GroupSave date restrictions

[b0b]

Caught this one from the ryder cup train thread:

http://ht.ly/2Jt9L

Can i use Groupsave to this event?
Both Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western have barred Groupsave to this event



can they seriously do this?

 

[yorkie]

Caught this one from the ryder cup train thread:

http://ht.ly/2Jt9L

Can i use Groupsave to this event?
Both Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western have barred Groupsave to this event



can they seriously do this?

I believe they can prevent GroupSave being tickets being sold, yes.

However I do not know how effective they are in actually preventing this (ie, does the system prevent it or are staff meant to check when selling it?) and if someone was able to get a ticket issued then I do not see how it could then be refused or excessed as it would be bought in good faith and a contract would be entered into by all relevant TOCs along permitted routes in accordance with NCoC.

I assume they have a system to prevent them being issued, because if not it's asking for trouble if you rely on ticket issuing staff to check...

 

[swt_passenger]

In FGW's Groupsave web page they have this:

Please note: GroupSave tickets are not valid on Fridays on the 1406, 1506, 1606, 1703, 1803 and 1903 London Paddington to Penzance services from 28 May to 3 September 2010 inclusive. GroupSave tickets are barred from all possible journeys on these services, except journeys wholly within Devon and Cornwall.

There's also a link to a page of forthcoming events, it looks like they block the destination, not actual trains:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/GroupSave/groupsave barred dates

I have also seen a National Rail page, starring FGW services:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/groupsave_calendar.html

I have a generic groupsave pamphlet that also refers specifically to FGW having barred dates.

No idea what online booking sites make of it though...

 

[bnm]

You cannot book GroupSave online with any website (trainline based - WebTIS doesn't offer GS) for barred dates/destinations.

 

[clagmonster]

I think the Western Region are well within their rights to do this, in fact I would say that it is sensible management of train loadings. The conditions of carriage state:
"Restrictions apply to the use of some tickets (including those bought with a Railcard) such
as the dates, days, and times when you can use them, and the trains in which they can
be used. These restrictions are set out in the notices and other publications of the Train
Companies whose trains you are entitled to use. If a restriction applies and the ticket you
are using is not valid for the train you are travelling in, then:
(a) you will be liable to pay an excess fare (the difference between the price
paid for the ticket you hold and the price of the lowest priced ticket
available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel in that
train for the journey shown on the ticket); or
(b) in the case of some types of discounted tickets (as indicated in the notices and
publications) the relevant parts of Condition 2 or 4 will apply."
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/misc/NRCOC.pdf

As stated in the above posts, this is clearly stated in Great Western's notices, the restrictions are clearly linked from the page on the National Rail website promoting groupsave and internet booking engines are correctly programmed.

 

[yorkie]

You cannot book GroupSave online with any website (trainline based - WebTIS doesn't offer GS) for barred dates/destinations.

... internet booking engines are correctly programmed.

I think that pretty much answers bob's question then, thanks

A remaining issue may be if FGW/ATW became aware of an event at relatively short notice, and passengers had already bought GroupSave tickets. (does/can this happen?) In which case, fine, no more can be sold, but the passengers who already bought them have surely entered into a contract and cannot be excessed?