Trainline introduces "quick buy" feature

[Bletchleyite]

In a welcome blow to the "fake compulsory reservations" TOCs, Trainline appears to have released a major update to their app (iOS at least) yesterday, which seems to have introduced a "quick buy" feature which allows one to purchase a walk up fare without a reservation. Presumably* this works the same way as some TVMs in that it only allows purchase if that fare is available for any remaining itinerary on that day. It seems to include walk up splits, too (which may not prove a sensible feature if it confuses people too much).

As things stand it is only available for tickets you have bought often before (though the UI doesn't seem to be in its final state to me) - but it seems a very welcome development indeed. I wonder will the white label TOC versions also gain this feature?

I'm less of a fan of the rest of the new user interface, it seems to add taps unnecessarily, but I do like this feature.

Edit: Actually not quite as good as I thought, it only seems to consider the next few trains so doesn't show fares "sold out" on those - which is odd as it wasn't working like that earlier on! It's like they're refining it as they go, hmm. Would be interested in what others manage to get it to do!

* I can now confirm this seems to be the case, as it won't sell Kings Cross-Edinburgh on this basis today as there is no direct service and the fares situation seems to be rather a mess.

 

[mikeg]

A shame it won’t sell fares which would be perfectly valid today but an improvement nonetheless. At least if there were only a few reservations remaining you wouldn’t be denying others the right to travel.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Interesting

 

[crablab]

Trainline appears to have released a major update to their app (iOS at least) yesterday, which seems to have introduced a "quick buy" feature

Perhaps you could include a screenshot?

Interesting

Presume you're off to report this passenger friendly development to the 'accreditation team', as per your recent post to that effect?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It seems to work inconsistently. Sometimes it shows and only considers the next few trains, sometimes it seems to be genuinely selling all walk ups. I suspect the latter is unintentional but I rather like it!

Screenshots attached (first of the feature on the front screen, second of where it takes you in terms of the buy screen).

 

[OscarH]

Presume you're off to report this passenger friendly development to the 'accreditation team', as per your recent post to that effect?

Selling tickets with no itinerary is not a crime alone

 

[crablab]

Sometimes it shows and only considers the next few trains, sometimes it seems to be genuinely selling all walk ups. I suspect the latter is unintentional but I rather like it!

Shame. I buy the same ticket multiple times a week, against the same itinerary (which I generally ignore - it's just the first valid trains for a fare on that route in either direction).

It'd be great if I could re-purchase that itinerary with one click, rather than going through the faff of selecting the same two services each day, and the same ticket type I always buy.

Alternatively, even better, I could just buy the same ticket with one click with no itinerary! I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man to advise me if the restrictions have changed since I last purchased it...

 

[Haywain]

Presume you're off to report this passenger friendly development to the 'accreditation team', as per your recent post to that effect?

I have no doubt that Trainline will have concluded that it meets the requirements and awarded themselves the appropriate accreditation status.

And I believe Worldline sites offer a similar facility through a slightly different route.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I have no doubt that Trainline will have concluded that it meets the requirements and awarded themselves the appropriate accreditation status.

Exactly

 

[fandroid]

A one click facility like that might even get me to use Trainline. - something I don't believe I have done since it was just a Virgin thing. I park at my station with a "favourite" RingGo selection, but catch the train only after multi -click fiddling.