesting a refund. The tickets were posted to me and I have them. I looked on the RSH web site, and they only offering to refund tickets for travel up to 30 April. Is this consistent with other retailers...
  16. J

    Split ticketing to access Manchester trams

    My wife and I intend to visit Manchester to look at the Christmas markets. We may want to use the trams while we are there. Our ENCTS passes issued by Lancashire CC are not valid on Manchester trams. We intend to use Northern Duo tickets, as only one of us has a valid Railcard. As I read things...
  17. J

    How to contact the crossing operator

    I took this photo at a footpath level crossing which also had gates capable of being used by a vehicle. The instruction is to notify the crossing operator etc. A sign on the other side of the crossing advised users with large vehicles etc to telephone the signalman (I think!). No telephone was...
  18. J

    Thumbs up for Merseyrail

    Today I parked my car at Maghull, bought an Anytime Single (Railcard discount) to Hall Road, the purpose being to join an Active Sefton organised walk advertised as being from Hall Road to Maghull. Fare £3.50 On arrival, I discovered that the walk had been revised to a circular returning to...
  19. J

    Virgin Fixed Family Ticket

    I was just organising travel for my wife to go to London, collect granddaughter and come back same day. I used trainsplit as a starting position, and got some good clues, including splitting advance ticket from Liverpool to London at Stafford. For the return journey, I added the child, but...
  20. J

    Near miss at half-barrier crossing

    A recent occurrence not far from me. Could have turned out very differently.

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