PLUSBUS with Oyster PAYG

[Jona26]

I often travel to destinations using Oyster PAYG and buy a separate PLUSBUS add-on at the ticket office before starting my journey.

I explain to the clerk that the rail element is by Oyster and I only need to purchase the add-on and they are quite happily sell it to me - up until today that is!

The clerk told me it couldn't be bought with Oyster as Oyster PAYG is not a National Rail product and I must buy a normal paper ticket. She also checked with her supervisor who told me the same.

My question is are they right or wrong? Have I just been "lucky" to be sold them in the past?

 

[Haywain]

They are wrong, there is no requirement to hold a paper ticket in support of PlusBus but there is a requirement to have travelled from outside of the PlusBus area. Some ticket office staff seem overly protective of the purchase of PlusBus tickets, I have no idea why.

 

[Jona26]

Thank you. I thought that was the case. I will fire off an email to GTR! I waited so long at the ticket office I missed my planned train and my bus travel today will cost extra.

I always buy the PLUSBUS element before starting the train journey so the is no doubt that I am buying it without having travelled.

 

[Haywain]

If you are travelling to a station with a ticket office you should be able to buy the PlusBus on arrival. If you are travelling to a station where PAYG is accepted thy should have the ability to verify where you started the journey, if they feel it is necessary.