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grahame
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« on: April 08, 2023, 13:51:29 » |
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Reading The Wirral Globe as one does ... Iain Griffin, co-founder of Seatfrog, said: “Two thirds of the 1.8 billion train tickets purchased every year are advanced tickets which cost less, but lock passengers into rigid travel plans with no wiggle room. I am surprised at 1.2 billion Advance Purchase tickets a year - that's 20 tickets for every man, woman and child in the UK▸ ... whereas each buys just 10 other tickets. Have I read that correctly? |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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CyclingSid
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« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2023, 15:01:40 » |
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From recent trips on South West Trains people with Advance tickets don't understand "but lock passengers into rigid travel plans with no wiggle room." A lot of unhappy and poorer passengers, fortunately an efficient TM‡, as I got off a bunch Revenue Protection teams got on, so they could have been even unhappier and even poorer.
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Sulis John
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« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2023, 18:00:06 » |
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Well, with split ticketing one return journey could easily encompass 8 or 10 advance tickets, whereas the entire year’s commute can be accomplished on one ticket.
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JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2023, 19:50:43 » |
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My forthcoming return trip to the Isle of Man encompasses 5 Advance Purchase split tickets. Plus the Sail & Rail Economy Return.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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bobm
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« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2023, 20:42:03 » |
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I think a lot more people fall foul of advance tickets now they buy them on line. When you bought them from booking offices the majority of staff were at great pains to explain the limitations to purchasers. Some even had little printed cards or a rubber stamp to reinforce the message.
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JayMac
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« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2023, 21:02:11 » |
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A big red and yellow flash box on the checkout page of the websites perhaps. With warnings about the use of Advance Purchase tickets.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2023, 22:03:18 » |
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There was a time a few months ago when a traffic accident caused my bus to arrive too late at Totnes railway station to use my advanced ticket. The GWR▸ ticket office staff there were very understanding and stamped a note requesting the Train Manager on the following Cross Country service to accept my ticket, advising me to check this with him before I boarded. The train despatch chap on the platform helpfully ensured that I found the TM‡ who himself said, without hesitation, that it was okay to board.
I don't know how well I would have fared if I had just jumped on the XC▸ service without doing what I did but I'm grateful to all the GWR and XC staff concerned, after all, my delay en route to the station was hardly their fault.
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plymothian
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« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2023, 23:33:30 » |
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1. The majority now buy from Trainline. Trainline promote Advance tickets as the cheapest ticket with 1 click buy. To get anything flexible is a faff. Trainline do not explain that ticket is for that train only.
(and lets not get started with what Trainline call an 'open return')
2. Passengers don't understand what an Advance ticket is, most equate advance = buy before the day/train.
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Please be aware that only the first 4 words of this post will be platformed on this message board.
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infoman
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« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2023, 03:36:57 » |
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Who would want to buy from train line?
considering that they charge an admin charge if you want to make a claim on a delayed service.
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grahame
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« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2023, 05:40:40 » |
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Who would want to buy from train line?
Good question - though I suspect it may have been rhetorical (not intended for answer) 1. Because they makes it easy (or easier) 2. Because they have strong marketing and advertising 3. Because they have a big, trusted name that's global across the whole UK▸ 4. Because others have failed to achieve 1. and 2. and 3. all together I have answered "why people buy from Trainline" and not "why do people WANT to buy from Trainline", mind you. They don't necessarily want to buy from there - it may be the best or most obvious choice rather than a positive desire to give their business to that particular ticket seller. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2023, 08:39:35 » |
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Who would want to buy from train line?
Good question - though I suspect it may have been rhetorical (not intended for answer) 1. Because they makes it easy (or easier) 2. Because they have strong marketing and advertising 3. Because they have a big, trusted name that's global across the whole UK▸ 4. Because others have failed to achieve 1. and 2. and 3. all together I have answered "why people buy from Trainline" and not "why do people WANT to buy from Trainline", mind you. They don't necessarily want to buy from there - it may be the best or most obvious choice rather than a positive desire to give their business to that particular ticket seller. I think it's also the case that many Businesses Corporate booking engines use Trainline so in that case people don't have any choice. |
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Mark A
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« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2023, 08:46:56 » |
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Some even had little printed cards or a rubber stamp to reinforce the message.
Sounds a bit punitive but very effective: on what part of the body do they use the rubber stamp - and is it inked or merely reinforcing the message? Mark |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2023, 09:25:22 » |
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Some even had little printed cards or a rubber stamp to reinforce the message.
Sounds a bit punitive but very effective: on what part of the body do they use the rubber stamp - and is it inked or merely reinforcing the message? Mark The forehead - easy access at the gateline and instantly indicates to the Train manager the type of ticket purchased - perhaps a VR code could be added for easy scanning? |
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Mark A
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« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2023, 10:14:05 » |
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Instant dystopia, right there!
Mark
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eightonedee
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« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2023, 10:22:52 » |
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Quote from: infoman on Today at 03:36:57 am
Who would want to buy from train line?
Good question - though I suspect it may have been rhetorical (not intended for answer)
1. Because they makes it easy (or easier)
2. Because they have strong marketing and advertising
3. Because they have a big, trusted name that's global across the whole UK▸
4. Because others have failed to achieve 1. and 2. and 3. all together
I have answered "why people buy from Trainline" and not "why do people WANT to buy from Trainline", mind you. They don't necessarily want to buy from there - it may be the best or most obvious choice rather than a positive desire to give their business to that particular ticket seller.
I have just tried to search "train tickets" on three different search engines. All tried to self-fill the search dialogue box "trainline" before I finished typing those words in, and two out of the three had Trainline as the top search result, the third having it second after Chiltern Railways (?). For comparison I also tried "Taxi" to see if I got Uber - but did not. Then again I think Uber is now considered a separate product. |
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