New style tickets - no TOC?

[blakey1152]

I picked up my advanced tickets from London to Bradford for next month yesterday and again its printed in the new style with the reservation shown on the one coupon but for the first time it doesn't actually mention the TOC.

I'm travelling outbound with East Coast and returning with Grand Central

both tickets just say Valid only on the booked services below and required connecting services then lists the journey and seat reservation.

On previous tickets including the ones I used to Manchester last week they all stated the TOC as well with the words on specified VTWC trains and connections (as I still have that ticket in my grubby mitts)

It might save a few characters on ink but might confuse potential passengers who aren't entirely sure who they are travelling with.

Is this a new change?

 

[Paul Kelly]

I think they are supposed to show the name of the TOC next to the individual reserved services. But some just say stuff like "UNKNOWN TOC" which looks ridiculous.

 

[najaB]

both tickets just say Valid only on the booked services below and required connecting services then lists the journey and seat reservation.

Sounds like a misprint - like yourself I've never seen one that didn't specify the TOC as well as the date/time of the reserved service.

Given the variations that have been posted in the main thread, I can't say I'm surprised.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Surely with an Advance fare, the TOC is implied by the booked service?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Sounds like a misprint - like yourself I've never seen one that didn't specify the TOC as well as the date/time of the reserved service.

Given the variations that have been posted in the main thread, I can't say I'm surprised.

I've seen a number of tickets in the new style where the TOC restriction is not specifically mentioned, which makes life difficult for staff and passenger alike, though I think most, if not all, are Advance fares.

 

[Starmill]

It's to do with which machine you use to collect it I think. I've got loads that simply say "Valid on the booked services below and required connecting services." from Northern Parkeon machines.

 

[tony_mac]

Surely with an Advance fare, the TOC is implied by the booked service?

There can be some ambiguities - such as the weekday 20:35 Kings Cross to Peterborough.

More commonly, if your train is delayed or cancelled, which service(s) are you allowed to take?

 

[louis97]

It's to do with which machine you use to collect it I think. I've got loads that simply say "Valid on the booked services below and required connecting services." from Northern Parkeon machines.

I've had that print on an East Midlands Trains only advance. A bit odd given it makes it sound like its valid on connecting trains of any operator, which isn't the case for that ticket. Printed from an EMT collection only machine at Derby.

 

[blakey1152]

I think I managed to get a pic of the tickets... both collected from Slade Green station
Unfortunately, despite best attempts the pic has turned round

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Those look like the ones I've seen. The first one I saw was Manchester Stations to Glasgow, with a service from Manchester Victoria to Preston and another from Preston to Glasgow. No indication of which company they were booked to use. Made it rather fun to sort out a "change of journey" for a direct service.

 

[BestWestern]

During the FGW/GWR rebrand, 'unknown toc' was very common. Presumably it was known that tickets were being issued for a date after the FGW identity would have 'expired', but the GWR identity hadn't been put onto the system?

 

[stuart100100]

I get most of my advances from TPE's website (and not just for TPE journeys) and they are the same. Also the text on them is incredibly tiny!