I have a registration with the new Avanti booking site and likewise the XC, Chiltern
and WMT booking engines. However Whereas I previously booked with XC and/or
Virgin I had not previously been asked to pay a booking fee to Trainline. ?
When I recently attempted to make an advance booking with XC, despite
their 'NO Booking fees' claim...I was directed to a payment option via trainline
asking for a 75p booking fee which is added to the fare upfront. This 'additional'
fee was originally charged at the ticket vending machine when You collected
your ticket(s)..? (This fee was easily avoided by asking a desk clerk to print
your tickets at a booking office due to my poor eyesight).
I had a similar result with the Avanti site. Surprisingly I had NO problem
booking an advance fare with the WMT engine as their fare(s)/ options were
the same and NO requests for booking fees. I will stick with WMT in future.
Quote from: windy miller on January 24, 2020, 03:15:03 AM
I have a registration with the new Avanti booking site and likewise the XC, Chiltern
and WMT booking engines. However Whereas I previously booked with XC and/or
Virgin I had not previously been asked to pay a booking fee to Trainline. ?
When I recently attempted to make an advance booking with XC, despite
their 'NO Booking fees' claim...I was directed to a payment option via trainline
asking for a 75p booking fee which is added to the fare upfront. This 'additional'
fee was originally charged at the ticket vending machine when You collected
your ticket(s)..? (This fee was easily avoided by asking a desk clerk to print
your tickets at a booking office due to my poor eyesight).
I had a similar result with the Avanti site. Surprisingly I had NO problem
booking an advance fare with the WMT engine as their fare(s)/ options were
the same and NO requests for booking fees. I will stick with WMT in future.
I will raise your concerns at the first Avanti Customer Focus Meeting I attend. It is my understanding that if you have created a personal account on the Avanti website print at home tickets are free as stated as no booking fee though a charge may occur for other delivery methods.. All TOCs and commercial ticket sellers used the same interface for ticket sales and train line is owned by Virgin Trains I will raise your point at the earliest opportunity with FirstGroup & The Italian State Railway Company.
Quote from: richardjones210368 on January 24, 2020, 05:45:54 AM
I will raise your concerns at the first Avanti Customer Focus Meeting I attend. It is my understanding that if you have created a personal account on the Avanti website print at home tickets are free as stated as no booking fee though a charge may occur for other delivery methods.. All TOCs and commercial ticket sellers used the same interface for ticket sales and train line is owned by Virgin Trains I will raise your point at the earliest opportunity with FirstGroup & The Italian State Railway Company.
Trainline is not owned by Virgin or Virgin Trains it was started by Virgin Group in 1997 but was sold in 2006. Since then its has changed hands a few times but since June 2019 it is now a public company listed on the FTSE 250.
Virgin used to have a 86% shareholding in trainline.com with National Express owning the other 14%
In July 2006, Exponent Private Equity acquired Trainline. In July 2007, Trainline acquired Advanced Smartcard Technologies and ECEBS, signalling a new strategy to enter the smartcardmarket. Ecebs was subsequently sold to Bell ID in November 2012.
The company was bought from Exponent by the private equity firm KKR in January 2015.In August 2015, the company announced it had changed its name from thetrainline.com to Trainline in 2016, acquired Captain Train and re-branded it as Trainline EU.
In June 2019, Trainline was the subject of an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.
What I didnt make clear in my post and what I ment was Virgin Trains have rentered the market with a train line in competition with Trainline
Quote from: richardjones210368 on January 25, 2020, 04:18:59 AM
Virgin used to have a 86% shareholding in trainline.com with National Express owning the other 14%
In July 2006, Exponent Private Equity acquired Trainline. In July 2007, Trainline acquired Advanced Smartcard Technologies and ECEBS, signalling a new strategy to enter the smartcardmarket. Ecebs was subsequently sold to Bell ID in November 2012.
The company was bought from Exponent by the private equity firm KKR in January 2015.In August 2015, the company announced it had changed its name from thetrainline.com to Trainline in 2016, acquired Captain Train and re-branded it as Trainline EU.
In June 2019, Trainline was the subject of an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.
What I didnt make clear in my post and what I ment was Virgin Trains have rentered the market with a train line in competition with Trainline
Virgin have just continued to operate the train booking platform from Virgin Trains. They have not re-entered the market they have just remained in the market. Only difference is they don't operate any of the trains they sell tickets for now. That has nothing to do with Trainline PLC's ownership as it hasn't been anything to do with Virgin for over 12 years.
Quote from: sryan188 on January 25, 2020, 09:35:39 AM
Virgin have just continued to operate the train booking platform from Virgin Trains. They have not re-entered the market they have just remained in the market. Only difference is they don't operate any of the trains they sell tickets for now. That has nothing to do with Trainline PLC's ownership as it hasn't been anything to do with Virgin for over 12 years.
Well I dont know what I am using then as I am currently beta testing a booking app for Stagecoach PLC to be branded as Virgin Trains to be launched on Google Play when Stagecoach rebrand shortly. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the total bollocks people post when I am using a Virgin Trains booking app which covers bus train and tram!!!
Quote from: richardjones210368 on January 25, 2020, 09:46:04 AM
Well I dont know what I am using then as I am currently beta testing a booking app for Stagecoach PLC to be branded as Virgin Trains to be launched on Google Play when Stagecoach rebrand shortly. This forum never ceases to amaze me with the total bollocks people post when I am using a Virgin Trains booking app which covers bus train and tram!!!
I know what you mean about the amount of b******s posted! A certain individual is posting it everywhere who claims to be an expert in everything.
Virgin Trains are currently selling tickets through their website & app! are they not? They will continue to sell tickets through their website & app?
They are not re-entering a market (as they are already in the market) they are launching a new app? That's it.
Its irrelevant anyway the original post i made was to clear up that trainline is not owned by Virgin.
Whether you book tickets using third-party websites such as TheTrainline, Virgin Trains or TrainGenius (which the Virgin Trains website links to), or directly from a train operators website, they all use the same 'core engine' to bring up ticket information/prices and train times.
It is up to the 'front-end' website whether booking fees are charged, as in the case of TheTrainline.
I have booked London Midland tickets using the Chiltern website, and Chiltern tickets using the (old) Virgin Trains website.
What I found amusing last year, when I booked tickets through Transport For Wales - which didn't charge any booking fee - I paid with Paypal, and my payment went to... TheTrainline.com. ;D
Quote from: richardjones210368 on January 25, 2020, 10:16:25 AM
Isnt that what I exactly said in my original posts so your posts are utterly pointless and just make yourself look a foolish knowall I know what beta app I used that told me my Diamond Bus 4H was coming on time to go lane swimming at 7.56 this morning despite your pathetic attempt at one upmanship what I am beta testing is nothing to do with the old virgin trains app and is a brand new venture I know because one of clients is developing the app for Stagecoach you obviously know better than one of our valued clients & are saying the app I am using here in Halesowen Bus Station doesn't exist I take it your a Love Island fan then?
It is not what you posted in your original post!
I corrected your
statement about the ownership of Trainline.
You then started talking about Virgin re-entering the market in competition with Trainline. They already are in competition with trainline.
I am not saying the app does not exist but it not a new venture as they already operate in the market.
End of conversation.
Quote from: Stu on January 25, 2020, 10:35:36 AM
Whether you book tickets using third-party websites such as TheTrainline, Virgin Trains or TrainGenius (which the Virgin Trains website links to), or directly from a train operators website, they all use the same 'core engine' to bring up ticket information/prices and train times.
It is up to the 'front-end' website whether booking fees are charged, as in the case of TheTrainline.
I have booked London Midland tickets using the Chiltern website, and Chiltern tickets using the (old) Virgin Trains website.
What I found amusing last year, when I booked tickets through Transport For Wales - which didn't charge any booking fee - I paid with Paypal, and my payment went to... TheTrainline.com. ;D
I would never use the TheTrainline.com website to book tickets as they automatically charge a booking fee, but I always use a TOC website they do not charge a booking fee even if the TOC uses TheTrainline.com in the background.
Also if you need to amend a booking or get a refund or have been delayed if you have used the TheTrainline.com website, good luck, whereas if you used a TOC website you are more likely to get a satisfactory outcome.
Quote from: Ian Hardy on January 25, 2020, 11:48:06 AM
I would never use the TheTrainline.com website to book tickets as they automatically charge a booking fee, but I always use a TOC website they do not charge a booking fee even if the TOC uses TheTrainline.com in the background.
Also if you need to amend a booking or get a refund or have been delayed if you have used the TheTrainline.com website, good luck, whereas if you used a TOC website you are more likely to get a satisfactory outcome.
My other half uses the Chltern Trains booking site which I am told is very good and very user friendly for someone who isnt a transport expert I have heard your comments previously from Trainline users it seems to be very commercially driven although I do not have any experience of booking train tickets being a big fan of the late great Sid.
Quote from: Ian Hardy on January 25, 2020, 11:48:06 AM
I would never use the TheTrainline.com website to book tickets as they automatically charge a booking fee, but I always use a TOC website they do not charge a booking fee even if the TOC uses TheTrainline.com in the background.
Also if you need to amend a booking or get a refund or have been delayed if you have used the TheTrainline.com website, good luck, whereas if you used a TOC website you are more likely to get a satisfactory outcome.
Agree. The Trainline is an awful rip-off site. The fees for their business customers can be more than the costs of the ticket they are booking. Avoid like the plague!
Quote from: Tony on January 25, 2020, 12:41:29 PM
Agree. The Trainline is an awful rip-off site. The fees for their business customers can be more than the costs of the ticket they are booking. Avoid like the plague!
Sorry
@Tony that bloke wound me up this morning I forget everyone on here are normal ordinary common people and not politicians looking for a fight its psychological & I was on an adrenaline trip after swimming half a mile when I am only trying to help others on the thread and will try and find out why the original poster suffered as there must be a glitch but that bloke intimating the beta app I am trying was for the existing Virgin Trains ltd when it was Stagecoach PLC I get bogged down in company structures
it was unacceptable language and behaviour for which I apologise to everyone on the forum who was offended but everyone always says to me the Trainline is one big rip off you are so right as always.
Best way to book a train ticket - speak to a human at your local rail station enquiry office. They have more expertise (usually) than the websites and machines that are trying to replace them.
Quote from: the trainbasher on January 25, 2020, 09:11:19 PM
Best way to book a train ticket - speak to a human at your local rail station enquiry office. They have more expertise (usually) than the websites and machines that are trying to replace them.
That's what I always do with train tickets. The times I have a rough idea about beforehand....
Quote from: the trainbasher on January 25, 2020, 09:11:19 PM
Best way to book a train ticket - speak to a human at your local rail station enquiry office. They have more expertise (usually) than the websites and machines that are trying to replace them.
I have to agree T/b ..I made a minor booking error last year in selecting my advance
tickets online..Unknowingly I accidentally selected the E ticket receipt option instead
of the usual machine method.. When I tried to collect my tickets at the desk the clerk
was unable to print them.When I explained that the selection was either
unintentional or
possibly ? a default option
if no selection was made???
the benefit of having a 1-1 with the clerk proved to be an advantage as he
was able to contact the booking site on my behalf and subsequently print
my tickets...Incidentally, Avanti were given my registration info legitimately
from the original
Virgin booking engine. If your 'selected' engine includes
a booking fee it would still apply regardless of your choice of collection.
@ Richard Jones.. it had occurred to me that IF, as you say, you appear to have
an option for discussion at your 'Avanti Customer focus' Meetings?... realy?
can you suggest that previous Virgin failings/inconsistencies be eliminated
under a new franchise?. The business of walk-up Seat reservation(s) being
offered when a service has already begun its journey is a joke. If you have a
seat(s) booked before Midnight Fine... OR before the service leaves its outgoing
terminal There can be no Ambiguities. Unfortunately in 2019 both Virgin AND
XC (on board) seat reservation software was so often unreliable..As I found out
the hard way.. YES I had a pre booked seat..but NO I couldn't sit in it!..Why?
because the entire train was devoid of seat reservations and MY seat was
occupied by a father and three sons with roll up tickets for a Rugby? match
at Coventry. As all seats were clearly 'available' He had every right to
occupy the seat.?.. I chose an alternative 'available seat' right?.Nah..a member
of train staff asked me to 'vacate' my chosen seat as it had been reserved.
The situation was evidently not a 'one off' hence a game of 'musical chairs..
compounded by train management apologising for the lack of seat info LONG
AFTER the train had departed After making a formal complaint I later received
an apology... and £5 I hope Avanti has more to offer....
I wasn't aware Avanti offered seat reservations after departure.
;
I am amazed that this nonsense ever got past whatever passes for staff consultation given the obvious likelihood of on train disputes.
I used the Avanti site for the first time last night. Biggest let down for me is not being able to seat select. I travel alone, so when in first class, I'll always pick a single seat. But I've been allocated a seat on a table for 4, meaning I could potentially share my journey with three strangers.
Maybe I can move after departure, but I suppose they could sell the seat I move into as the journey progresses. I hope it's something they change soon.
I'd have thought the programme would automatically put a single booking in a single seat - I'd assumed the reason the forward facing window seat at a table was invariably reserved was the availability of the seat selector, and probably why they have removed it?
Quote from: Gareth on February 21, 2020, 10:33:25 AM
I used the Avanti site for the first time last night. Biggest let down for me is not being able to seat select. I travel alone, so when in first class, I'll always pick a single seat. But I've been allocated a seat on a table for 4, meaning I could potentially share my journey with three strangers.
Maybe I can move after departure, but I suppose they could sell the seat I move into as the journey progresses. I hope it's something they change soon.
From Tweets that I have seen, they hope to introduce a select a seat service in the Autumn, let's hope it is sooner than that.
Quote from: Tony on January 25, 2020, 12:41:29 PM
Agree. The Trainline is an awful rip-off site. The fees for their business customers can be more than the costs of the ticket they are booking. Avoid like the plague!
I currently have £50 worth of Advance train bookings between Manchester Leeds
London and Doncaster All of these bookings were made with the LNWR engine as recommended in February prior to the covid restrictions.
There were no booking fees.Like so many others I have applied for refunds. After
making several attempts to contact their customer service on an 0333 number the waiting time is absolutely ridiculous.. I get cheap broadband from BT but the Downside
is I have to pay more for land line calls (10p p/m) I gave up after 20 mins....and posted My (existing) tickets to their (LNWR) customer relations office in Edinburgh P/o box 23972 EH3 5DA Their address is
freepost But if your tickets are valuable
you need to send them recorded delivery . Unfortunately You
can't have a freepost Rec del so you need to pay to be safe.. I see the Trainline booking engine appears to be refusing refunds?.only offering alternative bookings on some future date assuming some of us live long enough to enjoy them >:( As Tony had said.earlier..bunch of thief's >:(
As Tony rightly pointed out some time ago that trainline were effectively a bunch of
con men and not to be trusted... I checked a senior rail price for London Euston
yesterday... the LM/ LNW site quoted a fare of £9.20 any time . (each way) ..I checked the trainline site out of curiosity and the same LM services are available at £14 + Booking
fee (0.75p) Robbing bst***s Chiltern are not prepared to offer any reasonably priced
london services... at least not for the time being.....
I have a Super off peak open return for the 10.15 moor st to marylebone on Sat and have received an email saying the train has been cancelled ( no reason given) can i use the ticket on the 9.55?
Quote from: Bob on September 21, 2020, 09:45:06 AM
I have a Super off peak open return for the 10.15 moor st to marylebone on Sat and have received an email saying the train has been cancelled ( no reason given) can i use the ticket on the 9.55?
Should be able to, they appear to be valid on all Chiltern services on a Saturday. Looks like a short notice change to the timetable, the 1015 is now at 1034 or something?
Quote from: Cheese on September 21, 2020, 09:50:32 AM
Should be able to, they appear to be valid on all Chiltern services on a Saturday. Looks like a short notice change to the timetable, the 1015 is now at 1034 or something?
Yes strange. The 9.55 is a little quicker
Quote from: Bob on September 21, 2020, 09:45:06 AM
I have a Super off peak open return for the 10.15 moor st to marylebone on Sat and have received an email saying the train has been cancelled ( no reason given) can i use the ticket on the 9.55?
It's definitely valid early on a Saturday. I usually catch the 0715 from Moor St.
Quote from: Bob on September 21, 2020, 09:45:06 AM
I have a Super off peak open return for the 10.15 moor st to marylebone on Sat and have received an email saying the train has been cancelled ( no reason given) can i use the ticket on the 9.55?
Can travel at any time with a super off peak on weekends.
Quote from: Pat on September 21, 2020, 09:24:07 PM
Can travel at any time with a super off peak on weekends.
Thank you
Just after some advice. Had booked advance tickets to london way before yesterdays lockdown announcement, on Trainline. No option for refund when i click on "Manage my booking". Surely these are exceptional circumstances? It doesnt give me an option to reschedule for a later date either!
Quote from: Bob on November 01, 2020, 01:03:28 PM
Just after some advice. Had booked advance tickets to london way before yesterdays lockdown announcement, on Trainline. No option for refund when i click on "Manage my booking". Surely these are exceptional circumstances? It doesnt give me an option to reschedule for a later date either!
That will teach you to use the trainline which I have been advising against for years.
As some who wants the railway nationalised I would have though the trainline, which leaches money out of the railway more than any privatised TOC was the last company you would use.
The Trainline take 5% out of every ticket they sell which the railway companies should be getting as well as charging you a booking fee which the TOC websites don't making them more expensive to the customer.
Thanks for the helpful advice Tony 😀
I'll always advocate Trainpal over Trainline, it checks for split tickets automatically, and they refunded my advance tickets straight away once the first lockdown was announced.
Quote from: StourValley98 on November 01, 2020, 04:14:36 PM
I'll always advocate Trainpal over Trainline, it checks for split tickets automatically, and they refunded my advance tickets straight away once the first lockdown was announced.
They do still charge a booking fee though. They are a good site to use for checking of split ticketing, but I still always buy my tickets from a TOC
Quote from: Tony on November 01, 2020, 04:53:26 PM
They do still charge a booking fee though. They are a good site to use for checking of split ticketing, but I still always buy my tickets from a TOC
They don't charge a booking fee, actually. I'll book through a TOC or pay at a station for certain trips, like if I'm just going into Birmingham from Tipton, or for when I go to London, when I usually get the one day travelcard with Chiltern, but other than stuff like that, I always use their app.
Quote from: StourValley98 on November 01, 2020, 05:07:14 PM
They don't charge a booking fee, actually. I'll book through a TOC or pay at a station for certain trips, like if I'm just going into Birmingham from Tipton, or for when I go to London, when I usually get the one day travelcard with Chiltern, but other than stuff like that, I always use their app.
Apologies, I was thinking of the other site that does split ticketing, called split ticketing who don't charge a fee, but take a percentage of what they save you
Quote from: StourValley98 on November 01, 2020, 05:07:14 PM
They don't charge a booking fee, actually. I'll book through a TOC or pay at a station for certain trips, like if I'm just going into Birmingham from Tipton, or for when I go to London, when I usually get the one day travelcard with Chiltern, but other than stuff like that, I always use their app.
They don't charge a booking fee for tickets purchased on the day. If you buy a ticket in advance, then you are charged the booking fee.
As I may have mentioned earlier in the year I had some fun and games trying to recover my advance bookings. Fortunately I had all 50 quids worth of
advance fares repaid (eventually) thanks to West Mids rail . They asked me
to provide a ticket image to support my claim(s) which was not possible as
the tickets had not been collected and were still i n the system .
I too Had booked a cheap London trip for the 12th November (on the west mids website) although the booking involved a BNS to EUS and return
Avanti. I have spoken to West Mids by phone and it appears that although
the trip is clearly under lockdown restrictions I have been informed that the booking(s) are/will be valid for six months from the original date. Although I was NOT offered an immediate refund. I have found a trip for 7th December
from BMO to MYB AND return giving me over 8 hours in London for £9.10p
with a Senior railcard. I just hope the lockdown is not extended..
Further to my last report regarding WMR phone advice ,ie your booking may remain flexible with WM rail up to 6 months in advance...I have been informed
that this information is/was in fact incorrect and that as advance fares are ,
as they put it, 'heavily discounted' and therefore non refundable under all
circumstances.. in line with other TOC's...I'm beginning to think they may be taking 'a leaf' from Trainline in the belief that if THEY (T. line) can get away
with their 'No refunds' policy then so can WMR.
More importantly, they fail to realise that IF advance fares can NOT be
credited OR refunded then this would simply encourage ticket holders to ignore covid advisories and travel regardless of possible risks rather than lose their money. This arrangement is unacceptable. Watch this space..... windy
...In the light of ambiguities offered by WMR regarding the use of
'discounted' Advance tickets prior to the present lockdown advice I have
made it clear to their CEO that Gov stats have shown that an estimated
94% of UK seniors have stuck to covid advisories but the threat of
Financial loss/ discrimination would simply encourage seniors to travel
and subject not only themselves to covid risk but also rail staff and others.
I was given precisely 1Hr 40 mins Advance warning by E mail @ 6am
to inform me that my 'Discounted' tickets were invalid despite previously
offered post dated travel. In response to widespread advertising
throughout the rail industry, I chose to buy a Senior railcard @£30P/a
to obtain discounted fares. If YOU have paid for an advance fare prior to
2nd Dec using a visa debit card please contact me with a private
message as I may be able to offer advice..... windy
Quote from: DJ on November 01, 2020, 04:14:36 PM
I'll always advocate Trainpal over Trainline, it checks for split tickets automatically, and they refunded my advance tickets straight away once the first lockdown was announced.
I had never heard of 'train pal' Are they reliable?
Quote from: windy miller on November 24, 2020, 08:54:08 PM
I had never heard of 'train pal' Are they reliable?
I've never had an issue, and I found about them because Geoff Marshall used their app in one of their videos.
Quote from: windy miller on November 23, 2020, 08:07:18 PM
...In the light of ambiguities offered by WMR regarding the use of
'discounted' Advance tickets prior to the present lockdown advice I have
made it clear to their CEO that Gov stats have shown that an estimated
94% of UK seniors have stuck to covid advisories but the threat of
Financial loss/ discrimination would simply encourage seniors to travel
and subject not only themselves to covid risk but also rail staff and others.
I was given precisely 1Hr 40 mins Advance warning by E mail @ 6am
to inform me that my 'Discounted' tickets were invalid despite previously
offered post dated travel. In response to widespread advertising
throughout the rail industry, I chose to buy a Senior railcard @£30P/a
to obtain discounted fares. If YOU have paid for an advance fare prior to
2nd Dec using a visa debit card please contact me with a private
message as I may be able to offer advice..... windy
..it obviously pays to complain if you have a legitimate cause....
I can now quote written confirmation received C/o WM/LNWR Customer
relations manager, (Dennis Taplin) ..as Follows : Whilst under normal
circumstances Advance fares are Non refundable it has been agreed
with the department for transport and the rail delivery group that we will
reimburse the cost of unused tickets in the form of rail travel vouchers.
These vouchers are valid for up to 12 months and can be used against the
cost of your next rail journey at any staffed national rail station.These
vouchers may not be exchanged for cash
for more information and further details of the rules and conditions please
vist : www.nationalrail.co.uk/coronavirus
If WMR can follow these rules then surely other TOC should follow their
example?.