Buying ScotRail from overseas (Caledonian Sleeper)

[zik013]

hi guy, this is my first post here, as i hope it will be my first time using the UK Rail...

i am from Ukraine, we with my girlfriend finally got our visas and we are coming to London on April 1st... on April 2nd, i would love to take the Caledonian Sleeper to Glasgow. The tix are pricey, 138 for both, but thats life

last week i wasnt even able to get to the buy page on the ScotRail page, always was giving me error when selecting these exact dates i need... now it seems ok, i got all the way to the entering my CC details... before i do that tomorrow, i thought i could get some advice from the local gurus...

1. Obviously i should choose the method of collecting tix at the train station in London from the machines.... should i just choose Euston and get there an hour and a half earlier and get the tix from there (or maybe if i am around it some other time during my 2 days in London) ?? It says i will need to present the Credit Card used to buy the tix... my CC expiration date is 03/09, so i will still be able to buy the tix lets say tomorrow, but come April 2nd, the card will expire already, will it be a problem for me to collect those tix from the machine with that expired card ??

2. Is there anything else i can get from those 138 pounds... i hear some Cal.Sleeper tix include London passes or something... or i just get the tix and thats it ??


thanks to everybody who helps me

 

[John @ home]

will still be able to buy the tix lets say tomorrow, but come April 2nd, the card will expire already, will it be a problem for me to collect those tix from the machine with that expired card ??

Before buying, I would email ScotRail (scotrailcustomer.relations@firstgroup.com) and ask them what to do about the card.

John

 

[Thewanderer]

When a group of us from Ireland travelled on the Caledonian Sleeper in January 2008, I rang the scotrail telesales number and booked the tickets via them. It took a while to book the tickets over the phone (about 1 hour) because we were travelling from London to Fort William and returned from Inverness to London, therefore it was two seperate trips.

Also, the customer service agent had to ring my credit card company twice to authorise the transaction (for the two trips). This had to be done as I wasn't a UK resident.

I would suggest you ring the scotrail telesales number and book the tickets that way.

Ticket collection - I used the virgin ticket collection machines to collect my tickets.

Best email scotrail about the expired card.

 

[zik013]

thats not a BIG problem for me... i would just have to use the other cc... just a bit more hustle..

 

[yorkie]

I can't find this £138 ticket.

According to Avantix Traveller, the fare is £121 single or £171 return, route CAL SLEEPER. That includes travel and a berth (2 people with a berth each would share 1 cabin), and apparently also a cross-London transfer on LU (as discussed in this topic).

Obviously, the return ticket is a lot better value than the single.

 

[zik013]

I can't find this £138 ticket.

According to Avantix Traveller, the fare is £121 single or £171 return, route CAL SLEEPER. That includes travel and a berth (2 people with a berth each would share 1 cabin), and apparently also a cross-London transfer on LU (as discussed in this topic).

Obviously, the return ticket is a lot better value than the single.

sorry, i am not familiar with the Avantix Traveller, i find the £138 (single for two people) rate on the ScotRail website (London - Glasgow, April 2nd)

 

[clagmonster]

The £138 fare is an advance single, including berth.
Zik, you may wish to note that there is also a £72 ticket for the 2 of you, on exactly the same website, with a reclining seat instead of a sleaper berth. This may help if you are worried about the price.

 

[zik013]

The £138 fare is an advance single, including berth.
Zik, you may wish to note that there is also a £72 ticket for the 2 of you, on exactly the same website, with a reclining seat instead of a sleaper berth. This may help if you are worried about the price.

yes i know about the seats price, but i specifically want the sleeper, as i understand it is quite a nice experience. I have a birthday on April 3rd, so i would like to start it with a traditional British experience.

 

[metrocammel]

yes i know about the seats price, but i specifically want the sleeper, as i understand it is quite a nice experience. I have a birthday on April 3rd, so i would like to start it with a traditional British experience.

Yes, I recommend the berths too. They aren't exactly 'luxurious', but they are very comfy, and, you also have the use of the 'nightcap bar', where you can relax and have a few tipples of Scotch, which you aren't allowed into if your in the seated bits.

It is a 'British' experience, but it is an experience that is quite rare these days. If you came to England in the 1970s, or even 80s, you would find Sleepers all over the country, now there are very few indeed. Scotrail being one of only two operators to still have them (the other being Great Western, who run London Paddington to Penzance & back).

 

[zik013]

i finally went and put money on my other CC.... tried to book via ScotRail.... wasnt working... then went to trainline site, it also gave me an error..... and then i got sms from my bank that my card was charged the full amount

so now i have no tix, and less money.. trying to work out the situation...

 

[MCR247]

i finally went and put money on my other CC.... tried to book via ScotRail.... wasnt working... then went to trainline site, it also gave me an error..... and then i got sms from my bank that my card was charged the full amount

so now i have no tix, and less money.. trying to work out the situation...

Ring Scotrail. They should sort it out

 

[zik013]

sent them email last night... still no reply...

about calling... i am from Ukraine. still waiting for my friend in UK to come online and give them a call...

just used that CC to book a hotel room, worked from the first time.. no problem

 

[zik013]

i already tried other CC... no luck, always get rejected by their system

 

[Owain]

...It says i will need to present the Credit Card used to buy the tix... my CC expiration date is 03/09, so i will still be able to buy the tix lets say tomorrow, but come April 2nd, the card will expire already, will it be a problem for me to collect those tix from the machine with that expired card ??

No, the machine just uses your credit card number to identify your booking on the system.

If you go to the ticket office you don't need the credit card you booked with, just the reference number you get when booking.

If you get your tickets from the machine, make sure you get all the coupons. You should have a ticket for each person (2 per person if a return journey) as well as seat reservations and a collection receipt. Don't walk away leaving your return tickets in the machine. (Somebody does every day...)