Economy Return Derby-Douglas - EMR can’t find fare

[Skymonster]

Hi guys,

I’m trying to buy a Derby-Douglas IoM route Steam Packet return ticket with a senior railcard discount, depart Thursday 29 October and return Monday 2 November.

EMR at Derby have always done it before but this time say they can only see the £122 Low Saver Return and claim there is no £95 Economy Return.

I’m fairly sure the lower fare is valid and it’s in BRFares - even though National Rail also insists it’s £122 - so is there anything I can say to them to get them to find the fare and issue the ticket.

Many thanks

 

[CyrusWuff]

Looking on Fujitsu Journey Planner, the Economy Return is available on the 0926 from Derby on the 29th, changing at Crewe and Lancaster and arriving into Douglas at 1730; returning on the 0800 from Douglas, again changing at Lancaster and Crewe, getting back to Derby at 1640.

 

[Skymonster]

Looking on Fujitsu Journey Planner, the Economy Return is available on the 0926 from Derby on the 29th, changing at Crewe and Lancaster and arriving into Douglas at 1730; returning on the 0800 from Douglas, again changing at Lancaster and Crewe, getting back to Derby at 1640.

Thank you - yes I agree - I just wish the EMR ticket deck would too. Sadly TrainSpilt and the forum ticketing system won’t offer anything either.

 

[SeanG]

Just to add that you can buy your ticket and then call up the Steam Packet to reserve a place on the boat. Don't worry about there being space on the boat as a foot passenger, at this time of year it won't sell out.
Just be aware that at the moment the Manxman is out of service and so you'll be stuck on the Ben My Chree

 

[Skymonster]

Just to add that you can buy your ticket and then call up the Steam Packet to reserve a place on the boat. Don't worry about there being space on the boat as a foot passenger, at this time of year it won't sell out.
Just be aware that at the moment the Manxman is out of service and so you'll be stuck on the Ben My Chree

Thanks for the advice - that’s exactly what I do. Unfortunately Steam Packet now usually ask for a picture of the rail ticket attached to the email request - and at the moment persuading ANYONE to issue an Economy Return for the dates in question seems to be the stumbling block.

 

[kkong]

Thanks for the advice - that’s exactly what I do. Unfortunately Steam Packet now usually ask for a picture of the rail ticket attached to the email request - and at the moment persuading ANYONE to issue an Economy Return for the dates in question seems to be the stumbling block.

Chiltern's website seems willing to sell an Economy Return for the required dates.

 

[Skymonster]

Chiltern's website seems willing to sell an Economy Return for the required dates.

Thank you... I’ll try it. It’s very frustrating that it’s so hard to buy a legitimate ticket.

 

[Adam Williams]

Thank you... I’ll try it. It’s very frustrating that it’s so hard to buy a legitimate ticket.

Raileasy withdrew these products from sale after multiple customers had particularly poor experiences with Steam Packet staff using the tickets on the ground.

 

[Skymonster]

Raileasy withdrew these products from sale after multiple customers had particularly poor experiences with Steam Packet staff using the tickets on the ground.

I've never had any poor experiences with Steam Packet. Sadly the same can't be said for EMR ticket office staff being able to sell them.

 

[mmh]

Raileasy withdrew these products from sale after multiple customers had particularly poor experiences with Steam Packet staff using the tickets on the ground.

I'm sure that's pragmatic, but it feels wrong that retailers can choose to not sell particular tickets.

 

[Adam Williams]

I'm sure that's pragmatic, but it feels wrong that retailers can choose to not sell particular tickets.

I think with the more esoteric products it's quite reasonable for each retailer to make a case-by-case decision on whether it makes sense to sell. The reality is that the likes of Trainline aren't going to have competent customer support in place to advise on ferries and products with taxi/bus acceptance built in, or raise the inevitable acceptance issues with the operators when things go wrong.

That doesn't make the retailer no longer impartial.

All of these products consume disproportionate customer support time and contribute very little revenue. It's only because staff at Raileasy care about the concept of multi-modal ticketing that they decide to sell the range of products they do.

The problem with lots of the ferry operators is that they aren't interested in using the systems that the rail industry has in place for quota-controlling ticket sales properly, so they then want customers to jump through separate hoops to secure a reservation. I can just about put up with that (but it really wouldn't be hard for them to sync with RARS), but I can't put up with charging customers for entirely new tickets, claiming the tickets they bought initially aren't valid (because it was CCST and "didn't have a barcode on it") and then giving them the run around when they're trying to get compensated for the staff's incompetence.

 

[Skymonster]

All valid points, but it still doesn't explain why EMR can sell me a £122 ticket but can't sell me one that costs £95, despite the cheaper one being valid. Staff tell me they've just installed a new system in Derby ticket office I'd just give up except for the fact that I don't want to spend £27 more than I need to, and the Rail & Sail ticket is ideal because it allows me to use either ferry route (Heysham or Liverpool) and it offers flexibility for the rail journey in case of delays, which buying advance train tickets does not.

 

[gembercannelle]

All valid points, but it still doesn't explain why EMR can sell me a £122 ticket but can't sell me one that costs £95, despite the cheaper one being valid. Staff tell me they've just installed a new system in Derby ticket office I'd just give up except for the fact that I don't want to spend £27 more than I need to, and the Rail & Sail ticket is ideal because it allows me to use either ferry route (Heysham or Liverpool) and it offers flexibility for the rail journey in case of delays, which buying advance train tickets does not.

I am not sure whether this solves the problem, but Transport for Wales will happily sell the tickets you are after for £95.

 

[janb]

Did EMR go with Magellan MTIS? Can confirm that Magellan MTIS on a different TOC offers the £95 fare as per times @CyrusWuff listed earlier in the thread.

 

[OscarH]

I'm sure that's pragmatic, but it feels wrong that retailers can choose to not sell particular tickets.

Every retailer has to maintain a custom whitelist of products, it's not even optional because the fares data is so full of crap that shouldn't be sold despite the data saying you can sell it. RDG will actually tell people off if they just follow the data they're supposed to follow