http://www.takethetrain.co.uk

[island]

You're quite right, at the moment Virgin are offering online saver half fares direct. This is a new type of ticket that carries a lot of restrictions and conditions.

With respect, no it's not. It's been around quite a long time, and it's sold by all trainline-based sites. The condition is that it must be sold as part of a return journey, and it carries the same time restrictions as the corresponding SVS. But good to hear that

this type of fare will be available through our website shortly.

 

[Ferdinandfrog]

I like the MP3 offer. Hypothetically can the code issued by your site be used for any download from 7digital? I ask because they have m4a and wma files too

I have just had a response through from 7digital and their free codes can only be used against the MP3 format tracks. Apologies for any confusion.

 

[philjo]

It would be useful to have a change at/don't change at option.

e.g. to force it to change at Wolverhampton or Birmingham International etc instead of New Street.
Going to Windermere the booking often says to change at Preston or Lancaster when the train I am on calls at Oxenholme.


Also for return journeys, please can we have a separate "via" option for each direction - you sometimes want to come back using a different route.

 

[Ferdinandfrog]

If I made a diagram you would see that it would be a lot different. Perhaps I will make a diagram sometime.

If you could post your digram on this forum we would be interested in seeing it...

 

[All Line Rover]

If you could post your digram on this forum we would be interested in seeing it...

It's on this thread: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=47593.

Obviously it is just an example - it's nowhere near being a finished design. There are many other features that could be added (just read people's comments).

 

[Ferdinandfrog]

SVH (formerly known as saver half) at £22.15

I can confirm that this type of ticket is now available through takethetrain.co.uk

 

[Scooby]

I'd like to offer a thumbsup to Ferdinands CO. I've just booked 10 tickets for a future trip out that are EXACTLY half price of any of the other ticket outlets (incl TPE and they usually work out very well for me).

cheers Ferdinand, we'll all have a drink on you !

 

[embers25]

Props to them for not only responding to the feedback on here but actually acting on most of it...very impressive. Still not convinced on Ferdinand staring funnily at me each time I search on there but I guess it beats an egg timer(no offence meant to frogs)!

 

[Max]

Something I have noticed about this website is that it shows journey options with a longer wait at interchange stations, something which can lead to cheaper fares. For example, for a journey from Hull to London, most websites will only show the fastest combinations. However, the East Coast service from Doncaster which connects with the Northern service from Hull may be heavily booked. takethetrain will give the option of waiting for a later service from Doncaster, often bringing up a cheaper fare.

 

[yorkie]

It would be useful to have a change at/don't change at option.

e.g. to force it to change at Wolverhampton or Birmingham International etc instead of New Street.
Going to Windermere the booking often says to change at Preston or Lancaster when the train I am on calls at Oxenholme.

Yes, the "via" option does not do this. A "change at" option would. Another option that may help is a "call at" option.

Via simply means the train is recognised as either passing through, or calling at, that station. If it's a timing point, the train does not need to call for this condition to be satisfied.

Also for return journeys, please can we have a separate "via" option for each direction - you sometimes want to come back using a different route.

That would also be useful.

Thetrainline-based systems often ignore the via point for the return journey, while most systems simply route the return the same as the outward, with no option to change it.

 

[transportphoto]

I have booked tickets through these for example:

Stratford London to Norwich (SRA / NRW respectively)

Suggested change was at Colchester (COL) however as the train continued to Ipswich (IPS) I specified 'via IPS' and it changed the change at station. This also worked for all stations between COL and IPS where both trains called.

TP

 

[sburnley]

I have used take-the-train and found it to be much better in some respects than other sites. You can, for example, choose different train times to suit your choice of price.

One thing is very slightly frustrating, however, and that is for splitting journeys. On other sites you can "book" a journey and the system puts it into the equivalent of your "basket". Then you can choose the option "book another journey". So by doing this more than once you end up with a complete trip made up of several journeys. Then you can pay for them all on one transaction and receive all the tickets in the one mailing.

I have emailed them about it and received a very quick response to say that they are looking into the website design to address it.

Otherwise I would use it every time - it's quick and gives you all the information you need to make informed choices of times, prices, and journey options.

 

[Scooby]

I have used take-the-train and found it to be much better in some respects than other sites. You can, for example, choose different train times to suit your choice of price.

Otherwise I would use it every time - it's quick and gives you all the information you need to make informed choices of times, prices, and journey options.

Choice wise, it initially seems like to much choice, but once you start 'drilling down' it becomes very effective.
I'm planning a trip to Edinburgh in the near future and it came up with routes and fares that didn't even appear on the websites of the 'usual suspects' -- and the were well priced as well, which always helps.