Another Btline XC rant:

[whole diary]

[Btline]

What has happened to XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s fares policy? I signed up to an alert, to tell me when the advances had been released for Oxford to Durham. I got it today. This is what I found:

*Their ticketing system confused me - said an advance is not available on a train, when LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) allows me to get them. The prices on LM are also often cheaper.
*Their ticketing system has not been loaded with engineering works, LM say I'll have to get a bus to Banbury - ur, how about no!
*Even at the cheapest prices, 2 advances is often more than the Off Peak return. This means I'll get the flexible ticket and be able to travel on a peak service, when they could have priced me onto a less crowded train!
*Their cheapest 1st class advances have gone up hugely; when you consider the woeful level of service they offer, how can they justify such high fares in 1st? This will mean that more people travel standard = standard rammed; 1st empty.

They also now let people reserve seats 10 minutes before they depart. So this means you can be sat in an unreserved seat at Reading, only to be chucked out at Oxford! Wait for the riots to start...

**EDIT: Sorry, was angry yesterday, have toned the post down!  **

[ChrisB]

You don't give a date, so can't check on the works between Oxford \ Banbury - but I understand its every weekend in October& into Nocvember too - something around the Aynho / Heyford area....

There are less than 10 seats being trialled on the reserve before u board policy, and those are marked 'maybe reserved beyond xxx" throughout the journey, so you will know which sests are affected

[Worcester_Passenger]

I'm with BtLine on this. Travelled from Newcastle to B'ham New St the other week on a Voyager which had a whole block of seats (12?) marked on the displays as "this seat may be reserved from Newcastle to Reading".

[inspector_blakey]

From a moderator's perspective Btline, can we have a bit less of the "ticketing system LIED" please? It's not a sentient object, you have no indication that LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) was correct rather than XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) (with respect, there is also the possibility that you input something different into the two systems) and you need to be very careful when you publicly accuse a person or company of lying from a legal point of view.

If you wouldn't mind toning down the language that would be appreciated. I have a funny feeling we may have been here before you know...

[JayMac]

....and if you're getting sick of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) there are alternatives for the journey you are ranting about. Why not try split advances and go via London. Remembering of course to allow the minimum time for the relevant cross London transfer. You may even be able to get Advances to/from London Zone 1 to include your cross London transfers.

Some good deals to be had with East Coast for KGX - Durham. Buy from their website and you get an 11% discount on both Standard and 1st Advances. Travel 1st Class and get complimentary food and drink (inc alcohol Mon-Fri). Although reports on this new 1st Class offering haven't been too favourable. Still appear to be teething troubles. But I'd wager that it'll still be miles better than 1st Class with CrossCountry. Darn sight more availability for Advance fares as well.

I gave up travelling to the North East with CrossCountry from Bristol some time ago. Always now buy split Advances and travel via London.

[Btline]

Ah thanks BNM, I hadn't tried split advances. The through advances are confusing and expensive. Hadn't thought about advance to Zone 1 either - cheers!

Sorry about the post above, but XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are getting noticeably worse every year. It can't go on, and I think others will agree! I also think discrepancies in ticketing websites are also worrying - I have noticed many now. I have toned it down - was in a very bad mood after spending ages and ages trying to plan a simple journey on XC's website. For someone less "in the know" that me, it must be a mine field.

[inspector_blakey]

Thanks for toning things down...perhaps next time a pause for a few deep breaths and a cup of tea might be in order to settle down a bit before you start typing...?  

[JayMac]

And feel free to ask in Fare's Fair for ticketing advice.

[Btline]

Thanks for toning things down...perhaps next time a pause for a few deep breaths and a cup of tea might be in order to settle down a bit before you start typing...?  

Quite right - I'll learn one day! XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) is bad for my health...

And feel free to ask in Fare's Fair for ticketing advice.

Will do. In this case, I'll probs either get a standard return or drive.

[eightf48544]

Will do. In this case, I'll probs either get a standard return or drive.

I wonder how many people try to get cheap rail tickets give up with teh difficulty/complexity and drive instead.

Maybe it's cleveer ploy by the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) due to lack of stock/seats to force people to drive to prevent overcrowding.

But isn't it government policy to make people use he train and drive less or have I got that wrong?

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

I have travelled in the past from Oxon to Durham using 1st class advance fares. I have however found that it has been much cheaper to book from Banbury to Durham than from Oxford to Durham. If I remember correctly I saved something like about ^25 a head by not going from Oxford. Of course I could have done the local Oxford to Banbury section much cheaper by buying simple single tickets on the same train but as I had to travel to Oxford first, I just changed road route and travelled to Banbury at just about a pound or so for the extra petrol. How they calculate these fares I just do not understand. Perhaps they think that Oxford being a university city, has more affluent residents than more working class Banbury does.

[ChrisB]

I suspect different TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) set the fares at those stations - so they may have different criteria.

[JayMac]

Btline's fares information request has been moved to Fare's Fair:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=9306.msg95817#msg95817