Rail Rovers II.

[Andrew Nelson]

Better one than the Lancashire Rover.

The day return ticket from Sunderland to Metrocentre £7.40, is MORE than the Nexus Day Rover at £6.80.
Alowing use of all the Busses, Ferries, Metro, and Local rail in Tyne and Wear.

 

[causton]

For a person making a single journey from Hadley Wood to Whyteleafe South, and wanting to use the Underground, they would pay £8.60 for an Anytime Day Single if not using Oyster. An Off-Peak Travelcard is £8.50.

(Not really comparable as Oyster is a lot cheaper and has replaced any paper Off-Peak returns. One time I did get a bus where the fare was £3.80 return for a child... the operator's daily rover ticket was £3! I took the latter )

I'm sure there is a large number of examples like this unfortunately!

 

[Andrew Nelson]

The ticket office didn't want to sell me anything other than the day return.
The lady in the office said it was the only option!
So much for being obliged to sell the cheapest ticket.

 

[causton]

Well, they aren't obliged to offer you the day ticket unless you ask for it, but if you ask for it they should sell it to you - as indeed, if you asked for any ticket, they should sell it to you, even a ticket from Penzance to St Austell if you were in Scotland for example!

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Well, they aren't obliged to offer you the day ticket unless you ask for it, but if you ask for it they should sell it to you - as indeed, if you asked for any ticket, they should sell it to you, even a ticket from Penzance to St Austell if you were in Scotland for example!

If I asked for a return from the station I'm at, to another station, travelling NOW, I should be offered the cheapest option.
Or has the law changed?

 

[causton]

Actually yes, that is a mistake on my part - oops! I assumed if you said 'return' to them they would have to sell you a Return ticket, but impartial retailing rules state if there is another appropriate ticket then that can be sold. Of course if the rover doesn't automatically show up in the TIS when the journey is entered does the clerk have to search through all the rovers or memorise them all in their head? :P

But the day rover should seem like an obvious choice and I wonder why the clerk didn't offer it!

 

[IanXC]

Of course if the rover doesn't automatically show up in the TIS when the journey is entered does the clerk have to search through all the rovers or memorise them all in their head? :P

Before Northern's website offered ticket sales their journey planner would show available tickets including rovers, although you could not buy them. For a while it remained in place, however now you just get a link back to the standard booking engine.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Actually yes, that is a mistake on my part - oops! I assumed if you said 'return' to them they would have to sell you a Return ticket, but impartial retailing rules state if there is another appropriate ticket then that can be sold. Of course if the rover doesn't automatically show up in the TIS when the journey is entered does the clerk have to search through all the rovers or memorise them all in their head? :P

But the day rover should seem like an obvious choice and I wonder why the clerk didn't offer it!

If the Ticket office is in Sunderland, I think a knowlage of tickets in Tyne and Wear, is the very least one would expect.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

If the Ticket office is in Sunderland, I think a knowlage of tickets in Tyne and Wear, is the very least one would expect.

Unless of course it was staff on cover from further afield (not necessarily Tyne & Wear) - I'm not sure what it's like in the North East but I know around here Northern booking office clerks will move around the area if need be. Further, could this not have been a simple moment's error? Even the best staff in the country are going to have a few seconds' lapse in memory at some point. These may sound like excuses but just try and see it from the member of staff's viewpoint too.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

Unless of course it was staff on cover from further afield (not necessarily Tyne & Wear) - I'm not sure what it's like in the North East but I know around here Northern booking office clerks will move around the area if need be. Further, could this not have been a simple moment's error? Even the best staff in the country are going to have a few seconds' lapse in memory at some point. These may sound like feeble excuses but just try and see it from the member of staff's viewpoint too.

"feeble excuses"

Yes.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

That was actually an error, I started to type one thing, changed it and never deleted 'feeble'. As I said, please try and see it from the clerk's point of view, I'm sure most of them don't deliberately sell you the most expensive tickets even though you know other cheaper means for the fun of it.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

That was actually an error, I started to type one thing, changed it and never deleted 'feeble'. As I said, please try and see it from the clerk's point of view, I'm sure most of them don't deliberately sell you the most expensive tickets even though you know other cheaper means for the fun of it.

I didn't know there was a cheaper ticket until afterwards.
But as has been said.
That's their job.
I haven't "Reprted" the Staff member, but why do some people (One expects rail employees) seem to think any form of criticism is not allowed?
Obviously in this one transaction I found a better and cheaper way of doing the journey. Thus in this case, I could be considered doing the job of the Clerk better than they did.
I don't know the ins and outs of ticketing in Tyne and Wear, but then, I'm not paid to do that.

 

[142094]

Better one than the Lancashire Rover.

The day return ticket from Sunderland to Metrocentre £7.40, is MORE than the Nexus Day Rover at £6.80.
Alowing use of all the Busses, Ferries, Metro, and Local rail in Tyne and Wear.

Note it is not a Nexus Day Rover, but a Network One Day Rover. The ticket is promoted by Stagecoach and not by the PTE. I'm not entirely sure if ticket offices at railway stations can sell one, as I've only bought one at a Nexus travel centre. It does say that you can buy it at Sunderland, but that is mainly sue to the fact that the booking office there also doubles up as a Nexus travel centre. Also, you'd not be able to get any railcard discounts on the Network One ticket.

The Newcastle - Sunderland line is a bit of an anomaly due to the interavailability of Northern and PTE tickets. For example, if making a trip from Newcastle - Sunderland and back, it is better to buy a CDR with a railcard for £2.80, rather than the £4+ for a Metro 3-zone Daysaver. But if you're doing more than one return trip or travelling elsewhere by Metro, then the Metro Daysaver is cheaper.

In reality I don't think many people know the ins and outs of Metro/Northern ticketing, as there are tickets such as to Newcastle Central Zone (NCZ), where the destination station on the Metro is unclear.

 

[AlterEgo]

I didn't know there was a cheaper ticket until afterwards.
But as has been said.
That's their job.
I haven't "Reprted" the Staff member, but why do some people (One expects rail employees) seem to think any form of criticism is not allowed?
Obviously in this one transaction I found a better and cheaper way of doing the journey. Thus in this case, I could be considered doing the job of the Clerk better than they did.
I don't know the ins and outs of ticketing in Tyne and Wear, but then, I'm not paid to do that.

What did you ask for exactly? A return to Sunderland? If so, the clerk has done their job properly.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

What did you ask for exactly? A return to Sunderland? If so, the clerk has done their job properly.

No, Read the OP.
It's on the top of page one of this thread!!!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It appears that it is only available from bus drivers or Metro ticket machines, not NR booking offices, or Northern guards.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/prcb15272552460da45fc2d27756cdbe/details.html

Also, where else do OPs tend to be?

 

[AlterEgo]

No, Read the OP.
It's on the top of page one of this thread!!!!

I've read the OP and it doesn't say what you asked for.

Did you ask for, by name, for the rover ticket to make this journey? Or did you ask for a return to Sunderland/MetroCentre?

From the information you gave in later posts, the clerk sold the correct ticket. A return to MetroCentre.

There are many journeys where a rover ticket, or an overdistance ticket, or a combination of two or more tickets is cheaper, but it isn't always appropriate to sell them depending on what the customer asks for.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

"The day return ticket from Sunderland to Metrocentre"
On what plannet is that not clear?

 

[Minilad]

It seems the Nexus day rover is not available to buy at railway ticket offices

 

[MidnightFlyer]

"The day return ticket from Sunderland to Metrocentre"
On what plannet is that not clear?

However, as has been established, Sunderland NR booking office technically sold the correct ticket - they can't issue the £6.80 ticket.

 

[142094]

1. It is a ITA not a PTE.
2. The ticket is nothing to do with Stagecoach (other than being valid on their services). It's a Nexus Day Rover.
3. The Ticket Office at Sunderland is entirely seperate to the Travel Centre.
4. Many people may not know the ins and outs of ticketing. BUT the Staff who are paid to know should.
5. What makes you think I have a railcard?
Apart from that, I'm sure you're correct.

1. Nexus is the Passenger Transport Executive. Tyne and Wear ITA is what was Tyne and Wear PTA. There is a difference between a PTE and an ITA.

2. The £6.80 ticket you mention is not a PTE product, and is advertised as a Network One Day Rover. It is publicised and promoted by Stagecoach from their Walkergate depot.

3. It is, however the publicity material from Stagecoach/Network One does not make that differentiation.

4. Yes they should. However, if you went to Newcastle Central station and asked for a Network One Day Rover, they would not be able to sell you one.

5. I don't, but it is an example of the way in which the ticketing between Newcastle and Sunderland is complex.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

However, as has been established, Sunderland NR booking office technically sold the correct ticket - they can't issue the £6.50 ticket.

What £6.50 ticket?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What £6.50 ticket?

£6.80 Nexus Day Ranger then. Either way, railway booking offices cannot issue it so you were sold the right ticket for the journey you enquired about in this case.

 

[142094]

What £6.50 ticket?

He'll be talking about the £6.80 ticket.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

1. Nexus is the Passenger Transport Executive. Tyne and Wear ITA is what was Tyne and Wear PTA. There is a difference between a PTE and an ITA.

2. The £6.80 ticket you mention is not a PTE product, and is advertised as a Network One Day Rover. It is publicised and promoted by Stagecoach from their Walkergate depot.

3. It is, however the publicity material from Stagecoach/Network One does not make that differentiation.

4. Yes they should. However, if you went to Newcastle Central station and asked for a Network One Day Rover, they would not be able to sell you one.

5. I don't, but it is an example of the way in which the ticketing between Newcastle and Sunderland is complex.

As has been said, they should be able to advise the "Customer".
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

He'll be talking about the £6.80 ticket.

Again, can't be bothered to read the OP.

 

[Minilad]

As has been said, they should be able to advise the "Customer".

So you didn't want to be sold the ticket. Just advised it was available ?

 

[142094]

As has been said, they should be able to advise the "Customer".

What I don't think has been explained properly is that National Rail ticket offices will sell you the ticket you ask for. So if you ask for a Sunderland - MetroCentre ticket, they'll sell you that, or ask questions to sell you the best ticket (normally limited to the date you are returning, or if you have a railcard etc). They will not offer to sell split tickets or other products, unless you specifically ask for them.

Going to a Nexus travelcentre will be a totally different affair, and they will no doubt give you info about the Network One Day Rover and the Explorer ticket. However, as these tickets cannot be sold at a National Rail ticket office, they will not be offered to you.

 

[Minilad]

I think tomorrow I will go in a butchers shop and ask for a Bottle of beer

 

[AlterEgo]

"The day return ticket from Sunderland to Metrocentre"
On what plannet is that not clear?

It seemed perfectly clear to the clerk, who sold you the day return ticket from Sunderland to MetroCentre.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

It seemed perfectly clear to the clerk, who sold you the day return ticket from Sunderland to MetroCentre.

Maybe it was, BUT, as you had to ask, it wasn't clear to YOU.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think tomorrow I will go in a butchers shop and ask for a Bottle of beer

And One would hope that they would direct you to the nearest Off Licence.