WestCoastTravel
Member
I been doing a little bit of travelling about recently and have observed how unhelpful some staff are when it comes to travel restrictions (in my opinion).
Take this example:
I was at Euston at 1500 and wanted to know the time restriction on the off peak return to Preston. I was told that the ticket was not valid past 1430 as that was the last direct train to Preston, before the evening peak. I then asked whether it was valid to Crewe on the 1510 to Bangor and again was told it was not (based on the fact that it was not a direct train and changes were not allowed on my ticket!!!). The latter comment I knew to be complete tosh, so got them to check with a supervisor before they agreed it was valid!
I later looked up the restriction and sure enough it's valid until 1514 (inc.). Why tell someone a ticket is invalid, 40 minutes before it actually is and why not offer them an alternative train?
Another example:
Having used the same ticket on a different day to get up to Stafford I changed trains and wanted to get the 1756 direct train back to Preston. I asked at the ticket booth whether my ticket would be valid on the 1756 to Preston, explaining whilst it was probably off peak at Stafford, it would not be off peak at London. The staff behind the desk did not know and suggested I ask the guard on the train. Although I didn't board the train,I wondered if I had been charged a single fare from Stafford - Preston, could I have got any compensation based on poor ticket advice from the station. My guess is no, but I just wondered what people thought.
The last one is just a general question:
I often travel to Nuneaton from Preston in the morning peak and the Anytime Return is £62, however there is an OPR to Hinckley (one station beyond Nuneaton) at £48 with a 2T restriction on it (valid on any outward train after 0415). Would I be able to use this ticket in the morning peak and get off short at Nuneaton, even if the train did not stop at Hinckley (the service I normally catch does not stop)?
The following example was based on NFM03.
Regards,
WestCoastTravel
Take this example:
I was at Euston at 1500 and wanted to know the time restriction on the off peak return to Preston. I was told that the ticket was not valid past 1430 as that was the last direct train to Preston, before the evening peak. I then asked whether it was valid to Crewe on the 1510 to Bangor and again was told it was not (based on the fact that it was not a direct train and changes were not allowed on my ticket!!!). The latter comment I knew to be complete tosh, so got them to check with a supervisor before they agreed it was valid!
I later looked up the restriction and sure enough it's valid until 1514 (inc.). Why tell someone a ticket is invalid, 40 minutes before it actually is and why not offer them an alternative train?
Another example:
Having used the same ticket on a different day to get up to Stafford I changed trains and wanted to get the 1756 direct train back to Preston. I asked at the ticket booth whether my ticket would be valid on the 1756 to Preston, explaining whilst it was probably off peak at Stafford, it would not be off peak at London. The staff behind the desk did not know and suggested I ask the guard on the train. Although I didn't board the train,I wondered if I had been charged a single fare from Stafford - Preston, could I have got any compensation based on poor ticket advice from the station. My guess is no, but I just wondered what people thought.
The last one is just a general question:
I often travel to Nuneaton from Preston in the morning peak and the Anytime Return is £62, however there is an OPR to Hinckley (one station beyond Nuneaton) at £48 with a 2T restriction on it (valid on any outward train after 0415). Would I be able to use this ticket in the morning peak and get off short at Nuneaton, even if the train did not stop at Hinckley (the service I normally catch does not stop)?
The following example was based on NFM03.
Regards,
WestCoastTravel
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The system is so extremely complicated!