PlusBus monstrosity

[Merseysider]

Collected an Advance from Darlington last night and the accompanying PlusBus printed like this.
(link here)

I've also received this format when purchasing from some stations or guards, just without the unneccessary Aztec code.

The 'SINGLE' shouldn't really be there, as it's a day ticket, and should be displayed as such to avoid bus drivers getting the wrong end of the stick. PlusBus tickets are already viewed with suspicion round my ways. Got hauled back once so the driver could have a second look at it

And since when is STDSGL a class of travel?

For comparison purposes, the PlusBus should look like this.


Where and how can I get the latter format instead of the first? Cheers

Edit: And what I don't understand is why I've been given both a new style and an old style in the same booking!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Looks like you bought your PlusBus ticket online, so if you don't want the new format can I suggest not buying online? Ticket offices are quite capable of issuing the PlusBus style you want before, and on, the day of travel.

 

[Merseysider]

Looks like you bought your PlusBus ticket online, so if you don't want the new format can I suggest not buying online? Ticket offices are quite capable of issuing the PlusBus style you want before, and on, the day of travel.

Unfortunately my experience is rather different About 50% issue it without difficulty. But thank you - can I assume that it'll print like that whatever website I buy it from? If so, the £2.00 online special offer is about to end so I'll do as you suggest. Still doesn't explain Blackpool North/Lime St upper/ Mco ticket offices doing it in the 'wrong' format though

 

[DelayRepay]

Unfortunately my experience is rather different About 50% issue it without difficulty. But thank you - can I assume that it'll print like that whatever website I buy it from? If so, the £2.00 online special offer is about to end so I'll do as you suggest. Still doesn't explain Blackpool North/Lime St upper/ Mco ticket offices doing it in the 'wrong' format though

I bought one from East Midland Trains' website and collected it from a Thameslink TVM, and it printed in the "old" format.

 

[clagmonster]

Might it be that the Plus Bus Web ticket type is incorrectly set up to print as a normal single rather than the special Plus Bus format? I wonder whether the booking offices that sold the odd format tickets inadvertently sold one of these, what was the fare requested?

 

[Paul Kelly]

The 'SINGLE' shouldn't really be there, as it's a day ticket, and should be displayed as such to avoid bus drivers getting the wrong end of the stick.

And what I don't understand is why I've been given both a new style and an old style in the same booking!

The two are related: the print format the machine decides to use when issuing the ticket is based on the ticket type. Some ticket types have a "new style" format associated with them, but some don't and must be printed in the old style. The two Plusbus tickets are two different ticket types: PLUSBUS WEB (ticket code PBW), which the machine has printed wrongly, and PLUSBUS DAY (ticket code PBD), which the machine has printed correctly.

You need to find a TVM that is configured to print the PBW ticket type correctly. At a guess, I would suggest a Parkeon machine, as they seem to be fairly clued up on what should be printed in what format, having operated the pilot for the new-format tickets.

 

[Mojo]

Looks like you bought your PlusBus ticket online, so if you don't want the new format can I suggest not buying online

I don't think that is the problem, it looks like the machine is incorrectly set up, as usually Plusbus tickets are printed correctly when I buy them online.

 

[DelayRepay]

Ticket offices are quite capable of issuing the PlusBus style you want before, and on, the day of travel.

But are they capable of issuing them for £2? Genuine question as Plusbus describe it as their "online offer£".

 

[causton]

Might it be that the Plus Bus Web ticket type is incorrectly set up to print as a normal single rather than the special Plus Bus format? I wonder whether the booking offices that sold the odd format tickets inadvertently sold one of these, what was the fare requested?

I inadvertently sold one of these and it printed exactly as it should (the "old" style) so it seems to be set up correctly on Tribute at least.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Unfortunately my experience is rather different About 50% issue it without difficulty. But thank you - can I assume that it'll print like that whatever website I buy it from? If so, the £2.00 online special offer is about to end so I'll do as you suggest. Still doesn't explain Blackpool North/Lime St upper/ Mco ticket offices doing it in the 'wrong' format though

I don't think you can safely assume anything except that those bought from the ticket office on the day should all be in the 'old' style.

I don't think that is the problem, it looks like the machine is incorrectly set up, as usually Plusbus tickets are printed correctly when I buy them online.

It could be an issue with someone trying to fudge the issuing of a special online offer? (the programmer of the machine/website rather than the Op)

But are they capable of issuing them for £2? Genuine question as Plusbus describe it as their "online offer£".

A ticket office could not sell the online offer, that is true.

 

[causton]

A ticket office could not sell the online offer, that is true.

Prove it!



They should not and probably will not, but for us they did show up and as one was the same price as the usual ticket, I did accidentally issue it when it first came up. Then again for a long time we had the Southern and Thameslink smartcard fares showing up and available for issue as a paper ticket

(Not that this helps the OP, sorry!)

 

[Sprinter153]

But are they capable of issuing them for £2? Genuine question as Plusbus describe it as their "online offer£".

My Avantix machine (still delightfully retro equipment here) will sell a PBW for £2.00 very happily.

 

[Merseysider]

My Avantix machine (still delightfully retro equipment here) will sell a PBW for £2.00 very happily.

Where can I find you?

 

[Tetchytyke]

I wonder if it is to do with the web discount for the PlusBus ticket?

I've just collected a PlusBus for Edinburgh, alongside two advance tickets, from a VTEC machine at Newcastle and they PlusBus Day came out in the more usual style.

 

[Paul Kelly]

I wonder if it is to do with the web discount for the PlusBus ticket?

Yes - as noted above (and indeed printed on the ticket), it's not simply a discounted ticket, but a totally different ticket type (PBW PLUSBUS WEB instead of PBD PLUSBUS DAY).