The Automatic Train Ticket Machine Rip-off

gtaylor88

Just some advice and interested for your views. A walk up day return train ticket at the weekend from Brighton to London Bridge (or visa versa) using First Capital Connect with a network railcard is £6.60 but you try finding it to buy at Brighton Station. You need to know all of these steps at the ticket machine

1. Press Buy Ticket Button
2. Press 'Today'
3. Press 'London Bridge' (not all terminals or Victoria etc)
4. Press 'Railcards'
5. Press 'Network Railcard'
6. Press Adults = '1'
7. Press 'Confirm'

This is where it gets complicated, The tickets displayed are in no particular order, singles, returns and season tickets all mixed in together, not in price or relevance order, but importantly the cheapest ticket (the one I want) isn't even there! There are 10 tickets displayed including an anytime day return for £33.05, an off peak day return for £18.80 and a super off peak day return for £11.50.Why would anyone buy an anytime day return on a Saturday as the whole weekend is off peak?


8. Press the 'More' button two buttons up on the bottom RHS of the machine
9. Press the 'super off peak day return' £6.60 button which is three down from the top on the LHS below the single and the £75.20 first class ticket...


How visitors or people who do not travel on a regular basis would ever be able to find the cheapest ticket is beyond me. Surely the tickets should be presented in price order to make it easier to find the best deal. I feel like writing to the regulator


cheers


GTB

mjm3346

It would make sense for them to be ranked in order of popularity so the least used tickets would be on the second screen.

wealdroam

gtaylor88 wrote: »

I feel like writing to the regulator.

You might want to write to Southern, who manage Brighton Station, first.

Then if no joy... perhaps Passenger Focus.

Please do let us know how you get on.

gtaylor88

Thanks for your advice, I have just emailed Southern. Maybe that is an issue in itself as the station is run by Southern but I want to buy a First Capital Connect ticket. Maybe the more expensive Southern tickets are on the first page?


Cheers

agrinnall

Buy it from a person rather than a machine perhaps?

Kernel_Sanders

So, they can't fit all the tickets on the first page and you are complaining because yours was on the second? Some people may have reason to buy an anytime ticket because they can't be certain they'll use it that day.
I suspect you'll next be claiming you are being ripped off because supermarkets don't stack their bargain lines at eye level.