TPE booking system anomaly

[eoff]

Came across a strange situation trying to purchase a ticket today (off-peak return).

Dec 4 PST to MAN from 1300
Dec 6 MAN to PST from 1600

Their booking system steadfastly refuses to show me the return TPE service at 1621.

Customer services could only suggest to try the via option but I don't think that helps in this instance. I can only assume they don't think you would ever want to make a longer journey.

 

[saxsux]

Presumably it's not shown as an option because the 1621 arrives Edinburgh at 1940, the exact same time as the train to Prestonpans departs - and there's an hour's wait until the next connection.

Still, there are far worse places than Edinburgh to break your journey for an hour, and I don't see why the ticket wouldn't be valid

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@eoff. Does seem strange that TPE's own booking system will let you book on to their 1621 Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh Waverley (via Carlisle) train if only travelling/returning as far as Edinburgh, but not onward to Prestonpans or say North Berwick. Presume it's only programmed to show "fastest journeys" or some such?

As it's an Off Peak Return that's being bought, could TPE Customer Services just sort out a reservation for you on the 1621?

 

[eoff]

The person I spoke to did not offer to complete a purchase so I purchased it from LNER.

 

[Kite159]

@eoff. Does seem strange that TPE's own booking system will let you book on to their 1621 Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh Waverley (via Carlisle) train if only travelling/returning as far as Edinburgh, but not onward to Prestonpans or say North Berwick. Presume it's only programmed to show "fastest journeys" or some such?

As it's an Off Peak Return that's being bought, could TPE Customer Services just sort out a reservation for you on the 1621?

Most likely it won't show that TPE due to the 60 minute fester at Edinburgh and the
9S80 1440 London Euston to Edinburgh arriving between the TPE & the next North Berwick train (so I presume the booking system will be suggesting the 16;50 from Manchester with the 1629 Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness connecting into that TPE.

Maybe the OP could force the booking engine to place them onto the TPE all the way by using a 'calls at Lockerbie' filter or using the forum's booking engine and going into advance mode to increase the connection at Edinburgh so it forces using the TPE rather than relying on Northern & Avanti.

 

[eoff]

Maybe the OP could force the booking engine to place them onto the TPE all the way by using a 'calls at Lockerbie' filter ...

It looks like that would have worked.