TVM saying "train is full" but TO can still sell ticket

[kristiang85]

This morning I was trying to buy an open return on a TVM at Manchester Piccadilly to Windermere (on the 10.26 TPE). Not only was it apparently only offering day returns rather than an option for opens when I clicked flexible tickets, when I got exasperated and clicked single ticket it said it could not sell me one as the "train was full".

Luckily there was no queue at the ticket office, and the chap there happily sold us an open return for this service (for much cheaper than I would have paid going for the single the machine was pushing me into), and now we are on board there's an entire coach of unbooked seats (maybe more, I haven't seen the rest of the train).

Is there any reason the machine would make this purchase so difficult? And I thought it was actually impossible for a train to be "full" in the UK, so that tickets could not be sold?

Anyway, moral of the story - keep ticket offices!

 

[Belperpete]

I have had a similar issue in the past where one TOC's website would refuse to sell a ticket for a given train claiming that no tickets were available, but another TOC's website was quite happy not just to sell me a ticket for that train, but also give me a seat reservation for it too!

Was the TVM that you used one of the journey planning types, that require you to select all your trains before it will issue a ticket? These do seem to cause problems like this.

 

[Watershed]

This morning I was trying to buy an open return on a TVM at Manchester Piccadilly to Windermere (on the 10.26 TPE). Not only was it apparently only offering day returns rather than an option for opens when I clicked flexible tickets, when I got exasperated and clicked single ticket it said it could not sell me one as the "train was full".

Luckily there was no queue at the ticket office, and the chap there happily sold us an open return for this service (for much cheaper than I would have paid going for the single the machine was pushing me into), and now we are on board there's an entire coach of unbooked seats (maybe more, I haven't seen the rest of the train).

Is there any reason the machine would make this purchase so difficult? And I thought it was actually impossible for a train to be "full" in the UK, so that tickets could not be sold?

Anyway, moral of the story - keep ticket offices!

TPE have falsely marked all their West Coast services as "reservations compulsory" in the timetable data, so journey planners (including planner-based TVMs) are forced to check for reservations, and issue one, if you select such a service.

In reality you are quite correct that reservations are not compulsory in practice on any trains here, the only exception being the Caledonian Sleeper.

Planner-based TVMs cause no end of problems such as this. They really should have a "quick buy" function where you can skip the timetable search; some do, but don't make it obvious, or limit the tickets or destinations you can buy.

 

[Wallsendmag]

TPE have falsely marked all their West Coast services as "reservations compulsory" in the timetable data, so journey planners (including planner-based TVMs) are forced to check for reservations, and issue one, if you select such a service.

In reality you are quite correct that reservations are not compulsory in practice on any trains here, the only exception being the Caledonian Sleeper.

Planner-based TVMs cause no end of problems such as this. They really should have a "quick buy" function where you can skip the timetable search; some do, but don't make it obvious, or limit the tickets or destinations you can buy.

The problem with quick buy on TVMs is that it rules out Advance tickets so people will pay more than they need to.

 

[Watershed]

The problem with quick buy on TVMs is that it rules out Advance tickets so people will pay more than they need to.

Provided a warning/disclaimer to that effect is displayed, I see no reason to stop people who know the ticket they want from buying it quickly.

 

[PeterC]

Provided a warning/disclaimer to that effect is displayed, I see no reason to stop people who know the ticket they want from buying it quickly.

I can see all the arguments for and against having to buy a ticket against an itinerary. However i can just jump in the car and drive. If "the railway" wants my money it's down to them to make it easy for me to buy a flexible ticket if I want one or an advance if I don't

 

[Wallsendmag]

We’re doing popular destinations gives a quicker selection for many more tickets

 

[redreni]

The problem with quick buy on TVMs is that it rules out Advance tickets so people will pay more than they need to.

Maybe it's cos I'm an old fuddy duddy, but it wouldn't occur to me to try to use a TVM to buy an Advance. I grew up in an era where TVMs were for queue busting and would only sell a limited range of walk-up tickets.

Even knowing TVMs generally can sell Advances, I still wouldn't dream of buying an Advance from one, even if I needed a ticket quickly. I would use a site or app that looks for splits.

If there were an option to bypass journey planner mode on a TVM, I'd argue most people would understand this means Advance fares can't be shown - how could they be if the machine doesn't know which train you'll be on? This could be spelt out in an on-screen warning if desired.

That's in contrast to the practice of not looking for splits which TOC websites, apps, TVMs and ticket offices engage in, which has just as much if not more potential to lead to customers overpaying, and won't be at all obvious to anyone unfamiliar with how GB rail ticketing works.

 

[Belperpete]

Maybe it's cos I'm an old fuddy duddy, but it wouldn't occur to me to try to use a TVM to buy an Advance. I grew up in an era where TVMs were for queue busting and would only sell a limited range of walk-up tickets.

Even knowing TVMs generally can sell Advances, I still wouldn't dream of buying an Advance from one, even if I needed a ticket quickly. I would use a site or app that looks for splits.

With the advent of advances that can be bought almost up to time of travel, and flexible advances, it is surely more important that TVMs should be able to sell them.

I would rather that the TVM didn't waste time looking for splits, as they don't save money for most of the journeys I make. And if like me, you prefer flexible tickets, you have to be very careful with splits to ensure that you don't pick a split point that limits your travel options. I much prefer to work through the options at home, when I don't have a queue of people behind me breathing down my neck.

 

[Haywain]

We’re doing popular destinations gives a quicker selection for many more tickets

That's not anything new.