Is this GroupSave on a TPE advance?

[trainophile]

I’ve just bought on the TPE website three outward and return Advances for Man Picc to Middlesbrough in April, and although I entered three senior railcards, it has issued a confirmation showing a small ‘g’ instead of the railcards. I assume this is Groupsave?

I’m not overly worried as we will be travelling together and it appears that the price matches individual tickets with a railcard discount, but TPE doesn’t appear in the list of operators who recognise these tickets as shown above.

Are we likely to encounter any problems?

 

[CompactDstrxion]

No. TPE now offers discounts on Advances.

Book in advance and save 33%
Great news for groups – we’ve got a special discount for those of you that like to stick together.

If you’re travelling together in a group of 3 to 9 people, book TPE Advance train tickets and receive 33% discount.

Tickets are available online and via the TPExpress App. Look out for the ‘G’ icon when booking your tickets and make sure that you’re all travelling on the same service.

So why not round up your mates and visit somewhere new?

 

[trainophile]

Thanks, I didn’t realise this had been made into a new thread (posted on the end of an old one).

Not sure what your reply means in relation to Groupsave tickets though. Edit sorry just seen link.

What happens with Groupsave tickets if one person subsequently can’t travel?

 

[JBuchananGB]

What happens with Groupsave tickets if one person subsequently can’t travel?

The whole set of tickets are invalid. When it happened to me with a group of tickets I had bought at ticket office the day before, the same ticket office cancelled the lot, refunded them, then issued a new set for one less person without charging a fee.

 

[londonbridge]

Couple of weeks ago I had to go to a funeral, met four of my relatives who had travelled in on a groupsave, they were discussing what time to leave after the service, one of them said she was going to get an earlier train than the others. I advised against it, explaining that all tickets were invalid if they didn't travel together, they thanked me as they hadn't realised/had no idea of this.

 

[yorkie]

I’ve just bought on the TPE website three outward and return Advances for Man Picc to Middlesbrough in April, and although I entered three senior railcards, it has issued a confirmation showing a small ‘g’ instead of the railcards. I assume this is Groupsave?

No, it isn't GroupSave.

I’m not overly worried as we will be travelling together and it appears that the price matches individual tickets with a railcard discount

If you think you may not travel together, it may be wise to book from another retailer which will offer tickets that can be used individually, at the same price.

... but TPE doesn’t appear in the list of operators who recognise these tickets as shown above.

Any ticket bought in conjunction with an itinerary from a National Rail accredited retailer has to be accepted by the relevant train companies on the trains shown. If the train companies have a problem with a ticket, they can contact the retailer. It is not the customers problem.

Are we likely to encounter any problems?

No, but if you did, it would be a matter for the retailer, not the customer.

 

[trainophile]

I have taken a screen shot of the booking page which clearly shows three adults and three railcards, plus the only ticket options of Standard Class (with a little 'G') or First Class (with a little 'G'). If I can work out how to do so I will attach to this thread.

The additional query is that when I asked about them at a non-TPE station where I was collecting them, the counter clerk was surprised as he said he doesn't think Groupsave is available in 1st Class. Well that's what I've been sold!

 

[yorkie]

I have taken a screen shot of the booking page which clearly shows three adults and three railcards, plus the only ticket options of Standard Class (with a little 'G') or First Class (with a little 'G'). If I can work out how to do so I will attach to this thread.

The additional query is that when I asked about them at a non-TPE station where I was collecting them, the counter clerk was surprised as he said he doesn't think Groupsave is available in 1st Class. Well that's what I've been sold!

View attachment 73146

This is what you were sold:

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=MAN&dest=MBR&grpo=0438&rlc=SGB&rte=485&tkt=1CF

Who says this is anything to do with GroupSave?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Couple of weeks ago I had to go to a funeral, met four of my relatives who had travelled in on a groupsave, they were discussing what time to leave, one of them said she was going to get an earlier train than the others. I advised against it, explaining that all tickets were invalid if they didn't travel together, they thanked me as they hadn't realised/had no idea of this.

It doesn't help that GroupSave (or indeed this TPE "small group discount" thing which is very similar to GroupSave but isn't GroupSave as @yorkie correctly points out) isn't issued as one piece. I suppose it's cause issues at barriers, but as you don't get that many of them they could just be let through manually. If it was, it would be abundantly clear that everyone needs to be together.

 

[yorkie]

It doesn't help that GroupSave (or indeed this TPE "small group discount" thing which is very similar to GroupSave but isn't GroupSave as @yorkie correctly points out) isn't issued as one piece.

A product used by EMR and Scotrail called GroupSave but isn't a GroupSave discount is issued as one portion; see: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-tickets-should-be-issued-for-a-group.195575/ (EMT once issued a Penalty Fare illegally for the 'wrong type of GroupSave' which highlighted multiple failings of the rail industry)

I suppose it's cause issues at barriers, but as you don't get that many of them they could just be let through manually. If it was, it would be abundantly clear that everyone needs to be together.

There is no easy solution either way.

 

[trainophile]

Railcard / Discount SGB GROUP DISCOUNT TPE

Well that reads like whatever Groupsave is (never used it before, hence my confusion), and makes no mention of the railcards other than "Railcard/Discount", which in this case appears to be "Discount". Also the G on the header boxes of the selection page would imply that both options relate to something beginning with G.

 

[trainophile]

It doesn't help that GroupSave (or indeed this TPE "small group discount" thing which is very similar to GroupSave but isn't GroupSave as @yorkie correctly points out) isn't issued as one piece. I suppose it's cause issues at barriers, but as you don't get that many of them they could just be let through manually. If it was, it would be abundantly clear that everyone needs to be together.

But what I wanted to buy was three individual, railcard discounted, tickets, so that in the event of one person being unable to travel the other two could still go. I'm guessing the only way to achieve this would have been buying two then buying another one, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

I assume the OP should have been sold three standard tickets with a railcard discount though, that's what they wanted, what it looked like they were buying but wasn't what they got. The tickets they got are a group discounted ticket and limit them to how they travel don't they? Or am I missing something

 

[Bletchleyite]

But what I wanted to buy was three individual, railcard discounted, tickets, so that in the event of one person being unable to travel the other two could still go. I'm guessing the only way to achieve this would have been buying two then buying another one, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Was that not offered separately? When I've used LM's old WebTIS they would offer you GroupSave but they would also offer you the non-GroupSave options, whether they happened to be cheaper or more expensive. The G was to allow you to identify them so you could choose if you wanted them or not.

Edit: indeed it appears it was not. Very strange.

Hiding the GroupSave would be an option, but the problem with that is that there are always niche cases where someone may want a different ticket than on the face of it makes sense, so it's best to present all options and let the user choose provided there's enough information to make clear what those choices are (which isn't always true of WebTIS as it is a bit of an "expert mode" type site, which is why people on here tend to favour it).

 

[yorkie]

Railcard / Discount SGB GROUP DISCOUNT TPE

Well that reads like whatever Groupsave is (never used it before, hence my confusion), and makes no mention of the railcards other than "Railcard/Discount", which in this case appears to be "Discount". Also the G on the header boxes of the selection page would imply that both options relate to something beginning with G.

Yes it is a similar concept to GroupSave by the sound of it.

But what I wanted to buy was three individual, railcard discounted, tickets, so that in the event of one person being unable to travel the other two could still go. I'm guessing the only way to achieve this would have been buying two then buying another one, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I'd consider using another retailer for future purchases.

That said, I don't think that it would be an issue if all tickets were presented. Also from a contract law point of view, any additional restrictions cannot be lawfully imposed on you if they are not made clear at the time of booking.

I assume the OP should have been sold three standard tickets with a railcard discount though, that's what they wanted, what it looked like they were buying but wasn't what they got. The tickets they got are a group discounted ticket and limit them to how they travel don't they? Or am I missing something

These are Advance tickets so it may not cause a problem in this particular case, but it could be a problem if it occurred with walk-up tickets. However any dispute would have to be resolved in the customers favour as any onerous restrictions were not made clear at the time of purchase.