Trainline Tickets

Nikkisun

My son is off to London for the day soon and to make it easier I was going to book his ticket in advance using Trainline.

I have to select which time train he wants to use but if he gets back to the station earlier than the train selected does he have to wait or can he get an earlier train using the pre-booked ticket?

fuzzybear01

If the ticket has a time on then the answer is no, if e tries and gets caught the inspector can charge him for a new ticket. Also, why book with The Trainline when the rail operators will sell the same ticket without the booking fee?

Nikkisun

Thanks - I was going to use Trainline because I was going to pay for the tickets on my credit card and thought it would save me having to go to the station.

Nikkisun

Also is it right that he can get a day return ticket even though his return journey leaves London at five past midnight (so technically the next day)?

Livingthedream

Off Peak Day Returns and Anytime Day Returns are valid until 0230 on the following day.

Nikkisun

Thanks
x

KeithP

Nikkisun wrote: »

Thanks - I was going to use Trainline because I was going to pay for the tickets on my credit card and thought it would save me having to go to the station.

You can use your credit card to book tickets online from any of the train operating companies and avoid all the fees that the trainline impose on you.

debsy42

When I got to Euston mega early for my pre-booked train I asked (nicely) the conductor for the train about to leave if I could jump on that one instead. No problem he said and nothing extra to pay. It's always worthwhile giving it a go, nothing ventured nothing gained Saved me hanging round for an hour.

dzug1

Nikkisun wrote: »

My son is off to London for the day soon and to make it easier I was going to book his ticket in advance using Trainline.

I have to select which time train he wants to use but if he gets back to the station earlier than the train selected does he have to wait or can he get an earlier train using the pre-booked ticket?

It depends on the ticket type - if it's an anytime or offpeak ticket it's valid on any (off peak if applicable) train (even if you've reserved a seat on another one). If it's an 'advance' ticket, then it can only be used on the specified train.

glider3560

debsy42 wrote: »

When I got to Euston mega early for my pre-booked train I asked (nicely) the conductor for the train about to leave if I could jump on that one instead. No problem he said and nothing extra to pay. It's always worthwhile giving it a go, nothing ventured nothing gained Saved me hanging round for an hour.

I would advise against this. All you need is a revenue protection inspector to board the train and you could be walking away with a £20 (or twice the fare) penalty fare.

As previously said, don't buy on the Train Line website. As an example, First Great Western sell tickets online on a branded version of teh Train Line. There are no booking or delivery fees on the First website and they'll book tickets for any train in the country. I prefer the East Coast website's layout and interface, again no fees - https://www.eastcoast.co.uk

In answer to your question, if you could post where the journey would start and end plus the type of ticket you are looking at, I'll check the National Fares Manual to see what restrictions are present on that ticket.

dzug1

glider3560 wrote: »

I would advise against this. All you need is a revenue protection inspector to board the train and you could be walking away with a £20 (or twice the fare) penalty fare.

As previously said, don't buy on the Train Line website. As an example, First Great Western sell tickets online on a branded version of teh Train Line. There are no booking or delivery fees on the First website and they'll book tickets for any train in the country. I prefer the East Coast website's layout and interface, again no fees - www.eastcoast.co.uk

Agreed - but I suspect debsy actually had a flexible ticket so there was no problem