Ticket purchase issues on heritage railways

[duffield]

I've put this question to the Bluebell enquiries email address but the auto reply says they're very busy so I may not get a timely response.

So: For the beer festival tomorrow, there's just 5 minutes between my national rail service arriving at East Grinstead (1020) and the Bluebell departure (1025), I suspect there won't necessarily be time to buy a ticket. Do they sell tickets on the train if necessary, or even allow you to buy on arrival at Sheffield Park?

I can't book in advance, I won't know if I can travel until the last minute.

Supplementary question: Do both the A and B sets have working toilets? I'm pretty sure they do but I do remember ending up on a set without (non-corridor compartments) a few years back.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2024 ==



LATER:
Well, I did get a reply, and the answer is "No". (:

No on-train sales, and no boarding without a ticket. Of course they suggested booking in advance but I can't do that because I don't know if I'll be fit to travel until the morning.

I guess I'll turn up, hope the Bluebell service is a bit late leaving, and if not get the 1110; at least it's only a 45 minute gap.

But that five minute "connection" does suck a bit; I wish it was actually impossible rather than really marginal!

 

[158760]

No on-train sales, and no boarding without a ticket. Of course they suggested booking in advance but I can't do that because I don't know if I'll be fit to travel until the morning.

Sorry this is the case, we do not have enough TTIs to sell tickets onboard, and you can’t travel without a ticket as mentioned. Luckily the service is more frequent, but once again I apologise.

Supplementary question: Do both the A and B sets have working toilets? I'm pretty sure they do but I do remember ending up on a set without (non-corridor compartments) a few years back.

Yes - both A and B sets are booked to be 5 car corridor sets. A set will be Mk1, B set will be Mk1 and Bulleid.

 

[duffield]

Sorry this is the case, we do not have enough TTIs to sell tickets onboard, and you can’t travel without a ticket as mentioned. Luckily the service is more frequent, but once again I apologise.

Yes - both A and B sets are booked to be 5 car corridor sets. A set will be Mk1, B set will be Mk1 and Bulleid.

Thanks for that. I just hope I'm fit to travel!

 

[Watershed]

That does seem a remarkably harsh approach for a heritage railway. Suppose they're not really interested in the "turn up and go" market.

 

[158760]

There are ticket offices at all the stations, it’s just unfortunate that the OP has a very tight connection and they don’t know if they can go until the day - you can still book online the previous night.

It is a shame about the TTI situation and it is something that will hopefully change soon. Unfortunately, it is one of the less popular roles, and it doesn’t interest most people.

 

[renegademaster]

East grinstead is a fairly quiet station even on gala days , you should be able to make it as long as it arrives on time and you walk briskly

 

[WesternLancer]

Are there through tickets from national rail to bluebell destinations? Which would avoid needing to buy on arrival at East Grinstead.

I see Bluebell Railway is a destination on brfares.com but no prices in it so maybe there once was but no longer exists.

 

[JonathanH]

Are there through tickets from national rail to bluebell destinations? Which would avoid needing to buy on arrival at East Grinstead.

I see Bluebell Railway is a destination on brfares.com but no prices in it so maybe there once was but no longer exists.

Seems to be a fare from East Grinstead to Bluebell Railway for £16
https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=EGR&dest=K151&period=20240705

 

[duffield]

East grinstead is a fairly quiet station even on gala days , you should be able to make it as long as it arrives on time and you walk briskly

I can probably make it in three minutes, but buying a ticket in two would be a challenge even if there's no queue, if the Bluebell service leaves on time. Anyhow, it's OK, I'll expect to get the 1110 and if I get the 1025 it'll be a bonus.

 

[WesternLancer]

Seems to be a fair from East Grinstead
https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=EGR&dest=K151&period=20240705

Aha! Could that be what @duffield needs if possible to get a national rail ticket office to sell it.

Unsure if its an all day ticket but maybe it could be upgraded with an excess fare at Sheffield Park or Horsted Keynes ticket offices later in the day after the connection is made.

 

[duffield]

That does seem a remarkably harsh approach for a heritage railway. Suppose they're not really interested in the "turn up and go" market.

That's a bit unfair, it *is* turn up and go in terms of buying at the ticket office. Just unfortunate about the tight connection.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2024 ==

Aha! Could that be what @duffield needs if possible to get a national rail ticket office to sell it.

Unsure if its an all day ticket but maybe it could be upgraded with an excess fare at Sheffield Park or Horsted Keynes ticket offices later in the day after the connection is made.

Thanks for the suggestions, but it's the beer festival so I need the full package ticket, and I won't be buying an NR ticket as I have a pass. As per my other post, it's not a big deal given the existence of the 1110, just a minor annoyance.

 

[simonw]

That's a bit unfair, it *is* turn up and go in terms of buying at the ticket office. Just unfortunate about the tight connection.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2024 ==


Thanks for the suggestions, but it's the beer festival so I need the full package ticket, and I won't be buying an NR ticket as I have a pass. As per my other post, it's not a big deal given the existence of the 1110, just a minor annoyance.

Just get on the train and buy when you get off. If a TTI comes along they will understand. It's not like they will penalty fare you.

 

[JonathanH]

Just get on the train and buy when you get off. If a TTI comes along they will understand. It's not like they will penalty date you.

East Grinstead tends to have a ticket inspector at the entrance so not sure how you get past without a ticket if they refuse access.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Just get on the train and buy when you get off. If a TTI comes along they will understand. It's not like they will penalty date you.

I assume you mean Penalty Fare you. It made me smile, imagining a TTI saying "you haven't got a ticket. You must take me out to dinner"

 

[simonw]

I assume you mean Penalty Fare you. It made me smile, imagining a TTI saying "you haven't got a ticket. You must take me out to dinner"

Auto correct strikes again

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2024 ==

East Grinstead tends to have a ticket inspector at the entrance so not sure how you get past without a ticket if they refuse access.

Well clearly you won't if the preserved railway wants to deny access.

 

[duffield]

East Grinstead tends to have a ticket inspector at the entrance so not sure how you get past without a ticket if they refuse access.

I wouldn't even try. When it comes to railways (national rail or heritage) I always stick to the rules.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Seems to be a fare from East Grinstead to Bluebell Railway for £16
https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=EGR&dest=K151&period=20240705

Is this fare actually valid for a special event day on the Bluebell Railway, as is the case this Saturday/Sunday?

 

[duffield]

No problem as it turned out. NR service arrived 1018, no queue at booking office, Bluebell service left 5 late at 1030. Now back at East Grinstead ready for second run to Sheffield Park and more cider and music...

 

[Bletchleyite]

They definitely aren't. They quite rudely tried to turn me away when I got there after they had cashed up (but well before the train departure). The buffet staff sorted me out, but the woman in the ticket office really didn't care.

I found it quite off putting and sad.

Edit - note this was the Spa Valley at Eridge, not the Bluebell.

 

[WesternLancer]

They definitely aren't. They quite rudely tried to turn me away when I got there after they had cashed up (but well before the train departure). The buffet staff sorted me out, but the woman in the ticket office really didn't care.

I found it quite off putting and sad.

V poor. They could have apologised, treated you as honest and said please get on as we’ve cashed up and please pay where you get the chance.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Sep 2024 ==

No problem as it turned out. NR service arrived 1018, no queue at booking office, Bluebell service left 5 late at 1030. Now back at East Grinstead ready for second run to Sheffield Park and more cider and music...

Good to hear!

 

[158760]

They definitely aren't. They quite rudely tried to turn me away when I got there after they had cashed up (but well before the train departure). The buffet staff sorted me out, but the woman in the ticket office really didn't care.

I found it quite off putting and sad.

Which station was this at and what time? Really surprised this happened, never had it before where it’s been shut up before the last train. Sheffield Park may sometimes shut around 5-10 mins before the last train if the person on duty has to go, and East Grinstead is quite short on porters currently but there should always be someone available. That is really disappointing if you’ve been turned away 15+ mins before the departure.

 

[nanstallon]

They definitely aren't. They quite rudely tried to turn me away when I got there after they had cashed up (but well before the train departure). The buffet staff sorted me out, but the woman in the ticket office really didn't care.

I found it quite off putting and sad.

The true BR 1960s experience, 'life is easier without the public being such a nuisance'.

 

[Jan Mayen]

I'm surprised you were treated badly. Back in the days before I had life membership, I found the staff at East Grinstead quite helpful. Nowadays, if things are a bit tight for time, I've found they will let me through and ask me to get my (free) ticket later.
Some years ago, I turned up at Kingscote when Flying Scotsman was on the Bluebell to buy the gala ticket (£40, although not for travel behind Flying Scotsman itself) and they said sorry, we don't have the right stock, please buy at the next station.

 

[duffield]

Things went a bit pear shaped on the way back - no trains from East Grinstead for around four hours, I didn't quite catch the reason but I think something went "bang".

Due to the strong cider, memories of what happened next are a bit hazy, but it seems to have involved a bus to Crawley Haywards Heath; I somehow got back to Nottingham around 22:30 (via Grantham due to the MML closure).

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was Eridge for the last train of the day.

The buffet person did it in the end but the booking office person was genuinely trying to get me to go away.

 

[zwk500]

It was Eridge for the last train of the day.

The buffet person did it in the end but the booking office person was genuinely trying to get me to go away.

Eridge would be Spa Valley not Bluebell though?

 

[renegademaster]

At eridge the ticket office is often closed (i think they are quite strugling for volunteers) but they always tell me just to buy a ticket at tonbridge

 

[paul1609]

At eridge the ticket office is often closed (i think they are quite strugling for volunteers) but they always tell me just to buy a ticket at tonbridge

I rather imagine Tonbridge would tell you to go away as well

 

[Bishopstone]

At Eridge during my brief April visit, one volunteer was working the refreshment hut, ticket office window, platform duties and keyholder responsibilities. Very impressive multi-tasking!

 

[zwk500]

I rather imagine Tonbridge would tell you to go away as well

You'd hope they'd at least offer to sell you a ticket to Tunbridge Wells (formerly Central).