London to Halifax on Grand Central

[RJ]

The guard on the Grand Central service said they don't accept Priv discounted tickets and they can't sell Priv rate tickets on board. Guess that answered that question then!

 

[reb0118]

As an aside do Grand Central get a cut of any priv discounted inter-available any permitted tickets?

Also, is there any notification on a priv discounted inter-available any permitted ticket that informs you that it is not valid on Grand Central.

I still see that many people get confused by Grand Central the open access operator and Great Central the Heritage line (who do give privs BTW).

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....Also, is there any notification on a priv discounted inter-available any permitted ticket that informs you that it is not valid on Grand Central.....

No. As with Groupsave and Network Railcards the restriction is on the discount, not the ticket.

Some folk on this forum will tell you that is a breach of the NRCoC and demand the railway take some sort of action, others will tell you it is in the restrictions associated with the discount and suggest you read them and behave accordingly.

One of these outcomes is quite sensible and actually quite hassle free, the other could see you getting very upset or aggressive, having a Guard/Train Manger issue you with a new ticket, TIR, UFN or MG11, and you coming on a web forum to moan and complain about how unfair and/or evil the railway companies are and how you should have been allowed to travel regardless because 'passengers are always right'. I'll leave you to work out which is which.

 

[TUC]

Still is a declassified 1st on one of their rakes, although I think most people have become wise to this.

That is one of the best treats in using Grand Central.

 

[RJ]

No. As with Groupsave and Network Railcards the restriction is on the discount, not the ticket.

Some folk on this forum will tell you that is a breach of the NRCoC and demand the railway take some sort of action, others will tell you it is in the restrictions associated with the discount and suggest you read them and behave accordingly.

I haven't seen any of that in this thread. It wasn't a problem in the end but it's interesting how there is conflicting advice being given out from sources that a reasonable person might assume to be veritable. Seeing as GC TMs are giving out conflicting advice (some apparently saying yes, others saying no) and the retail management department who deals with their tickets is giving advice that conflicts with that on the ATOC website, I'm at a complete loss as to who to believe!

This information is too difficult to find out. I think I'll just use Northern and East Coast instead on my way back to London, I don't want to get on one of Grand Central's services and be told I can't use or buy a Priv rate ticket for that service.

 

[Starmill]

I always get the lowest tier on the 1912. If it wasn't the lowest tier, I wouldn't book it.

You share my attitude to trips to London then! Except I do it at 1920... and with Virgin!

That is a concern, and if HT can do it, so can GC!

And more importantly, why can't TPE!

 

[RJ]

I telephoned ATOC with regards to use of Priv Any Permitted tickets on Grand Central's services, before the trip actually and received this response yesterday;

Thank you for your email.

There are no discounts or free travel for holders of TOC Privilege or Staff Travel Cards on Grand Central trains.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us or maybe try our FAQ section of our website on the following link. http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-staff-travel/faqs/ or if you need any of our forms please click on the following link http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-staff-travel/forms/conditions-of-issue-use

Kind Regards

Rail Staff Travel
Association of Train Operating Companies

That puts paid to that then. In the event, I didn't bother with Grand Central on the return trip from Halifax - I went via Leeds and Sheffield then on the express train (calling at Derby and Leicester only) to London, using tickets to places including Woodhouse, Thurgarton, Spondon, Idridgehay and Whipsnade Zoo. Pricing anomalies have been created by tickets intended for travel via Nottingham being reduced temporarily, so I took advantage of that for part of the MML leg. Collectively, the tickets for the entire journey cost around 25% less than a Priv Single from Sheffield to London so not bad value at all.

 

[t0ffeeman]

Splitting at Arlesey reduces the PRV rate by about 40%. Did you do better than that?

 

[RJ]

Thanks for the tip, but ECML Priv loopholes aren't my forte. I paid around £21 for the trip. It's more tricky to find cheap ECML season tickets to allow use of express trains - in the event, I bought a public rate weekly from Derby to Spondon for £6.60.

Next time I need to travel along the ECML, I'll look into it

 

[SickyNicky]

I telephoned ATOC with regards to use of Priv Any Permitted tickets on Grand Central's services

The restrictions document tells you this as well, and some other stuff about when you can't use you PRIV.

 

[34D]

I would still say that GC would welcome you with open arms.