Great Western Coffee Shop

One of my colleagues in the west informs me that the South West Trains TVM's now issue group save tickets, didn't believe it until I went to see my mate in Honiton the other day and played with the TVM and it is true! about time FGW did it now.

Definitely!

Something I've never quite got my head around: if starting from an unstaffed station that has an operating TVM but won't issue GroupSave what's the best option? Either (a) buy nothing and purchase a ticket from the conductor/ticket examiner or otherwise at the first opportunity account of the appropriate ticket not being available or (b) buy the tickets for two people, thereby paying the full fare that would be expected, then trade these in for GPS-3 or GPS-4 at the first opportunity?

Obviously option (b) demonstrates that there has been no attempt to avoid payment, but would there be problems for conductors/ticket office staff processing the "zero excess" transaction from two adults to a GroupSave fare?

.

I bet I know who :-)

Another recent modification to SWT's TVM software is that when you select any type of railcard, a splash screen appears inviting you to confirm that you actually have the railcard in your posession.

A simple addition, that ought to reduce the scope for excuses when found on a train without it...

Paul

It does the same with child tickets as-well. as for th question about unstaffed stations, best to see the on-train staff as soon as the train arrives really.

Indeed: see a previous discussion on that point, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6293.msg62117#msg62117  :)

That is ok until the passengers get to Exeter St Davids or Bristol or wherever and board a Crosscountry service. Groupsave tickets are not valid and the Train manager will charge all three or four people for a new ticket!

At least a person can tell them that they are not valid on these services!

Still does not stop them boarding an XC sevice and pretending they were not told though!

In understand some tickets are route-specific eg Via Salisbury or even operator-spectific e.g. AP Slough or AP Reading etc but why does Cross Country seem to be bucking the system and NOT accepting these tickets? After all, through ORCATS does this mean they don't take any of the proceeds for these tickets on routes their share with other providers??

quite a few TOC's don't allow groupsaves, is not just XC.

Did Groupsave start out as a south east commuter area only deal - so FGW probably picked it up via Thames Trains?

On the Bournemouth - Basingstoke section of XC's route, SWT have arranged for the PIS displays to display a 'Groupsave not vaild on this train' message, and now and then there are audio announcements as well.

Paul

AFAIK Wessex Trains had "family and friends" before Groupsave existed. It was still a 4 or 3 people for the price of 2 deal.

wessex Trains and FGW allowed groupsave before the current franchise, but wessex only allowed it on cheap day returns (not savers etc).