Why can't I get a return?

[ChrisEJ1993]

Why can I not get a simple return ticket from Bexhill to Cheddington?

I'm an adult with a 16-25 Railcard.

When I put it into the journey planner on the National Rail website, it comes up with the multiple ticket symbol on ALL of the journey options, meaning I have to pay over £40 for the day's return trip!

I need some advice. What do I do?

 

[dan_atki]

Use something other then National Rail for checking ticket prices

The following options are available to you:

Route Kensington Olympia
Anytime Day Return: £34.00
Off Peak Return: £19.60 (Monday-Friday after 0930; Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays at any time; return in one month)
Off Peak Day Return: £17.25 (Monday-Friday by any train scheduled to reach London Terminals/Kensington Olympia after 1000; Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays at any time)

Route +Any Permitted (via London zone 1 - including Tube between Victoria/London Bridge/Charing Cross and Euston)
Anytime Day Return: £42.95
Off Peak Return: £24.35 (Monday-Friday after 0930; Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays at any time; return in one month)
Off Peak Day Return: £20.55 (Monday-Friday by any train scheduled to reach London Terminals/Kensington Olympia after 1000; Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays at any time)


All boils down to when you are going and coming back (i.e. time of departure, what day, coming back same day etc.) and which route you wish to use.

Hope this helps .

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks for the info. If I wanted to go via London zone 1, what would I ask for at the ticket office?

 

[dan_atki]

'A 16-25 Anytime/Off Peak/Off Peak Day* return to Cheddington, route Any Permitted'

*As appropriate.

 

[glynn80]

Thanks for the info. If I wanted to go via London zone 1, what would I ask for at the ticket office?

The second option dan_atki gave you, an +Any Permitted* [insert ticket type you want] return from Bexhill to Cheddington

*The + denotes validity for the Cross London Transfer on the London Underground.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks for your help. So why did the National Rail one come up with multiple singles, and not the +any permitted option?

 

[dan_atki]

Having a quick look, it deemed the quickest way for you to get from Euston to Cheddington was to go beyond Cheddington to Leighton Buzzard (on a fast service) then go back on yourself to Cheddington.

For this to be allowed you'd need a ticket from Bexhill to Leighton Buzzard and then one from Leighton Buzzard to Cheddington.

Such an itenary isn't logical. Yes, it helps save some time but at a cost of more money! Other websites - especially those that use WebTIS technology (e.g. Southern's) - are more flexible if you know how to use them and do not produce silly itenaries!

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks for all your help

 

[87015]

Daysave plus CDR from Tring/Leighton to Cheddington would be cheaper.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I know, but you can't buy DaySave on the day of travel, which is what I need to do. Why can't Southern be like other TOC's and sell their ranger/rover tickets on board the trains or at the ticket office! Grrr!

 

[A60K]

To be fair, Daysave is an Advance Purchase ticket - when you look at the cost and how much you save you can understand why it's not a walk up ticket.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

But the majority of TOC's I've heard of have rovers and rangers you can walk up and buy. I find the majority of the time it's impossible to know where I'm going trainspotting 7 days in advance lol.

 

[class377man]

To be fair, Daysave is an Advance Purchase ticket - when you look at the cost and how much you save you can understand why it's not a walk up ticket.

Indeed, it is fantastic value, and certainly worth planning your trips a week in advance so you can use it.

But the majority of TOC's I've heard of have rovers and rangers you can walk up and buy.

I don't know for sure, but I highly doubt if there are any walk-up rovers that cover an area the size of the Southern network for a tenner.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

You must agree though that it would be so much better if we could buy it on board though xD

 

[class377man]

I wouldn't complain

(well, I would if other fares were upped to cover the loss )

 

[yorkie]

Yes it would be great if we could buy AP tickets on board But not realistic.

 

[glynn80]

Yes it would be great if we could buy AP tickets on board But not realistic.

Agreed, the Daysave is only the great value it is because of it's advance purchase nature. If it were to be offered at as a walk on product, it would undercut Southern's generic fares range and therefore would have to be priced at just above the Hastings to Milton Keynes Central SVR so as not to through the other fares in Southern's range, into dissaray.

 

[tony_mac]

I have read somewhere that the daysave is available on the day from tourist information in Hastings (also eastbourne and brighton). Maybe someone local can check that?

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thats true, but thats near enough impossible for me to get. What annoys me is that you can get it on the day from there, and not from the company itself?

 

[MCR247]

Its like FCCs Daysave on TL routes. Heres where you can purchase it from:
Tickets can only be purchased from the following outlets:

Greenwich Tourist Information, Centre Pepys House, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, London SE10 9LW
Bedford Tourist Information Centre, Townhall St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SJ
1 Stop Travel, 16 Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1EN
Brighton & Hove Visitor Information Centre, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JA
Luton Tourist Information Centre, Luton Central Library, St George's Square, Luton, LU1 2NG
St Albans Tourist Information Centre Townhall, Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 5DH

Oh, so not even a train stn or FCC themselves!