Charge to collect tickets from station

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Does anyone have a list of which TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) are now charging for paper ticket collection from a machine at a designated station - and whether there's about to be a move to all TOCs charging for this?

Thanks for any info.

Mark

[Mark A]

Ah. It's Crosscountry that charges £1 for collection of tickets at a station.

Their explanation is that the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have a reciprocal arrangement to allow collection at each other's stations but unfortunately Crosscountry don't have any stations under their own management - so have to pass on the charge made by other TOCs for the service.

I'm now thinking that the rail industry should do everyone a favour and allow Crosscountry to add a virtual station to their network.

I'm nominating the site of the former Nottingham Victoria Station for this as its cross-country connections were exceptional.

Crosscountry Trains should install a single ticket machine in the present day Victoria shopping centre - with the facility to collect tickets from any TOC - and the other TOCs then agree to drop the charge. Useful for Nottingham residents, useful for the shopping centre, useful for Crosscountry trains.

Mark

[grahame]

Their explanation is that the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have a reciprocal arrangement to allow collection at each other's stations but unfortunately Crosscountry don't have any stations under their own management - so have to pass on the charge made by other TOCs for the service.

I'm now thinking that the rail industry should do everyone a favour and allow Crosscountry to add a virtual station to their network.

How does this work out with franchises becoming operating contracts?  Haven't I heard of an issue with ticket collection at MerseyRail too?

[IndustryInsider]

I'm now thinking that the rail industry should do everyone a favour and allow Crosscountry to add a virtual station to their network.

Can’t they be given a real station to manage?  Perhaps one where no other operators serve?  Narborough?

[ChrisB]

They only charge that fee if a e-ticket isn’t available, such as cross-london journeys. If you *have* to collect a paper ticket, there is no charge

[Mark A]

Ah, this was Bristol Temple Meads to Bradford Forster Square via Crosscountry Bristol to Leeds. Couldn't find a paper ticket option but yes, they might have somewhat concealed it and I missed the option.

Mark

[ChrisB]

They don’t offer a paper ticket option on their app it seems. Haven’t tried their website.

They now state in the small print that their ticket sales are handled by Trainline. Is that new?

[JayMac]

Ah. It's Crosscountry that charges £1 for collection of tickets at a station.

Their explanation is that the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have a reciprocal arrangement to allow collection at each other's stations but unfortunately Crosscountry don't have any stations under their own management - so have to pass on the charge made by other TOCs for the service.

Whilst CrossCountry have used this excuse since they introduced the £1 charge (early days after Arriva took over from Virgin if I remember correctly), it doesn't really wash with me. Other TOCs absorb the cost as they have reciprocity. However, as CrossCountry don't have ticket machines, they also don't have the installation, hire and maintenance costs of said machines. I see the £1 fee as a way of generating additional revenue, not as a way of covering a business cost.

They now state in the small print that their ticket sales are handled by Trainline. Is that new?

Quite a few TOCs' backend is Trainline. I think XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have used them for a while.

[JayMac]

They don’t offer a paper ticket option on their app it seems. Haven’t tried their website.

If the journey requires a cross-London transfer then the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) app will offer 'Collect at station' for no additional charge.

[ChrisB]

My post you quote was in response to the previous post which stated the journey was from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to Bradford Forster Square. No reason that couldn't be offered as a paper ticket for a £1 charge, but as I stated, not available/offered on their app.

[rogerw]

The simple answer is don't book tickets through Cross Country. You can book through other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), even for pure XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) journeys

[Mark A]

Yup. Bought the advance Crosscountry ticket from LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about). And then for the return, found a couple of advance tickets Bradford - Kings Cross and Paddington to Bath from them too. Now hoping that the Bradford - Kings Cross trains aren't like GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s Paignton - Paddington trains, but if that turns out to be the case, there are alternatives.

Mark

[TonyN]

I'm now thinking that the rail industry should do everyone a favour and allow Crosscountry to add a virtual station to their network.

Can’t they be given a real station to manage?  Perhaps one where no other operators serve?  Narborough?

I think the locals would be quite pleased to see a few more added. Burton Upon Trent, Hinkley, Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Stamford all look as though they have been forgotten. Yet all are near the town centres and well used.

[grahame]

I'm now thinking that the rail industry should do everyone a favour and allow Crosscountry to add a virtual station to their network.

Can’t they be given a real station to manage?  Perhaps one where no other operators serve?  Narborough?

I think the locals would be quite pleased to see a few more added. Burton Upon Trent, Hinkley, Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Stamford all look as though they have been forgotten. Yet all are near the town centres and well used.

It's surprising how many stations are only Cross County trains - do we add Water Orton, Willingdon and Wilnecote too?   But there are also a few East Midlands trains at Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Stamford.