Bristol Connection

[Gizmogle]

Gonna go out and get some coverage tomorrow and LittleRedTrain will only be able to travel on SWT (apart from a couple he's paying for) services, as he is using gold cards.

We want to get the Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth done.

Only problem is, we're getting the Salisbury to Bristol train, which there is only 2 a day of.

We arrive at Bristol at 1459, and the only train to Weymouth for the next two hours, is at 1504.

Would we be able to make this? Would LRT be able to buy a ticket on the train as we won't have time to stop at ticket machines.

 

[Turbostar]

If you join a train without a ticket where ticket facilities exist, be it ticket office or machine, you will have to pay a penalty fair, whatever it is these days, as in their view, you should of made time to purchase your ticket before your train arrives. Crazy I know, but the rail companys don't see it that way.

Mart

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, I know this, but it's very unlikely that he'll be penalty fared, unless there's RPIs on the train.

Also, any idea what platform we'll arrive on and what platform the HoW train will depart from?

 

[Craig]

Where are you getting the train from?

You should be able to buy all the tickets at once at the first station ticket office.

 

[Turbostar]

Not sure I'm afraid. Havn't been to Bristol TM for a while.

Mart

 

[devon_metro]

Buy the ticket at the station you originate from.

HoW train could from anywhere!

3/9/15 etc

 

[Gizmogle]

Because If we get off at Upwey, then I'm missing coverage, and have to back to do it again.

Getting the train from Salisbury. But it's a tight connection (5mins) at Bristol, so for obviously reasons, we don't wanna get the ticket in advance incase (which we probably won't) make it. If we do, then we won't have time to stop at a ticket machine either.

 

[Daniel]

Yeah sorry Gizmogle mis-understood the question first time around.

What you could do is on the Sailsbury-Bristol train, buy a ticket from Bristol to the first stop on the HoW service. Then it's no big loss if you miss it, and if you make it you can then travel on the HoW service legally and buy your onward tickets?

 

[Gizmogle]

Would he be able to buy a disabled railcard ticket extension if we did make it though?
There was a guard on SWT a couple of weeks ago that refused to give him a ticket extension for another train on his journey... :???:

 

[Craig]

Change at Bath Spa? It looks like you've done Bath - Bristol.

 

[Daniel]

Would he be able to buy a disabled railcard ticket extension if we did make it though?
There was a guard on SWT a couple of weeks ago that refused to give him a ticket extension for another train on his journey... :???:

As long as you have a valid ticket for the journey you are making at that CURRENT time, then they should sell you a ticket with all discounts available... :?

The only time on-train when you can't get any discounts is if your travelling without a valid ticket and wish to buy one...

 

[mrcheek]

Somebody gave the solution but it got ignored. so, to reiterate:

change at Bath Spa instead. You really wont be missing anything by not going all the way to Bristol TM. This gives you plenty of time to buy tickets, and they do great coffee at Bath station as well.

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah cheers Craig. Sounds like a plan

 

[Max]

If you join a train without a ticket where ticket facilities exist, be it ticket office or machine, you will have to pay a penalty fair, whatever it is these days, as in their view, you should of made time to purchase your ticket before your train arrives.

I'm sorry, but this always makes me laugh

Why do people think that you will automatically get a penalty fare? Come up here and put it to the test, I think you'll be suprised

 

[djw1981]

The FSR policy (at stations without barriers) is that you have to pay a standard day single / return, and cannot buy a CDR or use a Railcard. So I guess, to be pedantic, that you pay a penalty (the ticket costs you more than it would have done at the station), but the penalty is variable dependent on the fare you pay (due to destination). Thus since you pay a penalty and a fare, penllty fare is not totally incorrect (ok, ok, ok, I know i am being pedantic but the frogs just won at rugby and I'm bored)

At stations with barriers, you obviously need a ticket before you go through the barrier to the train.

*The above obviously only applies if there were facilities to buy the ticket at teh station at which you boarded the train.

 

[Max]

Are Northern just the most lenient TOC? As far as I'm aware, TPE aren't particularly strict either, and they're First owned!

 

[Tom]

I'm sorry, but this always makes me laugh

Why do people think that you will automatically get a penalty fare? Come up here and put it to the test, I think you'll be suprised

SWT.

 

[Gizmogle]

Are Northern just the most lenient TOC? As far as I'm aware, TPE aren't particularly strict either, and they're First owned!

From my experience, Southeastern are the nicest/most lenient by miles. Northern coming in second. TPE haven't always been great with me though.

 

[Bonemaster]

A couple of years ago I did a tight change in similar circumstances and was denied the right to a discount, however the guard did tell me that if I informed the guard before boarding, you retain the right to a discounted fare, I have done a couple since and both times I have asked the guard before boarding and have got CDRs with railcard discount

 

[devon_metro]

SWT.

The first third rail SWT train i ever stepped on had a PF bloke on it

Never seen a FGW one

 

[voyagerdude220]

Never seen a FGW one

Same here, and I travel Bristol to Highbridge every month or two..

I've also done Bristol to Southampton on FGW, without bumping into a RPI.

 

[me123]

Again with FSR, I've never been charged a penalty fare. I've boarded at Glasgow Central onto a Whifflet train, where they seem to be sympathetic to passengers given the huge queues everywhere. Of course, when the human barriers are on, this isn't an option.

I've also boarded at Blairhill where there has been no person at the ticket office. Thankfully, all guards seem to understand that they seem to take a lot of breaks there, so they just ask if anyone was there and continue as normal.

They do seem to be pretty leniant. I even broke a rule on an advance ticket a few times by not sitting in the specified seat (the fat guy with BO was not a fantastic travel companion for the next 3 hours of life...) and they didn't really care.

 

[Max]

I've never been asked to sit in my reserved seat. It's not really that lenient, just the norm I think! They only get a bit fussy when the train is packed.

 

[djw1981]

At GLC they do now have 5 (or is it 6) ATM's, 3 ticket windows (upstairs) plus the 4-5 windows in the Virgin travel centre. So the ticketing issue is getting better.

I notice that at GLQ, they have now the 4 machines in the middle of the concourse, 2 in the ticket office and another 2 round by the Dundas st entrance to the low level platforms and 2 round by North Hanover St low level entrance. So in summary GLC needs more ATM's!!!

 

[me123]

GLC's problem is that the travel centre is not advertised for Scottish destinations (I don't now if they can sell Scotrail tickets; I've never tried). Anyway, everyone waits at the three windows and a huge queue emerges which can take very long to get through. Because it's advertised as "Scottish destinations". Virgin's people can be twiddling their thumbs during this.

 

[djw1981]

They do, quite happily (as VWC get the commission!). They cannot sell SPT tickets (daytripper, Roundabout or Zonecard) or some Rail+Ferry tickets. These are only available at teh windows though. The Fast-ticket machines (VWC) I think only do major destinations served by VWC or VWC then another TOC.

Another 4-5 ATM's on the curve round from the FSR ticket windows towards the Hope St exit, and another pile at the end of each platform (or even one on each 'pair' of platforms would aid arriving customers greatly. Often there is only one TE with and Advantix machine, but a 4 car train...

 

[me123]

Thanks DJW. Like everyone else, I see Scottish Destinations and stand in the queues. I will know where to go now.

 

[class 313]

Am I right in thinking that the connecting train was caped anyway Gizmogle?

 

[Gizmogle]

Yes. Got to Salisbury and they cancelled it cause there was no guard.

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