Online booking oddities

[dcd]

Try the following on either Trainline or First Great Western sites

Swansea to Shrewsbury after 11:00 on 13/07/2011

There is nothing displayed between 12:55 and 13:55 however press the later button and then the earlier and suddenly there is a 13:14.
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And another
Try Bury Metrolink to Manchester Piccadilly after 14:00 on 15/07/2011

It offers 14:14 From Bury Metrolink to Deansgate
then 15:12 Deansgate to Manchester Piccadilly

However if you Change Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Oxford Road

It offers 14:14 Bury Metrolink to Manchester Piccadilly
then 15:07 Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Oxford Road

So to get the quickest to where you want put in somewhere else!

 

[causton]

Try the following on either Trainline or First Great Western sites

Swansea to Shrewsbury after 11:00 on 13/07/2011

There is nothing displayed between 12:55 and 13:55 however press the later button and then the earlier and suddenly there is a 13:14.

Something clicked in my brain which I thought was obvious to check... and it was true! :P

Look again at the times of the 13:14 and the 13:55.

http://vvcap.net/db/sBRN1r1Gsij0c8uJuWnE.htp

The 13:14 must be a slow train/one going via somewhere else (no expert on the route!) because you get there earlier taking the 13:55! The 13:14 arrives at 17:09 and the 13:55 16:48

 

[yorkie]

The 13:14 must be a slow train/one going via somewhere else (no expert on the route!)

Use a decent booking site, such as WebTIS

because you get there earlier taking the 13:55! The 13:14 arrives at 17:09 and the 13:55 16:48

The 13:14 is via Sugar Loaf

 

[wintonian]

Had the same trouble with Arriva when trying to book my ticket to Belfast via Holyhead when it kept insisting there were only a couple of ferries a day without playing with it.

 

[causton]

Use a decent booking site, such as WebTIS

The 13:14 is via Sugar Loaf

I used FGW (definitely not Trainline!) just in case the oddities didn't show up on other TIS - and got too lazy to research further

 

[yorkie]

I used FGW (definitely not Trainline!) just in case the oddities didn't show up on other TIS - and got too lazy to research further

FGW use Thetrainline. TOCs that use WebTIS include London Midland, Southern and East Coast.

 

[causton]

FGW use Thetrainline.

Ah! Never actually used the main Thetrainline site so I wouldn't know. And yes, I much prefer WebTIS

 

[dcd]

Something clicked in my brain which I thought was obvious to check... and it was true! :P

Look again at the times of the 13:14 and the 13:55.

http://vvcap.net/db/sBRN1r1Gsij0c8uJuWnE.htp

The 13:14 must be a slow train/one going via somewhere else (no expert on the route!) because you get there earlier taking the 13:55! The 13:14 arrives at 17:09 and the 13:55 16:48

the point for me was that I wanted to travel on the mid-wales line but it did not offer that route until I tried the later/earlier step

 

[John @ home]

the point for me was that I wanted to travel on the mid-wales line but it did not offer that route until I tried the later/earlier step

When using one of the journey planners, if you want to travel by a particular route it's more reliable to enter via and the name of a station on that route at which all/most trains stop. If you don't do this, the planner will assume that you want to travel by the fastest train irrespective of route.

 

[34D]

When using one of the journey planners, if you want to travel by a particular route it's more reliable to enter via and the name of a station on that route at which all/most trains stop. If you don't do this, the planner will assume that you want to travel by the fastest train irrespective of route.

In fact, via does show trains that pass through, whether or not they call. Try KGX to YRK via Potters Bar - still shows all trains (well, apart from the couple booked via Hertford), rather than put you on FCC stoppers.

 

[John @ home]

In fact, via does show trains that pass through, whether or not they call. Try KGX to YRK via Potters Bar - still shows all trains (well, apart from the couple booked via Hertford), rather than put you on FCC stoppers.

All trains are shown if (and only if) the chosen via point is a timing point for all relevant trains. The results mentioned by 34D show that Potters Bar is a timing point for Kings X - York trains. But Welham Green is not a timing point for Kings X - York trains, and a search for Kings X - York via Welham Green reveals only journey opportunities which include a train calling at Welham Green.

As far as I know, information on timing points for particular journeys is not published. It can be calculated, but this is rather laborious.

 

[yorkie]

As far as I know, information on timing points for particular journeys is not published. It can be calculated, but this is rather laborious.

Available in the Rules of the Plan:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/Rules Of The Route/MENU/Rotp11.pdf

 

[34D]

All trains are shown if (and only if) the chosen via point is a timing point for all relevant trains. The results mentioned by 34D show that Potters Bar is a timing point for Kings X - York trains. But Welham Green is not a timing point for Kings X - York trains, and a search for Kings X - York via Welham Green reveals only journey opportunities which include a train calling at Welham Green.

As far as I know, information on timing points for particular journeys is not published. It can be calculated, but this is rather laborious.

It corresponds with the timing points in internal systems - thanks for pointing out that it doesn't cover all intermediate stations though.

 

[dcd]

Another oddity on WebTis as well as trainline. According to the new complete timetable at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/12546.aspx table 227 and also http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/documents/West_Highlands.pdf there is a 12:12 from Fort William to Mallaig but it does not show up on the booking sites only the 08:30 and 12:48 SR services are shown. I am looking at 12/07/2011 it appears for Sunday 10th which is correct.

 

[SickyNicky]

The 13:14 is via Sugar Loaf

When I took the dog for a walk from Sugar Loaf last year, the guard said he could only remember stopping there twice before. There's some nice walks up in the hills there, though.