Caledonian Sleeper walk-up tickets

[kkong]

I bought a berth ticket at the train side for Thursday night's Euston to Edinburgh sleeper. I told the attendant/ticket seller that I was travelling through to Aberdeen.

Besides being only allowed to pay in cash, I was told that it was not possible to issue a through ticket to Aberdeen and that I could only buy a £125 single to Edinburgh and would then have to buy a separate ticket to Aberdeen (another £40.30 for an Anytime Day Single).

Upon demand, I was issued with a hand-written excess receipt (reason - "no ticket held"). This was not forthcoming without me specifically asking for a receipt and going to the attendant's area to collect it.

I would have thought that if an excess could be written, it could include through travel to Aberdeen (£153.50).

Was this sale correct?

 

[yorkie]

Did you get a berth-inclusive ticket? I guess they can't sell them for beyond where the sleeper goes....

If you get a FSR seated only ticket, they don't allow a berth upgrade.

So I guess if you wanted a through ticket to Aberdeen, the only option is an inter-available ticket (which they may claim there is "no quota" for - see previous threads) and a berth upgrade. A single is £122.50 to Aberdeen and a return is £1 more (I'd always get a return), with a berth upgrade being about another £36 or so on top.

 

[rail-britain]

Did you actually hand over your original travel ticket?
If so, between what points was it valid?

As the ticket office was open at Euston, the only tickets that can be issued are destinations for that service at "full price"
I am surprised they didn't suggest you go back to the travel centre, see if there are spare berths on the Aberdeen, wait two hours, and travel on the Aberdeen service

The berth "upgrade" is £43

 

[A60K]

Did you actually hand over your original travel ticket?
If so, between what points was it valid?

As the ticket office was open at Euston, the only tickets that can be issued are destinations for that service at "full price"
I am surprised they didn't suggest you go back to the travel centre, see if there are spare berths on the Aberdeen, wait two hours, and travel on the Aberdeen service

The berth "upgrade" is £43

Aberdeen leaves two hours before Edinburgh.

 

[rail-britain]

So it does, silly me
However the ticket office should still have been open, so not sure why the on-train staff didn't advise to go back there rather than "lose the ticket"

 

[kkong]

I had no ticket originally, and the booking office said that the reservation system had closed when I asked for availability.

Hence why I bought a berth inclusive ticket at the train side. £125 is the correct fare for Euston to Edinburgh for this ticket.

But it is also possible to buy a berth inclusive ticket for Euston to Aberdeen valid for this train. Change at Edinburgh for a day train to Aberdeen. Through cost is £153.50 and I have done this journey before - but only when I have been there in time to buy a ticket from the booking office.

 

[Sleepy]

surprised the train manager is not using advantix machine these days - is this normal for Cal. Sleeper train side sales ? (I know flat batteries etc are not unheard of)

 

[rail-britain]

They don't carry Advantix on the sleepers from Euston, only within Scotland

 

[transportphoto]

They don't carry Advantix on the sleepers from Euston only within Scotland

Sorry - I am failing to get your wording.

Is it right that Euston Bound services carry Avantix & Scotland bound Services don't?

If so how do they get the Avantix Machine back to Scotland?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

not carried on trains from (and to) Euston (they're only carried) within Scotland

 

[transportphoto]

Thanks - I get it now.

 

[rail-britain]

Is it right that Euston Bound services carry Avantix & Scotland bound Services don't?

If so how do they get the Avantix Machine back to Scotland?

The Avantix Machine is carried throughout but not used northbound
The only exceptions are the Edinburgh - Fort William and Edinburgh - Aberdeen

 

[Sleepy]

The Avantix Machine is carried throughout but not used northbound
The only exceptions are the Edinburgh - Fort William and Edinburgh - Aberdeen

Why ?

 

[rail-britain]

There are no such terminals used on the Glasgow or Edinburgh, but they are carried

For the Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort William they are used southbound as far as Edinburgh
These are taken off at Edinburgh and replaced by another one, which goes southbound, but again it is not used

Debit and Credit Cards were accepted through the terminal in the Lounge Car, but this was stopped due to fraud
Hence why only cash is currently accepted with a paper receipt

As mentioned previously, northbound FSR keep all the revenue and only issue tickets for the sleeper
Southbound the Avantix machine is used, unless the ticket is for use wholly on the sleeper

 

[Flying Snail]

As mentioned previously, northbound FSR keep all the revenue and only issue tickets for the sleeper

If they are allowing their staff to take substantial sums for handwritten receipts or nothing at all then I would imagiine FSR do not keep all the revenue.

I am not making judgements on FSR Sleeper staff but human nature is what it is and that would be a very tempting situation for anyone to be in.

 

[CarterUSM]

If they are allowing their staff to take substantial sums for handwritten receipts or nothing at all then I would imagiine FSR do not keep all the revenue.

I am not making judgements on FSR Sleeper staff but human nature is what it is and that would be a very tempting situation for anyone to be in.

Quite an interesting statement. Specifically the first paragraph, where it seems you 'imagine' FSR do not keep all the revenue, thus rendering the second paragraph at best contradictory. With all due respect, it seems a little harsh and almost as if you would expect it to be the case.

 

[yorkie]

Wasn't there a case where someone got sacked for that on FSR?

 

[CarterUSM]

Wasn't there a case where someone got sacked for that on FSR?

I'm sure every TOC has had incidents of theft by staff, as had BR or even further back, previous to nationalisation.

 

[rail-britain]

If they are allowing their staff to take substantial sums for handwritten receipts or nothing at all then I would imagiine FSR do not keep all the revenue.

I am not making judgements on FSR Sleeper staff but human nature is what it is and that would be a very tempting situation for anyone to be in.

There is a difference between taking money and NOT issuing a ticket, and taking money and paying it at end of trip

The steward is supposed to issue a ticket
However, the instruction northbound is that ONLY FSR fares are to be issued specific to that service
So for example on the Edinburgh sleeper if the passenger is travelling to Aberdeen, they will be advised they can only be sold a ticket to Edinburgh
On arrival at Edinburgh they will need to purchase another ticket
Thus FSR avoid ORCATS and keep all the revenue

However, a customer at Euston can argue that a through ticket MUST be issued
They will then be referred back to the Travel Centre with their berth number
If there is not time, then the steward should use the Advantix machine, but will charge the FULL fare for the entire journey

Completely different if the passenger pays monies and is NOT issued with a ticket or receipt
Clearly that is a separate issue, and is well known
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Wasn't there a case where someone got sacked for that on FSR?

Not just FSR, this goes on all the time
I am still employed by First Group as an independent auditor, but I go in after the event to see how large the problem issue was
Fraud was also present on the sleepers under NatEx

The largest fraud was at Perth, the staff member was selling tickets openly then cancelling them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

it seems you 'imagine' FSR do not keep all the revenue

Perhaps the confusion arises on the phrase "keeping all the revenue"
The sleepers are exempt from ORCATS, the seats are NOT
Hence why reservations are COMPULSORY for the seats
If there are spare seats then tickets can be purchased from the Train Manager (guard) who uses the Advantix machine, hence why one stays on the train throughout

When you look at online booking for the sleepers you will see that it is not possible to book via any TOC other than FSR
You MUST go through FSR
If they sell you a ticket then they keep both the ticket and berth revenue
If you purchase just a berth from them, then when doing so they place the ticket at full price on their system so that they receive full benefit cost through ORCATS (effectively a seat reservation)