To buy a ticket or not?

[whole diary]

[super tm]

_{*but not all - weekend first upgrades from, say, Paddington to Oxford have to be purchased at the booking office since many of the trains are DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) and won't carry any revenue staff.}

No this is no longer the case.  When they bought in the new weekend first prices ie from ^5 to ^20 they removed this differential.  All weekend first can now be bought on the train.

[Ollie]

_{*but not all - weekend first upgrades from, say, Paddington to Oxford have to be purchased at the booking office since many of the trains are DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) and won't carry any revenue staff.}

No this is no longer the case.  When they bought in the new weekend first prices ie from ^5 to ^20 they removed this differential.  All weekend first can now be bought on the train.

I believe it is referring to the fact on some trains in the Thames Valley it wouldn't be possible to upgrade on the train due to lack of staff.

[Henry]

 Personally I think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have some work to do before they can impose Penalty Fares.

 SWT^▸ (South West Trains) had to supply not only ticket machines, but permit to travel machines. So you had every opportunity to buy some
 authority to board the train.
 I am stongly opposed to PF^▸ (Penalty Fare) as it can penalise the honest traveller.

[paul7575]

Permit to Travel machines are not required, and have been removed by SWT^▸ (South West Trains) except where there is no TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at all.  I think Redbridge and Millbrook are the only stations I can think of with PTT^▸ (Public Time-Table) machines in this area...

Paul

[super tm]

_{*but not all - weekend first upgrades from, say, Paddington to Oxford have to be purchased at the booking office since many of the trains are DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) and won't carry any revenue staff.}

No this is no longer the case.  When they bought in the new weekend first prices ie from ^5 to ^20 they removed this differential.  All weekend first can now be bought on the train.

I believe it is referring to the fact on some trains in the Thames Valley it wouldn't be possible to upgrade on the train due to lack of staff.

Well if the staff dont come around that is not the passengers problem.  As I said upgrades are available on any train and do not need to be bought before travel.  I think it has been done for simplicity so all trains are treated the same way.

[JayMac]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website actually says:

Weekend First upgrade:

.....You can buy in advance at ticket offices and on board High Speed services.

[super tm]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website actually says:

Weekend First upgrade:

.....You can buy in advance at ticket offices and on board High Speed services.

Um I see your point.  There is no warning as to what will happen if you buy it on board a turbo service.  And what is a high speed service anyway.  Its not really a definition which is used very often and how is the travelling public supposed to know the difference.  I can see it in the press I got a penalty fare because my train did not go fast enough !

Also in the entry in the fares Manual which is what FGW staff should refer to no mention of the need to purchase before you board on non High Speed Services

[thetrout]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website actually says:

Weekend First upgrade:

.....You can buy in advance at ticket offices and on board High Speed services.

I know you can get it when you book online on some services... But if you ask for Weekend First, in my experience, i've always been told to get it on the train. They appear to disapprove of selling you WF at the station...!

Sort of makes me think of a catch 22 situation...

[Henry]

 I would have thought that first class upgrade is subject to availibility.
 If you bought your upgrade in advance, but in the event of first class being fully booked/full (albeit unlikely), could you claim a refund, or told to stand in first class.

[TheLastMinute]

I think I'm right in saying that whenever a Weekend First is sold in advance, it must be sold with a reservation. Presumably this is to prevent such a situation.