Trouble with National Rail website?

nappy501

AirlieBird wrote: »

You can. It isn't so obvious since National Rail updated their journey planner recently. You have to click on "View summary" at the top of the page. On the next page below the "Buy Now" button there is a link to buy from other providers.

The problem is likely to be the result of the different algorithms between National Rail and WebTIS (the software which East Coast use). NR recently updated their software to include slower journeys in the results. I don't know the time you are travelling, but on a random search for that date I see that the cheapest fares I'm presented with are for slower trains: e.g. there are two journeys departing 11.48 with the cheapest being the second and slower of these two journeys. Nearly all, if not all, booking engines will only show the fastest journeys by default. To get the fare you wanted in East Coast you would have likely had to click on "show slower routes" on the left of the screen, or 'manipulated' your request in the via/avoid box to force a particular route.

Thank you so much for that. 'View summary' is absolutely tiny, I would never of thought of clicking there.

I have gone back to National Rail, the fare at the time I wanted to travel is now showing £15.60. By choosing East Midlands and Northern Rail, I was able to see the same £15.60 fare. Now East Coast is saying:
No fares have been found for your selected service.

However, I clicked the 'more options' box on the East Coast website and said via Lincoln Central and fares have come up at £9.80. WOW!

I shall remember 'view summary' and forcing a particular route in future on train providers websites, it will get me the cheap fare I want or save me even more money. Thank you very much.

Regards