Virgin Trains online contact form woes

[Pumperkin]

Hi,

I have tried to liaise with VT about their advance fares.

I am travelling from Sandwell to Liverpool (change at Wolverhampton). However, I have a discount through Perkbox giving up to 15% off. However, the routing seems hellbent on WMR (at least from Wolverhampton).

I would like to go Sandwell -> Crewe -> Liverpool which according to the route map should be doable.

I need to arrive before 11:30 on Saturday 21st September.

I tried to contact Virgin but first they told me about a train arriving after midday and via WMR... after I specifically said Virgin only. They also said for any discount I need a railcard to give 1/3 off... ignoring it being Perkbox. They then said there is no Virgin service and all trains will have a leg via WMR (this is fine SAD - WLV, but I don't want to be on WMR all the way to Liverpool). They then said my local ticket office would know more about Perkbox discount (however... my local is WMR ran... can't imagine they'd know much about Virgin Perkbox discount...).

Not getting anywhere fast.. can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pumperkin]

Had another look - looks like Stafford is also a crossover between the two services which I'd be equally happy with (I'm not specifically targeting Crewe, I just would rather be VT all the way if possible).

 

[yorkie]

I can't help with Perkbox.

The cheapest through fares appear to involve a change at Crewe onto West Midlands Trains (operating under their London Northwestern brand name, rather than their WMR brand name, not that it matters!).

Sometimes it's cheaper to "split" at Crewe. A split ticketing website will calculate this for you, but then you may not get your 15% saving (but, on the other hand, the split ticket saving may be greater than 15%!)

It's possible to do the journey wholly on Virgin but this seems to cost more and involves an extended wait in Crewe.

 

[Pumperkin]

Right I think I have found it. 08:24 SAD - Crewe, then 09:43 Crewe - Liverpool. Now just to try and get Virgin to see this as a valid through route so I can book with them for my 15% discount...

It is timetabled on trainsplit at £18.90... so £16.10 with discount which should pay for coffee at Crewe

Any ideas how to get through to Virgin peeps? Contact form / email doesn't seem to get the right response.

 

[Pumperkin]

I have just seen this is splitting the ticket @ Crewe. Not sure how to get it all in one journey (in case first part is delayed... don't want to miss second booked train). I think I have to book via Virgin website for the discount :/

 

[Hadders]

Is it really worth the effort for less than £2 saving?

 

[Pumperkin]

Is it really worth the effort for less than £2 saving?

Yep... it pays for my coffee Also, noticed trainsplit fare would actually be lower it's just they add on for their cut. Is there anywhere other than trainsplit I can use to get the trains I want in one journey (so as to avoid aforementioned issue of split tickets with late train)?

 

[Merseysider]

or you could just get the 8:49, arriving 10:44 with a change in Wolves, for £11.50...

 

[Pumperkin]

Hi Merseysider, Thanks. I can't seem to find it though (not even on nationalrail). I have 08:24 and next 09:24. Any magic tricks to see the 08:49?

 

[Pumperkin]

or you could just get the 8:49, arriving 10:44 with a change in Wolves, for £11.50...

Just had a look.. this is WMT not Virgin (kinda the whole point of the original post lol)

 

[BluePenguin]

Just had a look.. this is WMT not Virgin (kinda the whole point of the original post lol)

Yep... it pays for my coffee Also, noticed trainsplit fare would actually be lower it's just they add on for their cut. Is there anywhere other than trainsplit I can use to get the trains I want in one journey (so as to avoid aforementioned issue of split tickets with late train)?

Is there any specific reason why you have to travel on Virgin? It's been mentioned to you that this would make the journey slower and the savings are negligible at £2. As for saving even more money, you could take your own coffee to have whilst waiting at Crewe, otherwise your savings are eaten up.

WMT are comfortable enough for this journey. I find their carriages more light and airy too. If you play around with the journey planner you should be able to get the trains you are after if you play with the advanced options

 

[gray1404]

You've been given a suitable option with WMT for less then the cost of the VT journey, even with your discount. I would go with that personally if the times suit. For the stations you are travelling between it is often much easier to get cheaper Advance fares on WMT then VT. So, if the WMT times suit I would go with this as the price is lower. Book the ticket through a cashback site too for an additional discount and possible Nectur points. You don't have to use the VT offer. Save it for another trip or, as you've got a lower fare, let it expire anyway.

If you really must use your VT 15% offer then you've more chance of finding VT fares you can apply this against on their direct services from Sandwell and Dudley to London Euston, Edinburgh or Glasgow Central. How does an additional day out to one of these sound? Edinburgh is a great place to visit this time of year!

 

[yorkie]

Yep... it pays for my coffee Also, noticed trainsplit fare would actually be lower it's just they add on for their cut. Is there anywhere other than trainsplit I can use to get the trains I want in one journey (so as to avoid aforementioned issue of split tickets with late train)?

What issue?

It makes no difference if you are delayed or not.

 

[maniacmartin]

If you have multiple tickets for different parts of the same journey then you will be covered in case of delays that cause you to miss your connection as long as you allowed the minimum connection time. This applies regardless of where you bought the tickets

 

[Merseysider]

Just had a look.. this is WMT not Virgin (kinda the whole point of the original post lol)

Yes, it is WMT. For a journey like this, where WMT is faster, cheaper and simpler, there is literally no advantage to taking Virgin, unless maybe annoying talking toilets are your thing.

 

[tony_mac]

For a journey like this, where WMT is faster, cheaper and simpler, there is literally no advantage to taking Virgin, unless maybe annoying talking toilets are your thing.

Funnily enough, I just got off a (direct) WMT service at Crewe in order to get the next Virgin train, as I couldn't stand it any longer! 350/2 was far from comfortable; seats are knackered, dirty and threadbare. Nice new livery, though.
If you get a Pendolino that left London at 'peak' time, then it will also be nice and quiet, and Virgin won't turn it round at Liverpool South Parkway if it's running late.

 

[Deerfold]

Yes, it is WMT. For a journey like this, where WMT is faster, cheaper and simpler, there is literally no advantage to taking Virgin, unless maybe annoying talking toilets are your thing.

Different people have different preferences for trains.

 

[Pumperkin]

Yes, it is WMT. For a journey like this, where WMT is faster, cheaper and simpler, there is literally no advantage to taking Virgin, unless maybe annoying talking toilets are your thing.

I have now relented and bought WMT tickets £25 return. I note there are no seat reservations. Does anyone know if there are tables (even if just on back of chairs)?

 

[Pumperkin]

If you have multiple tickets for different parts of the same journey then you will be covered in case of delays that cause you to miss your connection as long as you allowed the minimum connection time. This applies regardless of where you bought the tickets

Does this still hold true if you can't get the tickets to show on one itinerary? For example, if there was half an hour to change at Crewe, but train one is delayed by 40 mins, would train 2 ticket be allowed on a later train?

 

[Hadders]

@maniacmartin is correct. You may use 2 or more tickets to make a journey as per the National Rail Conditions of Travel.

In fact on some journeys you have to use a combination of tickets as no through fare exists.

 

[Merseysider]

I have now relented and bought WMT tickets £25 return. I note there are no seat reservations. Does anyone know if there are tables (even if just on back of chairs)?

Their trains marked 350 1XX have tables whereas those marked 350 2XX don't. 350 3XX units have tables with plug sockets.

Unfortunately, there's no knowing what you'll get until it turns up!

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Their trains marked 350 1XX have tables whereas those marked 350 2XX don't. 350 3XX units have tables with plug sockets.

Unfortunately, there's no knowing what you'll get until it turns up!

Yep, when I used to use it regularly the Birmingham-Liverpool route had no rhyme or reason as to the subclass used, with it being a distribution approximately in line with the number of units of each subclass!

 

[Pumperkin]

Their trains marked 350 1XX have tables whereas those marked 350 2XX don't. 350 3XX units have tables with plug sockets.

Unfortunately, there's no knowing what you'll get until it turns up!

Thanks. I'm booked on the 08:49 from Sandwell so will cross my fingers for a 350 3xx