Megatrain and PlusBus

[themeone]

Does anyone know if you can get a PlusBus ticket in conjunction with a Megatrain ticket? The route is London-Portsmouth, and I'd want the PlusBus for Portsmouth.

 

[transportphoto]

I can't see why not, as it is available with all railtickets.

HTH

 

[themeone]

I guess my question is more how do I buy the PlusBus ticket.

There's no indication on the Megatrain website that they sell them, though I haven't actually purchased the rail ticket yet.

Would I have to buy the rail ticket from Megatrain first then take the confirmation to a National Rail ticket office to get the PlusBus?

 

[transportphoto]

Yes, it should be issued:

FROM:

Portsmouth and Southsea (or) Portsmouth Harbour

TO:

(H139) PORTSMOUTH+BUS

Fares are: Adult: £2.70, Child: £1.35, Railcard holder: £1.80.

 

[dzug2]

Whether you can get a Plus Bus that way depends on how strictly the station applies the rule that you must buy your rail ticket and plus bus ticket at the same time.



With megatrain you can't do that, so no plus bus unless the rule gets bent

 

[island]

Whether you can get a Plus Bus that way depends on how strictly the station applies the rule that you must buy your rail ticket and plus bus ticket at the same time.

I wasn't aware that there was such a rule. I was given to understand that one could buy a plusbus at a later stage on production of a valid rail ticket at any station.

 

[dzug2]

I wasn't aware that there was such a rule. I was given to understand that one could buy a plusbus at a later stage on production of a valid rail ticket at any station.

It may be so - but I have heard of people being refused. And also sold them.

 

[evil_hippo]

II was given to understand that one could buy a plusbus at a later stage on production of a valid rail ticket at any station.

This is correct. I've never been refused, though I don't underestimate the ability of rail staff to be ignorant.

 

[clagmonster]

Whether you can get a Plus Bus that way depends on how strictly the station applies the rule that you must buy your rail ticket and plus bus ticket at the same time.

The Plus bus website says:
"2. I have already bought my train ticket, can I still buy PLUSBUS for my journey?
Yes, if you take your valid train ticket to any train station ticket office, ask for PLUSBUS for either the origin and/or destination town of your rail journey. You will be asked to pay the appropriate PLUSBUS ticket price."
http://www.plusbus.info/frequently-asked-questions

I don't see anything to stop a Plus Bus ticket being issued in conjunction with a Megatrain ticket, but I am willing to be corrected.

 

[transportphoto]

Whether you can get a Plus Bus that way depends on how strictly the station applies the rule that you must buy your rail ticket and plus bus ticket at the same time.



With megatrain you can't do that, so no plus bus unless the rule gets bent

I wasn't aware that there was such a rule. I was given to understand that one could buy a plusbus at a later stage on production of a valid rail ticket at any station.

I did try to reply to this earlier, but my TV was playing up and wouldn't let one do it.

I certainly have never heard of such a ridiculous rule, I can't see the railways turning away such revenue anyway.

To quote Plusbus.info;

2. I have already bought my train ticket, can I still buy PLUSBUS for my journey?
Yes, if you take your valid train ticket to any train station ticket office, ask for PLUSBUS for either the origin and/or destination town of your rail journey. You will be asked to pay the appropriate PLUSBUS ticket price.

HTH, TP

 

[scotsman]

I have bought plusbus at my destination before. I've also bought plusbus for my origin station, before leaving on a single ticket. They don't always ask to see your tickets either, so if you were strapped for cash, there's the odd chance you could get a plusbus and undercut the local operator's day fare

 

[Greenback]

There is no rule at all that states Plus Bus can only be bought at the same time as the rail ticket. Any station that refuses to sell them on those gorunds would be in breach of the Plus Bus rules themselves.

 

[radamfi]

Are barrier staff obliged to sell Plusbus, or allow you to keep the ticket so you can buy it at the ticket office?

Suppose you arrive at a station with barriers, wanting to buy a Plusbus for that town. Normally the ticket would be swallowed by the automatic barrier and if you presented it to the barrier staff they would want to retain the ticket. So, to comply with the regulation of being able to buy it at the destination station, I would guess they would have to sell you a Plusbus or allow you to keep the ticket so you can visit the ticket office to buy one. If the ticket office is closed, are they obliged to sell you the ticket themselves?

 

[bb21]

I have not yet encountered anyone who is willing to sell PlusBus in conjunction with a Megatrain, however remember that Megatrain are mainly offered in Stagecoach territory and, well you all know what I'm gonna say. (As I live in EMT land and mostly travel to SWT territory this is hardly surprising. ) I have meant to chase them up about it however the ticket I normally want only saves me 20p compared to the operator's own ticket so I've not really got round to do it yet.

I have been told recently at Sheffield () that I shouldn't really buy my PlusBus at my destination but they didn't refuse to sell me one.

 

[button_boxer]

A couple of weeks ago I was travelling on a season ticket for a week and the ticket office at Derby was happy to sell me a one-day plusbus when I showed my season ticket.

 

[phil35]

Are barrier staff obliged to sell Plusbus, or allow you to keep the ticket so you can buy it at the ticket office?

Suppose you arrive at a station with barriers, wanting to buy a Plusbus for that town. Normally the ticket would be swallowed by the automatic barrier and if you presented it to the barrier staff they would want to retain the ticket. So, to comply with the regulation of being able to buy it at the destination station, I would guess they would have to sell you a Plusbus or allow you to keep the ticket so you can visit the ticket office to buy one. If the ticket office is closed, are they obliged to sell you the ticket themselves?

This exact scenario happened to me at Birmingham Moor Street. However, after I explained that I wanted to buy a plusbus with my ticket, the staff were very co-opoerative and quickly gave me my ticket back.

 

[causton]

If the ticket office is closed, are they obliged to sell you the ticket themselves?

Presumably, yes, if they have the facilities.
Now here's where I find it confusing... sorry about this, another technicality which I'm sure is purely academic.

If you can't buy a ticket you simply travel without one until you find a guard/RPI/ticket seller/get to your interchange station with time etc.
How does this work with PlusBus tickets? If I have a ticket to Hatfield station, the barriers are open and the ticket office is closed. The machine will not sell me a PlusBus ticket by itself but I obviously want to use a PlusBus ticket to save me money. So erm... do I just get on the bus without a ticket as per the railway rules? Of course any bus driver would not let me on the bus with that excuse, and I'd have to pay extra. What other solutions would there be?

 

[LexyBoy]

If there's no-one to sell you a PlusBus ticket, I'd think it's tough luck. Obviously the bus company is not operating under the NRCoC, even if the passenger is using a PlusBus ticket sold by a TOC.

You could try writing in to the TOC and asking for a refund on the difference between PlusBus and the ticket you bought on the bus I suppose, but I wouldn't be very hopeful!

(BTW, it's also been my experience that barrier staff are happy to let you keep your ticket for buying a PlusBus).

 

[themeone]

I can now answer my own question.

I took my Megatrain confirmation along to East Croydon station today and asked for a Portsmouth Plusbus ticket. Was sold one for £2.70 without any questions.

 

[bb21]

I can now answer my own question.

I took my Megatrain confirmation along to East Croydon station today and asked for a Portsmouth Plusbus ticket. Was sold one for £2.70 without any questions.

Think a complaint is now due with SWT.