"Special offers" and wild claims

[markskoda]

I have tried The Trainline on several occasions and not found them to be a penny different to buying one's ticket on the day for Worcester to Paddington, and a variety of other journeys.

I have just had details of a "special offer" from First Great Western which is priced by zone and a return from Worcester to Clacton on Sea is no different to the standard high price.

Are we being conned?

 

[ainsworth74]

Are we being conned?

Yes. Never buy from trainline and their ilk, always get your tickets from a TOC website. No booking fees, no card charges, probably free first class postage as well and special offers (like EC 11% off advances on their services).

 

[wibble]

Are we being conned?

Depends - you've not said what tickets you're comparing against which.

There may not be a saving for the actually time you want to travel but there may be larger savings for those travelling at a different time.

If a TOC or the trainline is misleading you in their advertising, you should make a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.

 

[Deerfold]

Depends - you've not said what tickets you're comparing against which.

There may not be a saving for the actually time you want to travel but there may be larger savings for those travelling at a different time.

If a TOC or the trainline is misleading you in their advertising, you should make a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The trainline's main claim is very carefuly worded.

"The trainline's customers save x% compared with those buying at the station on the day". The "at the station" bit is irrelevant but is what most people remember. The saving is simply from advance tickets - and these are not available for all journeys or may no longer be available at the tiem you want to travel.

As for the FGW offer I've not seen it so it's not clear if it's really no cheaper or if it's possible that certain journeys from the edge of zones work out to be no cheaper.

 

[Dewedin]

The 'at the station on the day' wording also tricks the mind into thinking they are the main source for online rail tickets, the alternative to buying at the station.

Trainline are never cheapest but through at the very least questionable business practices have the uninformed majority convinced they are.

 

[mrcheek]

The trainline is an excellent website! For checking journey times....

Not so much for buying tickets...

 

[Deerfold]

The trainline is an excellent website! For checking journey times....

You think? I find them barely adequate even for that.

 

[Mojo]

Yes. Never buy from trainline and their ilk, always get your tickets from a TOC website. No booking fees, no card charges, probably free first class postage as well and special offers (like EC 11% off advances on their services).

Indeed. The Trainline are always more expensive than buying direct from the Toc.

 

[wibble]

Indeed. The Trainline are always more expensive than buying direct from the Toc.

The ticket prices aren't more expensive with trainline, it's their admin charges which push the overall price up!

 

[Mojo]

The ticket prices aren't more expensive with trainline, it's their admin charges which push the overall price up!

It's the same thing basically, but there are a (growing) number of exceptions where the ticket price is cheaper when you book through the Toc direct.

See my non exhaustive list here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=475868&postcount=11