Special Offers Discussion

[CaptainHaddock]

It appears this offer is available to the holders of all MCards - not just MCard holders with a product valid at the time of travel! Interesting!

I wonder why WYMetro seem to do all sorts of offers for MCard holders but SYPTE never have anything on for SY Travelmaster holders (the South Yorkshire equivalent)?

 

[Deerfold]

It appears this offer is available to the holders of all MCards - not just MCard holders with a product valid at the time of travel! Interesting!

I wonder if that's because on-train staff don't generally have readers yet so can't tell. I've used Mcards for 3 indivdual weeks now and although I've used gates at Leeds I've not actually had anyone able to read a card on train yet - they've looked at the card that accompanies it though which shows what you've got. Have longer distance guards had any training on these yet?

 

[ASharpe]

It appears this offer is available to the holders of all MCards - not just MCard holders with a product valid at the time of travel! Interesting!

From the T&Cs:

Valid MCards: Annual MCard (Yellow), Weekly and Month MCard (Pink) only when shown with paper counterpart, 16-25 MCard (Green) only when shown with paper counterpart

https://www.wymetro.com/news/news_temp/T_Cs_for_Special_winter_offer,_Settle-Carlisle_railways/

I doesn't explicitly state the paper counterpart needs to be in date but I wouldn't want to be the one arguing that point.

 

[Deerfold]

I wonder why WYMetro seem to do all sorts of offers for MCard holders but SYPTE never have anything on for SY Travelmaster holders (the South Yorkshire equivalent)?

Does SY have an equivalent line for people to go on?

 

[yorksrob]

Does SY have an equivalent line for people to go on?

The Hope Valley's quite beautiful in parts, but then the likelihood of a Merseyrail pacer turning up would rather spoil the expertence.

 

[Deerfold]

The Hope Valley's quite beautiful in parts, but then the likelihood of a Merseyrail pacer turning up would rather spoil the expertence.

Pacers turn up on the way to Lancaster too...

 

[yorksrob]

Pacers turn up on the way to Lancaster too...

Fair point

Although I have endured a journey from Leeds to Lancaster on a Merseyrail 142 (full and standing all the way with less than fragrant festival goers and a blocked toilet) in my experience, we usually get a better class of Pacer.

(when the said Merseyrail turned up to take me back, I bailed at Long Preston in favour of a 158 from Settle).

 

[John @ home]

From the T&Cs:

https://www.wymetro.com/news/news_temp/T_Cs_for_Special_winter_offer,_Settle-Carlisle_railways/

I doesn't explicitly state the paper counterpart needs to be in date but I wouldn't want to be the one arguing that point.

In my opinion, a ticket which is valid only with a paper counterpart and an MCard would not be a valid ticket for the purposes of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws if presented with an out-of-date paper counterpart and an MCard.

I've used Mcards for 3 indivdual weeks now and although I've used gates at Leeds I've not actually had anyone able to read a card on train yet - they've looked at the card that accompanies it though which shows what you've got. Have longer distance guards had any training on these yet?

My experience is that the current arrangements are unsatisfactory.

I will start a separate thread on West Yorkshire Metro MCards.

 

[Starmill]

In my opinion, a ticket which is valid only with a paper counterpart and an MCard would not be a valid ticket for the purposes of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws if presented with an out-of-date paper counterpart and an MCard.My experience is that the current arrangements are unsatisfactory.

I will start a separate thread on West Yorkshire Metro MCards.

I think we are in agreement on all counts, John.

 

[bnm]

A winter special offer on the Tarka Line in Devon. 50% off Off Peak fares to Barnstaple.

From First Great Western:

BARNSTAPLE OFF-PEAK RAIL FARES SLASHED 50%

Friday 24th October 2014

First Great Western (FGW), working in partnership with the Tarka Rail Association (TRA) and Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, has just announced a “Shoppers’ Special” fare saving off-peak customers 50% on some journeys.

Available from November 1, the fare will enable passengers joining morning northbound Tarka Line trains to Barnstaple to travel for half the regular off-peak day-return fare.

The offer is available from Exeter Central, St. David’s and St. Thomas, Polsloe Bridge, Digby & Sowton and all Tarka Line Stations. The adult off-peak day-return fare from Exeter to Barnstaple will be £4.85 instead of the normal £9.70 and £3.95 from Crediton to Barnstaple, instead of the present £7.90.

Dan Okey, FGW’s Regional Development Manager (West), said:

“First Great Western is proud to support the communities we serve. Train services are vital to the local economy, which is why we are working with the local community to improve services and to offer greater value to our customers. We are delighted to announce this offer, helping those who fancy a trip to Barnstaple for the pannier market or to the many pubs and walks accessible from the line.”

Passengers may travel on any northbound morning train up to and including the 11:27 departure from Exeter St. David’s, Mondays to Saturdays (dep. Crediton 11:38; Yeoford 11:44; Copplestone 11:49; Morchard Road 11:52; Eggesford 12:08; Umberleigh 12:23.)

Return by any scheduled southbound train leaving Barnstaple on the same day.

On Sundays all northbound trains up to and including the 12:10 departure from Exeter St. David’s are also included in the offer.
Children (5-15 years) are able to travel at half the reduced fare and railcard holders may also claim their normal discounts. GroupSave reductions are available for groups of three or more adults travelling together.

John Phillips, TRA Chairman noted that “two of TRA’s goals are to encourage better use of lightly loaded services, hence today’s announcement, while tackling overcrowding on heavily used trains. In a few weeks’ time, I hope to address the second issue with details of additional rolling stock being assigned to two of the line's most overcrowded services.”

Like the idea of travelling half-price? Well, you can make a habit of it. “Shoppers’ Special” fares will remain in effect until 31 March 2015.

 

[Cletus]

Could the "current online offers" thread start to be updated again?

 

[Kite159]

10% off grand central advances when booked this month using http://www.grandcentralrail.com/special-offers/nov10/

I've also been sent a code for 20% off cross country advances for use in the next 30 days if anybody wants it as I won't be using it

 

[Butts]

10% off grand central advances when booked this month using http://www.grandcentralrail.com/special-offers/nov10/

I've also been sent a code for 20% off cross country advances for use in the next 30 days if anybody wants it as I won't be using it

Is it valid in 1st Class ?

 

[Kite159]

Is it valid in 1st Class ?

Email says it is

http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/react20

(Ever since I found that the Grand Central website does the 10% NUS discount for Crosscountry trains as well as providing free ticket collection & postage I will be using them if needing a XC advance)

 

[maniacmartin]

Free travel in London Zones on between Friday 15th November 04.30am and Saturday 15th November 1am if you pay by Mastercard Contactless bank card.

http://www.mastercard.co.uk/contactless.html

Your card will be charged, and then Mastercard will refund up to 28 days after the fact

 

[Deerfold]

Free travel in London Zones on between Friday 15th November 04.30am and Saturday 15th November 1am if you pay by Mastercard Contactless bank card.

http://www.mastercard.co.uk/contactless.html

Your card will be charged, and then Mastercard will refund up to 28 days after the fact

Nice offer, but I wonder why it's only 0100 rather than 0430? If your card has capped earlier than that I wonder what you'll be charged for travel after 1am?

 

[Cletus]

Have received an email with a London Midland offer

http://www.londonmidland.com/days-out-and-offers/attractions-and-offers/6th-birthday (LM web address error)

Celebrate our 7th birthday with us and get a 7% online discount off thousands of London Midland Off-Peak tickets and Advance fares.

Since 2007 we’ve introduced more journeys, new trains,improved stations and won awards for our customer service.

We’re not stopping there though: we’ve got 40 more carriages coming into service, so from 14 December they’ll be an extra 139,000 seats every week across our network.

Can the "current online offers" thread be updated again?

 

[breadfan]

Free travel in London Zones on between Friday 15th November 04.30am and Saturday 15th November 1am if you pay by Mastercard Contactless bank card.

http://www.mastercard.co.uk/contactless.html

Your card will be charged, and then Mastercard will refund up to 28 days after the fact

Friday is the 14th. Good call, though. A band I know are playing in Camden that night so I'll post the news and link on their facebook group

 

[maniacmartin]

I've heard a rumour that the Mastercard offer will be repeated on Friday 28th as well, so check back on the web page!

 

[All Line Rover]

Virgin Trains has a First Class seat sale for travel between 6 December and 10 January. The link is on the Virgin Trains homepage.

The T&C's have a list of 'excluded' trains, which are mostly a selection of peak-time trains. This suggests that tickets are available on all other trains, but I have not found a sale ticket on any peak-time service. The only services with sale tickets are those that have the cheapest, or second-cheapest tier of Advance 1st tickets available.

There are no Railcard discounts, so considering the above this sale is of little use for Railcard holders.

 

[maniacmartin]

Nice offer, but I wonder why it's only 0100 rather than 0430? If your card has capped earlier than that I wonder what you'll be charged for travel after 1am?

The Oyster day rolls over in the early hours of the morning, before 0430.
Apparnetly, if you board, e.g. the 0200 departure from Victoria to East Croydon you could be hit with two maximum journey charges, one on each Oyster day

 

[Deerfold]

The Oyster day rolls over in the early hours of the morning, before 0430.
Apparnetly, if you board, e.g. the 0200 departure from Victoria to East Croydon you could be hit with two maximum journey charges, one on each Oyster day

That shouldn't affect cashless as it's all handled by the back office system. A cashless day goes from 0430 to 0429 the next day.

 

[TEW]

I've heard a rumour that the Mastercard offer will be repeated on Friday 28th as well, so check back on the web page!

The TfL brief I've seen confirms it will run again on Friday 28th.

 

[theshillito]

Received an email offering 25% off first class advance fares with Virgin. Not valid with railcards. Guess these will be making the rounds over the next few days.

 

[Butts]

Virgin Trains has a First Class seat sale for travel between 6 December and 10 January. The link is on the Virgin Trains homepage.

The T&C's have a list of 'excluded' trains, which are mostly a selection of peak-time trains. This suggests that tickets are available on all other trains, but I have not found a sale ticket on any peak-time service. The only services with sale tickets are those that have the cheapest, or second-cheapest tier of Advance 1st tickets available.

There are no Railcard discounts, so considering the above this sale is of little use for Railcard holders.

I've had the e-mail as well.

Not everyone has a Railcard you know

I'd booked an £11.94 single for my Daughter to travel from Falkirk to Sandwell & Dudley with a Railcard on sat December 20th.

Add the £15 supplement for the Glasgow - SAD leg and that makes £27

The "sale fare" 1st Class is £49 !!!

 

[Cletus]

Southeastern 25% off sale from 17th November to 24th December.
http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/special-offers/winter-sale/

Southeastern Terms & conditions – 25% OFF Winter 2014

1. The 25% discount is available on the following ticket types:

Off-Peak Day Return
Off-Peak Day Single
Off-Peak Return
Super Off-Peak Return
Super Off-Peak Single

2. Restrictions vary for different journeys:

Off-Peak Day tickets are valid after 9:00am.
Off-Peak Day tickets for trains travelling into London are valid to arrive after 10:00am.
Off-Peak Open Return tickets are valid after 9:30am.
Super Off-Peak tickets are valid after 10:00am.
Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are valid all day at weekends and Bank Holidays.
3. This offer is only available online on tickets purchased through the Southeastern website. Discounted tickets cannot be bought at a ticket office or through any other website.


4. This promotion is open to all Southeastern mainline and high speed journeys. It is not available on journeys wholly within the Oyster card area (London Fare Zones 1-6) or when purchasing a Travelcard.


5. Discounts apply to Standard Class only. First Class tickets are not available on this offer.


6. Railcard discounts are not available with this offer.


7. Discounted tickets are available to buy from Monday 17 November 2014 for the period of travel from Monday 17 November to Wednesday 24 December 2014 inclusive.


8. Kids for a Quid tickets are available to purchase from ticket offices when a Southeastern 25% OFF discounted adult off-peak day return ticket purchased online is presented.Standard Kids for a Quid t’s & c’s apply: One adult with an off-peak day return ticket can take up to 4 kids for a quid each when travelling together off-peak.


9. Normal refund rules apply.


10. There are no quotas for these promotional tickets. It may be taken up by anyone, any amount of times for travel from Monday 17 November to Wednesday 24 December 2014 inclusive.

 

[All Line Rover]

"Railcard discounts are not available with this offer." Wow. We all know that Southeastern is such good value to start with.

 

[Cletus]

"Railcard discounts are not available with this offer." Wow. We all know that Southeastern is such good value to start with.

Yes, been waiting months for a Southeastern offer, any offer, but it's completely useless.

 

[bb21]

Is it just me or have Railcard discounts been discounted from many more offers these days compared to a few years ago?

 

[Cletus]

Is it just me or have Railcard discounts been discounted from many more offers these days compared to a few years ago?

Southeastern's last sale in June didn't have railcard discounts either.