Trying to by train tickets ... I give up!

[XmisterIS]

I am livid!!!!

God damn, the public transport in this country is CRAP!!!!!

All I want is to buy a sodding train ticket on-sodding-line. Just an off-peak day return. Couldn't be simpler. Couldn't more excruciatingly painfully simple ...

Southwest trains website just comes to a dead end when you try to buy a ticket, so I gave up on that, then I tried another website and it won't let me buy the ticket I want, then I phoned the station and said:

"Can I buy an off-peak day return over the phone please? Your website isn't working".
"Nah mate".
"So I can buy one over the counter for the same price?"
"Dunno mate".
"How much is it then?"
"Seven quid, mate".
"But it's only £4 online".
"Well, but it online then!"
"I ... can't ... your ... website ... isn't ... working ..."
"Wot d'ya wont me ta do abaaht it mate?"
"Sod it, I'll take the car. Diesel's cheaper than seven extortionate pounds. Disgraceful!"
"Suit yerself mate".

So .. after trying for half an hour to buy a train ticket, I have given up and will take the car - get it, start engine, drive, get out.

 

[snorri]

This should be in the 'Moaning about petrol prices' thread.

 

[XmisterIS]

Hah! There's more, I tell you ... it seems that the number I got through to was head office, not the station, the station doesn't even have a counter any more!

They don't exactly make it easy to travel by train, unless you live in a swanky city ... no ... those of us in the provinces don't get anything like a decent public transport service.

Note to the chancellor - when I give you my taxes, please, for the love of God, give us a decent train service in return!

 

[wiggydiggy]

Did you try RedSpottedHanky?

They just started up recently and dont do a booking fee unlike TheTrainline which is nice of them

 

[John the Monkey]

Folk at Crewe station are usually pretty good, although there's a slightly baffling array of tickets now (including the "Virgin Trains Only" ones that cause much consternation on Cross Country services.

Not really an issue for me, as I'm a season ticket holder (so just get gouged every month). For all that, it's still more pleasant than driving in Central Manchester.

 

[XmisterIS]

Did you try RedSpottedHanky?

They just started up recently and dont do a booking fee unlike TheTrainline which is nice of them

Fantastic! I just booked via them and the website is actually more useful than the train company's own website!

The train company itself comes up with a terse little message saying "you can't book less than two hours before you travel" - but RSH let me do it just fine!

Many thanks

 

[Mr Phoebus]

+1 for RedSpottedHanky. Used their website without any problems at all.

Used the Trainline website and besides trying three different browsers, I couldn't complete the registration, really infuriating.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Yep, as a railway employee I find the quality of customer service quite embarassing at times. If they can't cope now God help them during the Olympics. I'm glad you got fixed up by RSH, I'd never heard of them but will tell others in future.

Bill

 

[steve52]

why is it we let the powers that be provide such an appaling sevice ? accountability is what is needed

 

[steve52]

ps why is it cheaper to drive my car door to door that get a train? i can take seven others with me too

 

[Red Light]

You might also look at East Coast Trains. Their booking system is very good, you can pick the tickets up from any station automated ticket machine and you can make a booking for your bike as well - something the National Rail website and all the other sites that use their booking engine - Trainline, SWT, Virgin etc - don't allow.

 

[vernon]

You might also look at East Coast Trains. Their booking system is very good, you can pick the tickets up from any station automated ticket machine and you can make a booking for your bike as well - something the National Rail website and all the other sites that use their booking engine - Trainline, SWT, Virgin etc - don't allow.

+1

It's my web site of choice when booking tickets. It's faultless.

 

[PBancroft]

I'm actually looking to start using season tickets on trains for my regular journeys - I've done a few calculations and trains seem to win out on price. I'm doing a few real world tests to confirm this.

However I do sometimes think that the train companies are run by monkeys. A few weeks back me and a few mates went to climb Ben Nevis - this included getting an overnight Scotrail ticket, so we asked if they had any sleeper compartments left.

"Oh yes, we do!"
"Excellent," we said. "Can we go for that then?"
"No."
"Uhh.... may I ask why?"
"You've got a return ticket. We've only got sleeper cabins for singles."

Dumbfounded, we tried to explain that we didn't need a cabin for the way back. The return journey was during the day. But no, they wouldn't have it. In fact, at one point the chap on the end of the phone smugly said "you really want to get this cabin don't you?"

I may or may not have sworn and called him a very ugly thing indeed.

 

[Peteaud]

Did you try RedSpottedHanky?

They just started up recently and dont do a booking fee unlike TheTrainline which is nice of them

Thanks for the tip, just has a look and very reasonable for a journey i make every few months.

 

[wiggydiggy]

RedSpottedHankey - Happy to help

Spotted them off a tele advert, they certainly seem to be making a play for Trainlines business, the site also has a text only version which is a godsend for me at work as we are still using IE6.

Just on trains generally I noticed in Leeds the other day a 'South london Central' branded railbus type multple unit, wonder if that is the fabled 'new coaches' they've been promising for the Yorkshire area.