FNW Duo validity

[GarethC]

Hi all,

I am looking at the Northern (listed as FNW) duo tickets between Crewe and Stockport. I can't see any operator restrictions in the details on either BR Fares or on the National Rail page for the restriction code, however when I look in the journey planner it is only showing for Northern services.

Is this ticket operator specific or can it be used on Avanti (via Wilmslow)?

Thanks in advance.
Gareth

 

[yorkie]

Hi all,

I am looking at the Northern (listed as FNW) duo tickets between Crewe and Stockport. I can't see any operator restrictions in the details on either BR Fares or on the National Rail page for the restriction code, however when I look in the journey planner it is only showing for Northern services.

Is this ticket operator specific or can it be used on Avanti (via Wilmslow)?

Thanks in advance.
Gareth

The forum's ticketing site will sell them for TfW (e.g. 10:30 Crewe to Stockport), but there is something in the data preventing them on Avanti...


(image shows 1030 TfW, 1046 NT and 1130 TfW services from Crewe as valid with a Duo, but the 1110 Avanti is shown as requiring a premium fare of £30.40 for two Off Peak Day Returns)

.... edit: OK I know what it is; there is no TOC restriction on the actual ticket, however Avanti have set their trains to "reservations compulsory" in the data, and have barred reservations of this ticket type.

Does anyone know how long this has been going on for?

Also, does anyone know if this is a deliberate action by Avanti?

Passengers who are "in the know" can book a different operator's train, and travel on Avanti regardless, as the ticket is valid on Avanti, but this appears to be an attempt by Avanti to avoid people travelling on their trains on cheaper tickets. This is the sort of anti-consumer behaviour that could invite a collective class action claim against Avanti.

 

[janb]

Can confirm they are valid on any operator including Avanti, and shows as such on a ticket office TIS (Fujitsu Journey Planner).

 

[Bletchleyite]

The forum's ticketing site will sell them for TfW (e.g. 10:30 Crewe to Stockport), but there is something in the data preventing them on Avanti...

I think it'll be the feature that allows reservation quota to only be available for specific ticket types combined with the fake compulsory reservations that prevents them being sold on Avanti (on TfW reservations are not fake-compulsory so they'll be sold without). Probably an error rather than deliberate, but TOCs of course are never quick to fix errors that act in their favour.

 

[jfollows]

They are valid on any operator, including Avanti.
Buy from a ticket office and don’t ask for a specific train, they’re discounted cheap day returns so watch out for the time restrictions.
Buy online and you have to play the game above.

I think if Northern is responsible for pricing the “any permitted” flow (Crewe-Manchester) then the Duo is “any permitted”. Where a different ToC is responsible for a different flow then the Duo is restricted to Northern’s services. Liverpool-Manchester, for one example.

 

[GarethC]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll recommend they are bought at a ticket office (been working it out for a friend). Though I think buying a two together railcard will save them more on the whole journey.

Thanks,
Gareth

 

[jfollows]

£2.60 less with Two Together railcard (2xoff-peak return tickets), so not worth getting one just for this, unless there are lots of trips or the railcard will get other use.