e-Ticket / ToD Curiosity (Trainsplit/TfW)

[Dai Corner]

I've travelled on the TfW operated Ebbw Vale branch twice this week, buying my tickets via the Trainsplit website.

My first journey was Ebbw Vale Town to Pye Corner and I was offered an e-ticket by default.

My second journey was Risca & Pontymister to Newport and I was offered only ToD.

Newport is gated and equipped with readers for e-tickets. The other stations are unmanned and ungated.

Would anyone care to attempt an explanation?

 

[Haywain]

I've travelled on the TfW operated Ebbw Vale branch twice this week, buying my tickets via the Trainsplit website.

My first journey was Ebbw Vale Town to Pye Corner and I was offered an e-ticket by default.

My second journey was Risca & Pontymister to Newport and I was offered only ToD.

Newport is gated and equipped with readers for e-tickets. The other stations are unmanned and ungated.

Would anyone care to attempt an explanation?

Were both journeys made using the same ticket type?

 

[Dai Corner]

Were both journeys made using the same ticket type?

Yes. Both were Anytime Day Singles with senior railcard. Route 'not via Cardiff' in the second case.

 

[Haywain]

I

Yes. Both were Anytime Day Singles with senior railcard. Route 'not via Cardiff' in the second case.

It could just be something that simple as the difference in route. One might be enabled for eTicket and not the other. Why is another question!

 

[OscarH]

The reason for this is TfW have not configured the Not Via Cardiff tickets to be e-Ticketable, whereas they have for the Any Permitted and the first journey. I haven't looked in detail, and I don't know the area, but presuming the Any Permitted is also valid on the going the route you'd use the Not Via Cardiff on then it seems like an oversight on TfW's part rather than intentional, as you could use an e-Ticket on the same journey if you pay twice the price.

It may be worth sending off an email to TfW customer services pointing it out and asking if they could fix it. I've had mixed responses when asking TOCs to fix RCS (the [absolutely appalling] system that dictates this) in the past, it's possibly they'll just fob you off or not understand you, but if you have time its worth a shot

 

[Dai Corner]

The reason for this is TfW have not configured the Not Via Cardiff tickets to be e-Ticketable, whereas they have for the Any Permitted and the first journey. I haven't looked in detail, and I don't know the area, but presuming the Any Permitted is also valid on the going the route you'd use the Not Via Cardiff on then it seems like an oversight on TfW's part rather than intentional, as you could use an e-Ticket on the same journey if you pay twice the price.

It may be worth sending off an email to TfW customer services pointing it out and asking if they could fix it. I've had mixed responses when asking TOCs to fix RCS (the [absolutely appalling] system that dictates this) in the past, it's possibly they'll just fob you off or not understand you, but if you have time its worth a shot

Thanks for the explanation. I'll email TfW and post here again if I get a response.

The Not via Cardiff fare is a new one introduced with the December timetable. Previously there was no service from the branch to Newport and you had to go via Cardiff.