M-tickets

[Fabrick]

I am new to online ticket booking and Forums so please bear with me if I am asking obvious questions. I recently purchased a Senior Railcard and decided to use it on days out to London and Liverpool. Both sets of tickets were purchased online, one from East Midlands website (London Trip), and the Liverpool trip via Cross Country (App for IPAD). No problems. I am now trying to book two single tickets for a day out in Newcastle on Saturday 13th October from my home station (Chesterfield).

The journeys were identified and selected on the Cross Country IPAD App no problem and so I started to go through the purchasing process, this is where the questions start and confusion sets in. Having purchased tickets previously, I expected to see the "collect tickets from machine" option, but on this journey it showed as "M-tickets". I read the description of M-tickets having never heard of them before and (bearing in mind I had only just got my head around the booking online and collecting from a machine) decided that this might be one step too far for me, as I do not have access to one of the mobile phones with display screens. M-tickets seemed to have too many risks as I prefer the feel of a ticket so I cancelled the search.

I then did the same search on the East Midlands website, came up with the same train journeys and costs and started the purchasing process only to notice at the final stages that both the single tickets (outwards and return) would be available for collection from the ticket machine at NEWCASTLE (bear in mind I want to start and finish in Chesterfield). At this point I gave up in despair and decided to look for some further information, can you offer any advice or comfort please, as the last thing I want is hassle on a journey with bar codes / IPAD etc. would I be able to purchase Advance Single tickets at the station at the same cost as online?

 

[cuccir]

I also wouldn't bother with m-tickets.

Despite what it says, you can collect your tickets from almost all stations with a ticket machine - you can collect from Chesterfield.

To answer your question - in most cases, yes you can buy at the station. Some companies offer extra online discounts or special offers, but generally they will cost the same.

 

[bkhtele]

Not sure about the sites you are using. I use first Great Western who sell all tickets and always allow you to collect at the station of your choice. There is no charge for collection.

 

[34D]

The journeys were identified and selected on the Cross Country IPAD App no problem and so I started to go through the purchasing process, this is where the questions start and confusion sets in. Having purchased tickets previously, I expected to see the "collect tickets from machine" option, but on this journey it showed as "M-tickets". I read the description of M-tickets having never heard of them before and (bearing in mind I had only just got my head around the booking online and collecting from a machine) decided that this might be one step too far for me, as I do not have access to one of the mobile phones with display screens. M-tickets seemed to have too many risks as I prefer the feel of a ticket so I cancelled the search.

At this point I gave up in despair and decided to look for some further information, can you offer any advice or comfort please, as the last thing I want is hassle on a journey with bar codes / IPAD etc.

I also wouldn't bother with m-tickets.

Surely the iPad is a device on which the m-ticket can be saved?

 

[Ascot]

Currently, m-tickets can only be bought for Advance tickets and not TOC & Connections*. For every m-ticket there is a paper ticket option on the apps so just slide across for the paper version. The ticket is saved on your phone at time of purchase so you don't need a signal.

I personally love the m-tickets on the iPhone as there's no queueing and no paper. Also your battery doesn't automatically vanish because you have a ticket on your phone, if your phone usually lasts all day then you won't have any issues.

*Chiltern produce their route via High Wycombe tickets as m-tickets too.

EDIT: http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/03/a2e5ubus.jpg. The m-ticket is to the left, paper in the centre.

 

[island]

It should be noted however that a certain TOC will charge extra to collect your ticket at a machine when an m-ticket is available.

As mentioned above, despite appearances one can collect a ticket at any station that offers collection facilities, irrespective of the station selected.

 

[maniacmartin]

But note that not all stations with ticket machines offer collection of tickets booked elsewhere.

As long as the station you want to collect is in this list (which includes Chesterfield) you can collect there.

 

[mrmatt]

I then did the same search on the East Midlands website, came up with the same train journeys and costs and started the purchasing process only to notice at the final stages that both the single tickets (outwards and return) would be available for collection from the ticket machine at NEWCASTLE (bear in mind I want to start and finish in Chesterfield).

When booking for collection from the EMT website it will automatically assume you wish to pick up the tickets from the departure station of the first ticket you selected. This is however a drop-down and can be changed to Chesterfield (or any UK station with the ability to pick up tickets, it will then ask to confirm as it isn't the default option they provided).

 

[Fabrick]

Many thanks to all who responded, I am a little wiser now. Tickets have been purchased (for same online cost) from local station from a humorous chap who crossed himself when I explained my online problems.

 

[Roylang]

Surely the iPad is a device on which the m-ticket can be saved?

Not quite pocket sized though is it? I would not want to have to carry an iPad arond just for a ticket.

Roy