Ways round booking engine limitations?

[bakerstreet]

Hello all

Just wondered if you knew any bookings sites where I can:

- buy through tickets from London to Belfast

- buy Boundary Zone tickets - some sites (eg London Midland) show Boundary Zone but won't show prices so won't let you book (and if not, would a station to station ticket be accepted on a fast train if online wouldn't sell)

- buy a weekly season from London to outside London but within the SouthEast


And just a thought for a Wednesday. I sit in the background most of the time just reading and learning as I find it so frustrating trying to post and/or reply on my blackberry - it never seems to work!! (am on a proper machine today) but I've said it before and I'll say it again this website forum is without question the most informative, cost beneficial and entertaining on the net!

I thank you all!

 

[jamesontheroad]

Hello all

Just wondered if you knew any bookings sites where I can:

- buy through tickets from London to Belfast

Only RailEasy can do that, as far as I know, but they slap on a £1.50 booking fee. I normally just buy them at the station, as there is no advantage to advance purchase. If you're starting your journey in Scotland (which I don't think you are, judging by your question) ScotRail TVMs are also pre-loaded with major NIR and IE destinations.

 

[barrykas]

Hello all

Just wondered if you knew any bookings sites where I can:

- buy through tickets from London to Belfast

- buy Boundary Zone tickets - some sites (eg London Midland) show Boundary Zone but won't show prices so won't let you book (and if not, would a station to station ticket be accepted on a fast train if online wouldn't sell)

- buy a weekly season from London to outside London but within the SouthEast

Short answer: All of the above are generally only available from Ticket Offices (and in the case of the first and last examples, rely on finding a good clerk who knows what they're doing).

As for point-to-point tickets in combination with Day Travelcards, it's a grey area. Officially you have to travel on a train that stops where you change from one ticket to the other, but in practice several TOCs will accept such a combination on non-stopping trains. (The exceptions generally being the former InterCity® TOCs).

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Mojo]

Short answer: All of the above are generally only available from Ticket Offices (and in the case of the first and last examples, rely on finding a good clerk who knows what they're doing).

The S&B TVM at my local station (operated by FGW) seems to allow you to purchase tickets to Belfast NI (but no other NI stations even though you can select them (it simply produces an error message)), and will also offer Railcard discounts on said ticket. I've never actually purchased one but it will let you get to the stage where the coin slot opens up or the time it invites you to insert your card.

 

[jamesontheroad]

The S&B TVM at my local station (operated by FGW) seems to allow you to purchase tickets to Belfast NI (but no other NI stations even though you can select them (it simply produces an error message)), and will also offer Railcard discounts on said ticket. I've never actually purchased one but it will let you get to the stage where the coin slot opens up or the time it invites you to insert your card.

Could be a First Group thing... if ScotRail and FGW TVMs offer them?

The 16-25 Railcard Anytime single from Glasgow to Belfast has come in very handy in the last year or two. If Ryanair are charging anything more than £10 for the Prestwick - Belfast City flight, the train and boat works out cheaper (just a lot slower )