Super off peak ticket validity: Bristol to Newcastle route: +Any Permitted

[Zebsmattz]

I bought it from Virgin's website
I also tried it on Virgin's website the other day (when I created this thread) and it did the same thing.
Basically it lets you select two singles and the trains allowed for each, then when you add it to your basket it turns it into a return.

What's the VTEC pricing manager exactly? Sounds intriguing
Edit: I gather the manager is a person (!) and the WebTIS is his way of buying tickets?

 

[furlong]

I bought it from Virgin's website
Basically it lets you select two singles and the trains allowed for each, then when you add it to your basket it turns it into a return.

Yes, and the problem is that when doing the *search* it uses two different restriction codes - the ones for the single tickets in each direction, but in the basket you have a return ticket which can only have one code. The question is whether the system should have overridden the restriction code for the return single with the one for the outward single when doing the search - or - whether it should have kept them as two singles - or - whether it should have combined them into a return with a new restriction code that reflects the different codes in each direction.

 

[furlong]

Both West Coast and East Coast websites handle this the same way - converting to a return and issuing reservations that are invalid for the changed restriction code.

 

[Zebsmattz]

Came back on the train from Newcastle -> Bristol yesterday.

No problems on the East Coast line.

Got to Paddington and the board for the 18:45 said "no super saver tickets".
So I asked at information and he said "Oh you're OK with that ticket because you've come from Newcastle".
I boarded the train and for the entire journey the guy kept announcing that Super saver tickets were not valid, so I was expecting problems when he checked my ticket.
Thankfully he didn't get as far as checking tickets where I was sitting so no problems!

I might contact Virgin about this, as I'll be making the same journey again soon.

 

[yorkie]

You can contact Virgin if you like but they are already aware of it, so it would make no difference.

I bought it from Virgin's website
I also tried it on Virgin's website the other day (when I created this thread) and it did the same thing.
Basically it lets you select two singles and the trains allowed for each, then when you add it to your basket it turns it into a return.

Yes, I get the same result.

What's the VTEC pricing manager exactly? Sounds intriguing
Edit: I gather the manager is a person (!) and the WebTIS is his way of buying tickets?

Yes (many of them are avid readers of this forum, I believe) and yes.

TIS stands for Ticket Issuing System.

 

[yorkie]

Came back on the train from Newcastle -> Bristol yesterday.

No problems on the East Coast line.

Got to Paddington and the board for the 18:45 said "no super saver tickets".

Good to see the old names are still used! Those signs are just plain wrong though (GWR know they are wrong but refuse to change them), but I expect all Train Managers to know that such blanket bans simply do not exist. Some gateline staff however can pose a problem...

So I asked at information and he said "Oh you're OK with that ticket because you've come from Newcastle".
I boarded the train and for the entire journey the guy kept announcing that Super saver tickets were not valid, so I was expecting problems when he checked my ticket.
Thankfully he didn't get as far as checking tickets where I was sitting so no problems!

A quick look at your ticket and accompanying reservation would have been enough to satisfy the Train Manager, I'm sure.

The potential problems with GWR are typically getting on to the trains at Paddington; once you are on board it's very rare that a Train Manager would attempt to deny a passenger their contractual rights

 

[yorkie]

Anyhow I was initially stopped at Kings X because I have a super off peak ticket, which the chap said was only valid after 7pm.
But then he spoke with his supervisor and said it was all OK.
He said something about network areas being right next to each other, which I completely did not understand.
I checked with the train guard before boarding and he was happy for me to travel.

Yes, I'm aware of several instances of gateline staff at King's Cross and Paddington falsely claiming that valid tickets are not valid. I am glad to hear the supervisor was well trained; well done VTEC! Sadly not all supervisors are even prepared to look at the rules. I had the misfortune to encounter one at King's Cross who denied Hadders travel and refused to even look up the restriction code applicable to the ticket held. I won't easily forget the nonsense that he made up about how gatelines work!

However the vast majority of VTEC/GWR Train Managers are appropriately trained and instances of TMs denying valid tickets are valid are quite rare. There is one whose name kept cropping up for wrongly charging people (e.g. denying that a via Peterborough fare was valid via Peterborough and denying that a combination of fares can be used for one journey) but I've not heard of any recent incidents, thankfully.

I wouldn't worry too much. If anyone questions it, simply show them your reservations and/or itinerary produced by the website.

If you are ever charged an excess fare (this would be the difference between Super Off Peak and either Off Peak or Anytime, as deemed 'appropriate') you would be able to get this refunded from whichever company wrongly charged you. If that ever does happen, make sure you contact us for advice. If you travel in accordance with an itinerary I can pretty much guarantee you will get your money back.

 

[sheff1]

......

 

[Zebsmattz]

Sorry that was probably my mistake!
I meant Super Off Peak, not sure where I got the other from

 

[Zebsmattz]

The slight worry from my point of view, is that the ticket isn't valid according to the restriction printed on it (5A so can't be used til 7pm from Paddington).
But I do/will have the seat reservation, and the itinerary on an email.

I will definitely get a seat reservation for all the legs of the journey so I have as much documentation as possible.

Yes I guess if it comes to it I'll have to pay the difference and claim it back.


wallsendmag:
Does the WebTIS issue 2 single tickets with the correct restrictions?
Or a set of return tickets with the correct restrictions?

 

[Wallsendmag]

It changes the ticket from two singles into a Super Offpeak Return with the standard restriction , obviously it doesn't check the validity of the new ticket,and it's already been faulted with Worldline .


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[Wallsendmag]

Sounds sensible

As you suggest I'll plead ignorance if questioned on the way back and wave my seat reservation at them, hopefully that will do it.



Complete random aside: I got free wifi in standard class on the Virgin train too, which was nice - and it worked.

Cross Country seems like a step down from Virgin East Coast.

I came back from York to Newcastle yesterday on a hired in XC set, that was an experience, at least it was quicker than our 9 coach HSTs


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[sheff1]

It changes the ticket from two singles into a Super Offpeak Return with the standard restriction , obviously it doesn't check the validity of the new ticket,and it's already been faulted with Worldline .

So it doesn't handle it correctly then, contrary to the opinion of the VTEC Pricing Manager mentioned in post #30

 

[Wallsendmag]

So it doesn't handle it correctly then, contrary to the opinion of the VTEC Pricing Manager mentioned in post #30

We were checking kgx/ncl then it suddenly dawned that 5A was the key


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[yorkie]

You need to check it with Bristol to Newcastle; there isn't a problem for a journey between London & Newcastle.

But quite frankly for just under £200 you really ought to be able to get any evening train out of either terminal regardless of directionality.

 

[Wallsendmag]

You need to check it with Bristol to Newcastle; there isn't a problem for a journey between London & Newcastle.

But quite frankly for just under £200 you really ought to be able to get any evening train out of either terminal regardless of directionality.

We did afterwards and are now aware of the problem and the cause, hopefully it will be fixed one quickly.