Misleading Publicity from Grand Central

[Deerfold]

I've being looking with interest at the new West Yorkshire - London service starting later this month.

However I'm a little concerned about the publicity - the first train in the morning is noted as "Off-peak tickets are not valid on this train, except Bank Holidays"

Whilst I'm sure this is true for those travelling to London this service also introduces a few other direct links which don't exist at the moment.

Would an off-peak return ticket for, say Halifax to Doncaster be valid on this train? How much hassle do you think I'd have if I tried to use it?

It is quite annoying that ticket sales sites don't actually tell you what the restrictions are on tickets.

 

[clagmonster]

A Halifax-Doncaster saver is valid on any train apart from those timed to depart between 01:15-04:00 inclusive and is route any permitted, therefore would be valid on the 06:51 Bradford-Kings Cross. If the guard were to query this, I would ask him to look up the restriction code. Note that the supersaver is valid only on trains timed to depart after 09:30 so would not be valid on the Grand Central service.

 

[yorkie]

Would an off-peak return ticket for, say Halifax to Doncaster be valid on this train? How much hassle do you think I'd have if I tried to use it?

It is quite annoying that ticket sales sites don't actually tell you what the restrictions are on tickets.

If GC do what they do on the Sunderland route then they will issue their own Anytime fares and not bother with Off Peak fares, for non-London journeys. In addition they are obliged to accept inter-available tickets and adhere to the conditions of those tickets.

Sweeping statements in a timetable or on board a train like "Off Peak tickets are not valid on this train" are null, void, misleading, pointless and have no legal meaning whatsoever. Such sweeping statements are often made in ignorance (though that is no excuse) or are made to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt. The latter appears to be applied by some Virgin guards out of Euston, according to reports.

 

[maddeningcrowds]

It refers to Grand Central only off peak tickets. They don't control prices or restrictions on the more expensive any permitted tickets.

 

[Deerfold]

It refers to Grand Central only off peak tickets. They don't control prices or restrictions on the more expensive any permitted tickets.

But that's not what it says - and given the lack of information in the public domain about ticket restrictions it's what most people will see.

 

[John @ home]

If GC do what they do on the Sunderland route then they will issue their own Anytime fares and not bother with Off Peak fares, for non-London journeys. In addition they are obliged to accept inter-available tickets and adhere to the conditions of those tickets.

The latest Barry Doe column in RAIL suggests that, for the present at least, they have decided not to have their own fares on the West Yorkshire route.

For the new Bradford service, fares to/from London will be similar [to the Sunderland service] (and be the same at Halifax, Brighouse and Wakefield): £49 single or £67 return off-peak (£77/£124 first class), or £76 single or £120 return peak (£117/£189 first class). Local fares will be normal PTE prices.