New LNER booking site?

[Bletchleyite]

It seems there may be a new version of the LNER site (new.lner.co.uk) doing the rounds. However I can't actually access it, I get bounced back to the normal one.

However another poster says they get it:

Sadly not.

The execrable thing appears at random and is alive and spitting this afternoon.

Can anyone else see it and on what type of device? Could they post some screenshots etc?

Thanks.

 

[H F Stephens]

It seems there may be a new version of the LNER site (new.lner.co.uk) doing the rounds. However I can't actually access it, I get bounced back to the normal one.

However another poster says they get it:


Can anyone else see it and on what type of device? Could they post some screenshots etc?

Thanks.

Above screenshot shows the principal ticket selection page at new.lner.co.uk.



Above screenshot shows the seat selector interface at new.lner.co.uk.

Google Chrome web browser on a PC.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks like the normal one to me. The tabbed display happens if you use a narrow display e.g. a vertically oriented phone or size your browser window down to that shape. That'll be why I couldn't see the difference

 

[styles]

I've never used the seat selector so can't comment on that, but the prices matrix looks the same as it does now doesn't it?

 

[Ze Random One]

I've been using the LNER site for a long time (plus its predecessors, ever since they put in the "MixingDeck" interface), whatever they have done recently which introduced this booking engine update has finally driven me away.

Neither my wife nor I could find the option to "add" additional tickets to the basket any more, and the information density is just terrible for a computer (you used to be able to see the whole carriage at a time on the seat selector, not any more), plus you used to be able to get a good overview of all the pricing.

I do wonder if this was yet another way of "trying to make split tickets difficult to buy", I wouldn't put it past them.

LNER's webmasters have also clearly been going super zealous on blocking any nonstandard browser, I just get blocked outright when using Chromium on a Raspberry Pi (in incognito mode).

The forum's own new booking engine is now clearly superior in many ways and this was the final tipping point for me to take the plunge. I'll miss the automatic delay repay, but hey ho.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The other general downside of the seat selector is that it doesn't have any indication, bar the door pocket seats, of which seats lack a decent window view, nor looking at the image above which are the priority rows.

 

[mikeg]

I've gone on to the LNER site and can't see much difference. Either way it's still an utter pile of rubbish. Doesn't recognise some basic aspects of tivket validity, for example, shows 'any permitted' SOS as available, but not 'via Doncaster' for travel from Selby to Kings Cross via York.... which of course involves travel via Doncaster. Also struggles with the variety of fares from Selby to Sheffield: The Rotueing Guide clearly states that a 'via Leeds' ticket can be used 'via Doncaster' when the cheaper fare would apply (as the latter fare route is cheaper, unelss I'm missing a negative easement), but forces anyone wanting to go out via Doncaster and back via Leeds to choose the overpriced 'any permitted' ticket.*

Also the same obsession with pushing 'fixed tickets'.

* That said, most booking engines are guilty of that one.

 

[styles]

I do wonder if this was yet another way of "trying to make split tickets difficult to buy", I wouldn't put it past them.

I doubt this, given LNER is one of only a handful of TOC websites which offer any form of split ticketing in their journey planners. If they didn't want to sell them, they just wouldn't.

 

[Mainline421]

I doubt this, given LNER is one of only a handful of TOC websites which offer any form of split ticketing in their journey planners. If they didn't want to sell them, they just wouldn't.

And that's why they stopped selling them a while ago, they don't want to.

 

[H F Stephens]

I've never used the seat selector so can't comment on that, but the prices matrix looks the same as it does now doesn't it?

No. The previous version presented Standard and First Class tickets in the same single-view matrix; they're now tabbed and have to be toggled-between.

I've been using the LNER site for a long time (plus its predecessors, ever since they put in the "MixingDeck" interface), whatever they have done recently which introduced this booking engine update has finally driven me away.

Neither my wife nor I could find the option to "add" additional tickets to the basket any more, and the information density is just terrible for a computer (you used to be able to see the whole carriage at a time on the seat selector, not any more), plus you used to be able to get a good overview of all the pricing.

I do wonder if this was yet another way of "trying to make split tickets difficult to buy", I wouldn't put it past them.

LNER's webmasters have also clearly been going super zealous on blocking any nonstandard browser, I just get blocked outright when using Chromium on a Raspberry Pi (in incognito mode).

The forum's own new booking engine is now clearly superior in many ways and this was the final tipping point for me to take the plunge. I'll miss the automatic delay repay, but hey ho.

It appears possible to still 'force' the site back to the old interface, which may be of particular interest/use to those wishing to avail of AmEx (et al) cashback.

The process is to put a random search in, select a random non Advance ticket (to avoid locking out any limited availability for the journey you actually wish to make) and go through the log in to your account stage and as far as the Delivery Information page at new.lner.co.uk/buy-tickets/delivery-information/.

At this point, go into the address bar and delete 'new.' and press enter.

The site will then revert to lner.co.uk/buy-tickets/booking-engine/ and the previously-selected ticket will disappear into the ether of an unclaimed basket.

You should then be able to buy tickets through the old process, including the functionality to add multiple tickets to the same basket and use the panoramic seat selector for LNER-operated services.

And that's why they stopped selling them a while ago, they don't want to.

As I understand it, the implementation of the functionality was blocked from the website at the last minute, as the DfT wasn't a fan.

It was released to the App. only, quietly.

Then it disappeared from the App., too.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It will be fascinating when all the TOC-specific retail sites vanish into a national one under GBR.
Presumably the third-party sites, if they survive, will still be around.

 

[styles]

It will be fascinating when all the TOC-specific retail sites vanish into a national one under GBR.
Presumably the third-party sites, if they survive, will still be around.

Will all the TOC-specific sites be combined though?

We've got even less information about ticketing plans under GBR than we do livery.

 

[Spire Sam]

Will all the TOC-specific sites be combined though?

We've got even less information about ticketing plans under GBR than we do livery.

I don't know as it's been explicitly mentioned other than vague mentions of "Simplifying ticketing" which could mean any number of things. It would certainly make sense to combine them though.

 

[styles]

I don't know as it's been explicitly mentioned other than vague mentions of "Simplifying ticketing" which could mean any number of things. It would certainly make sense to combine them though.

'Simplifying ticketing' was also Grant Shapps' main driver for GBR, then it was basically dropped.

Even if we get a simplified fare structure, I'd be surprised if the ability for TOCs to sell tickets is removed.

 

[Trainbike46]

'Simplifying ticketing' was also Grant Shapps' main driver for GBR, then it was basically dropped.

Even if we get a simplified fare structure, I'd be surprised if the ability for TOCs to sell tickets is removed.

The way I understand it, is that over time the public facing TOCs will mostly disappear. If that happens, so will TOC-specific ticketing sites. I doubt that will happen anytime soon though!

 

[35B]

Bumping this thread, but there is another little "feature" of the new site - the "basket" functionality has been removed, so only individual tickets can be booked (confirmed by call to the LNER call centre, where I was apparently the call handler's 3rd caller in 2 hours to complain).

For my specific niche use case (booking for someone else, need "proper" tickets to both get across London and due to the foibles of the passenger, journey not a straightforward return), this is both inconvenient and TOD is not a great option.

 

[Watershed]

Bumping this thread, but there is another little "feature" of the new site - the "basket" functionality has been removed, so only individual tickets can be booked (confirmed by call to the LNER call centre, where I was apparently the call handler's 3rd caller in 2 hours to complain).

For my specific niche use case (booking for someone else, need "proper" tickets to both get across London and due to the foibles of the passenger, journey not a straightforward return), this is both inconvenient and TOD is not a great option.

There are plenty of other booking sites that support basket functionality, aren't there?

 

[Sonic1234]

There are plenty of other booking sites that support basket functionality, aren't there?

But they don't give cashback. Or trivial amounts through Top Cashback at best, not the 5-10% you get with LNER.

You think they won't want to pay the extra card and TOD fees for users booking tickets individually.

 

[35B]

There are plenty of other booking sites that support basket functionality, aren't there?

Basket - yes. Postal despatch of tickets - less so.

 

[yorkie]

Bumping this thread, but there is another little "feature" of the new site - the "basket" functionality has been removed, so only individual tickets can be booked (confirmed by call to the LNER call centre, where I was apparently the call handler's 3rd caller in 2 hours to complain).

For my specific niche use case (booking for someone else, need "proper" tickets to both get across London and due to the foibles of the passenger, journey not a straightforward return), this is both inconvenient and TOD is not a great option.

In future, you may want to consider using the forum's site. We offer an option to exclude a requirement for the cross-London transfer, which may result in e-tickets being available either side of London, or alternatively you could add each ticket to the basket separately. We won't charge a booking fee, and we will allow you to specify the seats of your choice.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jul 2025 ==

But they don't give cashback. Or trivial amounts through Top Cashback at best, not the 5-10% you get with LNER.

LNER often charge more than 5-10% more than we do for the actual fares, so it can be a false economy

You think they won't want to pay the extra card and TOD fees for users booking tickets individually.

Card fees would depend on the agreement with their payment card provider (or the agreement with the retailer) but it might not be materially different.

TOD fees are largely an irrelevance, as only a tiny proportion of people using LNER are on TOD printed tickets these days. Furthermore, LNER only pay TOD fees if the customer prints the tickets at a non-LNER TVM.

 

[Trainbike46]

Looks like the normal one to me. The tabbed display happens if you use a narrow display e.g. a vertically oriented phone or size your browser window down to that shape. That'll be why I couldn't see the difference

It also does it to at least some people with a full size browser - and then fills out the extra space with white bars on the side. I agree it's not new though.

LNER is genuinely one of the worst booking websites out there atm - the 10% cashback is the only redeeming feature, and even then only if you already know the exact ticket you want (and therefore don't need the splitting capacities of other ticket websites)

LNER often charge more than 5-10% more than we do for the actual fares, so it can be a false economy

That depends; if you're buying a season ticket, you're definitely better off with the LNER cashback.

But if you're planning to travel on a TOC who, say, have removed all flexible fares bar the Anytime from sale and is massively price gouging with advances, the forum's ticketing website always wins.

 

[Sonic1234]

That depends

Indeed, depends on the ticket. A straightforward A-B short distance ticket or something like a season, the cashback wins. On a multi-operator journey or a reasonable distance journey especially with XC, the forum's site is best. If it's a reasonably valuable ticket, it's good to support the forum with the commission.

My last purchase from LNER was 2 low value Advances and a short distance single available on paper only (GTR, whos approach to e-tickets changes with the phases of the moon), issued on 3 TOD codes thanks to the "upgrade". Probably the sort of business the forum's site doesn't want.

 

[35B]

In future, you may want to consider using the forum's site. We offer an option to exclude a requirement for the cross-London transfer, which may result in e-tickets being available either side of London, or alternatively you could add each ticket to the basket separately. We won't charge a booking fee, and we will allow you to specify the seats of your choice.

Plug noted! Joking aside, I seriously considered it, but the lack of a postal option was a deal breaker in this particular case.

For the specific journey being made, there were also some interesting differences in how the cross-London routing was handled, and I was surprised at how hard I had to work to force a single connection (KGX/STP) for an onward journey to Three Bridges that was offered automatically by LNER.

 

[yorkie]

Plug noted! Joking aside, I seriously considered it, but the lack of a postal option was a deal breaker in this particular case.

I'd recommend e-tickets over postal tickets (the e-tickets can optionally be printed and you have a backup), but that's personal preference I suppose.

For the specific journey being made, there were also some interesting differences in how the cross-London routing was handled, and I was surprised at how hard I had to work to force a single connection (KGX/STP) for an onward journey to Three Bridges that was offered automatically by LNER.

Can you provide a link, please, so that we can investigate this?

 

[35B]

I'd recommend e-tickets over postal tickets (the e-tickets can optionally be printed and you have a backup), but that's personal preference I suppose.

Personal preference and a specific niche scenario combining. It’s important to note that the tickets are not for my use, and the traveller is not au fait with e-tickets (to the extent that we’re veering into reasonable adjustment territory).

Can you provide a link, please, so that we can investigate this?

PM to follow

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'd recommend e-tickets over postal tickets (the e-tickets can optionally be printed and you have a backup), but that's personal preference I suppose.

Can you provide a link, please, so that we can investigate this?

With LNER you don't have a choice . If you select a postal ticket and the flow is enabled for eTickets you'll be posted an eTicket. The app won't offer anything but eTickets if the flow is enabled for eTickets

 

[35B]

With LNER you don't have a choice . If you select a postal ticket and the flow is enabled for eTickets you'll be posted an eTicket. The app won't offer anything but eTickets if the flow is enabled for eTickets

Let’s not debate the format of paper ticket again - my issue was purely the removal of basket functionality and the effective double charging of postage as a result. The precise format of ticket was secondary - so long in this case as the traveller got paper tickets without needing to print them himself (or, in reality, find an intermediary who could print them for him).

 

[yorkie]

Personal preference and a specific niche scenario combining. It’s important to note that the tickets are not for my use, and the traveller is not au fait with e-tickets (to the extent that we’re veering into reasonable adjustment territory).

PM to follow

Thanks for the feedback; I think for most passengers, it would be strongly advised to change at Stevenage, however I will put forward the suggestion that itineraries changing at King's Cross are considered in future.

 

[35B]

Thanks for the feedback; I think for most passengers, it would be strongly advised to change at Stevenage, however I will put forward the suggestion that itineraries changing at King's Cross are considered in future.

Thanks - that’s appreciated.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

I'm not liking the new LNER booking site, for a regular journey it now defaults to initially offering an any permitted variant of the ticket, when there is a far cheaper one for a particular route which is the fastest anyway (which it used to be the initial offer). It also rather hides the option to use any partially used vouchers on your account.