Greenford-Reading ticket troubles

[laphroaig]

On Saturday I needed a single to Reading with Network Card discount, had a look online before travel to see prices from various local stations which I could cycle to and decided on the, clearly available on the system, £9.50 off peak day single from Greenford, which was the same price as Ealing Broadway but is nearer to me.

Turned up in plenty of time to buy ticket, chap appeared to begin to issue my requested ticket but then seemed thrown by the Railcard requirement and said he couldn't sell this ticket, "we're LU, we're a different company you know", yes I did know! Then he tried to offer me a travelcard, hmm, "to Reading!" I repeated.

He then told me I'd have to use Oyster to Ealing Broadway and buy my ticket there. I asked, hopefully politely, if he couldn't let me through the barriers so I could buy my ticket 'at the first available opportunity' i.e. EAL, since it seemingly wasn't available here but was told this is a compulsory ticket area!

Reluctantly I had to use Oyster for £1.50 then buy my Reading ticket at EAL, costing me £1.50 more for the overall journey than it should have done.

I am likely to be making this journey frequently, was this a one-off mistake or was the staff member correct that this ticket cannot be sold? Any suggestions of ways around this problem? I considered buying online but there are no TOD enabled stations nearby that I can think of. If I were to cycle to South Greenford instead could I buy this ticket there? Doubt it's staffed, but at least it's not LU run.

 

[Be3G]

If the only problem was that the clerk didn't know how to set the railcard discount, then that was a failure on the part of the clerk – LU stations can definitely issue train tickets with a Network Railcard discount as I've bought one myself. However, it does mean they have to refer to tables of figures in a ring binder so I guess it's something not all clerks are familiar with.

 

[rmt4ever]

If the only problem was that the clerk didn't know how to set the railcard discount, then that was a failure on the part of the clerk – LU stations can definitely issue train tickets with a Network Railcard discount as I've bought one myself. However, it does mean they have to refer to tables of figures in a ring binder so I guess it's something not all clerks are familiar with.

LUL ticket clerks are the most highly paid, and when I try buying a ticket with railcard discount I find about 50% of the time they don't know how to do it. Training cut backs maybe and the fact LUL are only others about Oyster, any other passengers can sod off. However you can now buy railcard reduced tickets from LUL TVMs at last, which would have been your solution.

 

[causton]

Firstly, would TfL not refund this £1.50 paid if you contacted the Oyster helpdesk? I would also consider sending a complaint to them about this, as the clerk is either not well trained, forgetful or lazy to not be able to issue this ticket.

Secondly, the TVMs at the station should be able to issue the ticket IIRC. I do not think they can issue to all National Rail destinations but I'm sure Reading should be on there! You may need to hunt around for the railcard option but it should be there...

Thirdly, South Greenford is most definitely unstaffed. You would be able to buy your ticket at Ealing Broadway (or, if there is not enough time to buy one there if you have a tight connection, at Reading! Remember you do not need to delay your journey to buy the ticket at Ealing Broadway)

Hope this helps

 

[t0ffeeman]

Ah the woes of Greenford. Lived there till 1996, at the time LU didn't even take credit cards and theres no cash point for miles.

For the OP, if with your bike use South Greenford.There is still nothing but a two platforms there. In 1993-4 there was only one platform!
I just used to bus it to Hanwell/Southall or Hayes and book there.
When I had my season ticket I used to buy boundary zone 4 tickets to Reading. Until I realised that Blackwater/Farnborough was cheaper! They are probably not valid via Reading now...

 

[bicbasher]

This is where a FGW TVM at Greenford would come in handy.

 

[rmt4ever]

This is where a FGW TVM at Greenford would come in handy.

If they haven't got them at kind of busy stations that they MANAGE like Castle Bar, Drayton Green and even the Acton MainLine ones only take credit cards.. why would FGW install one at a station which another TOC managers and should provide ticketing facilities for.