buying a plusbus

[tony_mac]

Sorry, I'm just having a bit of a moan at Northern Rail staff.....

I decided to get a plusbus ticket for Manchester on Saturday with my train ticket.

The guy selling my train ticket didn't seem to know how to do it, he tapped around a lot and ended up selling me a return from Picaddilly to Oxford Rd. As there wasn't lots of time before the train was due, he refunded that and told me to get it at the destination.

I tried the guard on the train, he said that there are problems issuing them from his machine, and to get it at the destination.

At the destination, I was told that I couldn't buy it there without a rail ticket as they 'can't issue them within Greater Manchester'.

So, three attempts, and I couldn't buy the ticket I wanted, so ended up walking. And I'm not exactly sure that I believe the reasons I was given, either!

 

[142094]

Plusbus is supposed to be issued as a seperate ticket, with should say:
Between: Origin station & Destination station +BUS

AFAIK you cannot be issued with a PLusbus ticket from stations within that Plusbus area - for example you couldn't buy a Plusbus ticket on a journey from Oxford Rd to Piccadilly. What station did you get on at?

 

[me123]

I had this problem in Scotland as well, so you're not alone! I've sent a complaint off to Scotrail, but I've yet to hear back (they have got a backlog from winter to be fair, but I'll probably send another off soon if I don't hear anything).

I would complain to Northern, like I've done with Scotrail. Let us know how you get on!

 

[Chapeltom]

I had a bad experience a few weeks ago. It was probably a few months ago though now! I tried buying a Chinley to Manchester with plusbus, the guard couldn't do it and ended up selling me just a CLY to MAN return. I bought plusbus at my destination.

Here's a link to a post in that thread of mine, its an issue with Manchester plusbus as a ticket itself. Most guards can do plusbus and the one in my case had done them before however...

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=586861&postcount=7

Hope that helps!

Tom

 

[bnm]

Need to know where you started your journey.

Were your start and destination stations both within the Manchester PlusBus area?

From PlusBus FAQs:

12. Can I use PLUSBUS if my train journey is between two stations that are within the same bus zone?
Sorry, no. Your train journey must either start, or finish at a station outside the PLUSBUS town travel zone (or PTE region).

Manchester PlusBus Area.

That might explain the reason why at your destination you were told you can't buy them in the Greater Manchester area.

However, if your origin station was outside the area then it's poor form from all concerned not to be willing or able to issue the PlusBus ticket.

Should you need to do this journey again in the future (and you are starting outside the Manchester PlusBus area) then the origin and destination you need inputted into the Ticket Issuing System (station or onboard) are:

From: MANCHESTER STNS (0438)
To: MANCH STNS+BUS (J819)

This would then be issued as a separate ticket purchased along with your rail ticket.

One thing that is a little confusing is you said that, "At the destination, I was told that I couldn't buy it there without a rail ticket."

That would of course be right, but how did you get to your destination without a rail ticket?

 

[Caped Crusader]

Plusbus is supposed to be issued as a seperate ticket, with should say:
Between: Origin station & Destination station +BUS

AFAIK you cannot be issued with a PLusbus ticket from stations within that Plusbus area - for example you couldn't buy a Plusbus ticket on a journey from Oxford Rd to Piccadilly. What station did you get on at?

Not where I work, it's a seperate ticket, but it is issued DESTINATION to PLUS BUS AREA.
So for instance if you required say a CDR REDHILL to GUILDFORD with GUILDFORD plus bus, you issue CDR RDH to GLD, then a seperate GUILDFORD to GUILDFORD PLUS BUS.
You can only issue plus bus tickets if the customer is purchasing or holds a valid ticket.

 

[transportphoto]

Not where I work, it's a seperate ticket, but it is issued DESTINATION to PLUS BUS AREA.
So for instance if you required say a CDR REDHILL to GUILDFORD with GUILDFORD plus bus, you issue CDR RDH to GLD, then a seperate GUILDFORD to GUILDFORD PLUS BUS.
You can only issue plus bus tickets if the customer is purchasing or holds a valid ticket.

Which is correct since it changed a couple of years back, as detailed here http://www.plusbus.info/how-issue

 

[142094]

Not where I work, it's a seperate ticket, but it is issued DESTINATION to PLUS BUS AREA.
So for instance if you required say a CDR REDHILL to GUILDFORD with GUILDFORD plus bus, you issue CDR RDH to GLD, then a seperate GUILDFORD to GUILDFORD PLUS BUS.
You can only issue plus bus tickets if the customer is purchasing or holds a valid ticket.

Sorry, yes that is correct. Trying to multitask and it isn't working...

 

[hairyhandedfool]

When Plusbus came out and the rules said you couldn't issue it within the zone, Plusbus was on the rail ticket, but since it has changed, the wording of the rules has not, so, yes you should have been sold it at Piccadilly, however you should also have been requested to show a valid rail ticket.

My Fastis for some reason bypasses Manchester plusbus when I enter 'manc..' so this may be why the first clerk didn't see it, if they type 'manc' and then scroll up one, to 'Manch stns+busgm' it should work.

 

[323235]

At the destination, I was told that I couldn't buy it there without a rail ticket as they 'can't issue them within Greater Manchester'.

All the times I've bought a stand alone Plusbus at Manchester Piccadilly they've happily sold me it as long as I showed them a Rail ticket bought earlier.

Sounds like you got one of the difficult staff that woudln't sell me an Evening Ranger 10-15 minutes before the time even though I was queueing up early as the ticket office is always very busy and takes ages to get served, so I could be on the Metrolink platform at 1831 when it is valid from.

 

[tony_mac]

just to clarify, I was going from Liverpool, and the chap at the ticket office in Manchester said 'we can't sell them on their own'.
I showed him my ticket and then he told me they weren't able to issue them within GM.

 

[phil35]

If that is the case then that is pretty poor. I would definitely chase that up with a complaint letter.

 

[323235]

Yeh that's not on, it's about time someone complained about Piccadilly ticket office to be honest, they really have warranted it from me before now but i've forgotten to.

 

[bnm]

just to clarify, I was going from Liverpool, and the chap at the ticket office in Manchester said 'we can't sell them on their own'.
I showed him my ticket and then he told me they weren't able to issue them within GM.

Thanks for clearing that up. As others have said, that really isn't on and I'd also suggest sending a letter of complaint.

 

[Tom B]

Another plusbus question :

If I buy a Doncaster PlusBus I must buy a ticket from outwith South Yorkshire to Doncaster (so probably South Elmsall); if I were to subsequently return the unused ticket from South Elmsall for a refund, would I be obliged to refund the PlusBus, too?

(Ironically, even a ticket from South Elmsall to Doncaster and a plusbus is cheaper than buying a bus ticket on the bus!).

 

[phil35]

I'm not sure about the answer to your question, but I believe that refunding the ticket will incur a £10 admin fee charge. That will probably outweigh any benefit of buying the ticket with a plusbus, just to refund the ticket part.

 

[Deerfold]

Another plusbus question :

If I buy a Doncaster PlusBus I must buy a ticket from outwith South Yorkshire to Doncaster (so probably South Elmsall); if I were to subsequently return the unused ticket from South Elmsall for a refund, would I be obliged to refund the PlusBus, too?

I'm not sure you'd be able to get it from South Emsall - although physically in West Yorkshire it's counted as being in South Yorkshire for most ticketing purposes.

(Ironically, even a ticket from South Elmsall to Doncaster and a plusbus is cheaper than buying a bus ticket on the bus!).

I fail to see the irony here. Oddity & stupidity in the ticketing system, perhaps.