Advance single senior train.

Boohoo

Hello.

My dad has booked a train from Leagrave to Plymouth on 16/09/2014 using his Senior railcard. He booked it about 4 weeks ago through Transpennine Express website.
When he booked the 1st off-peak train leaving 09.43 and changing at Farringdon and then to Paddington.
He went to Leagrave station and asked somebody behind the counter about the ticket and was told he can get any train from there even ones before 09.30 but the ticket he has doesn't include the tube to Paddington.
The train from Paddington to Plymouth leaves a 11.06 and he has a seat res.
The problem he has is that there is a train that leaves at 09.29 but he is now worried that he has not left enough time to cross London.
Also last night when he told about all this I checked his tickets and found an adult off-peak from Leagrave to London zone 1-2 so I asked him about this and he said the ticket office bloke said he needed one to get across London so he bought one. The ticket is a standard ticket and not a senior railcard one so I think he has been sold a useless ticket.
Any idea if the advanced ticket is usable before 09.30 ao is he stuck with the 09.43.
Thanks for looking.

macman

I can't make out from that what time his train arrives in London, but if he gets off at St Pancras (no need to travel on to Farringdon, that's the wrong direction on the Circle line), then it's only 5 stops to Paddington-15 mins at most unless there are delays.
The ticket should show if the tube connection is included, as it should be.

Boohoo

The booking says 9.43 Leagrave and arrive Farringdon 10.29.
Train for Plymouth leaves Paddington 11.06
I have checked TFL and the tube train departs Farringdon and than calls at St Pancras onto Paddington.
The ticket has not got a Maltese cross or + on it but says Leagrave to Plymouth Advance single through AP Slough and booked train validity if that helps.

dzug1

It looks like transpennine have goofed by not including the maltese cross on the ticket


It is valid on any train to St Pancras or Farringdon - FCC do not do seat reservations or advance tickets


The Leagrave - zones 1/2 is a bit useless too. Though depending on the intended arrival time in London a senor discount may not be appropriate


Farringdon is an easier change than St Pancras

macman

Query the through booking with the issuing office. That timing is 'do-able' in theory, but 37 mins is tight if the incoming train is delayed, or any probs on the Circle or H&C lines.
Yes, thinking about out, the change at Farringdon is quicker, just one platform away. Probably cancels out the extra 3/4 mins onwards from St P.

Boohoo

Thanks for the reply.

I got a reply back from TPE stating that if I want to change the time I will have to pay £10 plus the extra ticket price. A generic reply I think.
Further down the email the rep stated that the ticket I purchased was a through ticket so I can use the tube but the ticket doesn't state that.
As for the ticket my dad purchased from Leagrave station he now has told me that when he enquired about the TPE tickets and was told he cant use them on the tube so asked if he can buy a tube ticket there and then and said they don't sell tube tickets but they do if bought with a FCC ticket. He said ok and stated about the senior card and he paid but not knowing what the proper price as he normally buys online.
When I checked yesterday as I stated earlier it is an Off peak ticket to Paddington from Leagrave so not much use to him.
I have told him to go back to the station and ask why he was sold the ticket but as FCC are losing the franchise in 2 weeks I don't hold out much hope.

Boohoo

My dad rang me this morning and said he went down to the station where the FCC bloke sold him the other ticket.
He denied all knowledge of selling him the ticket and that if somebody else had sold him it they would of given him the correct type of ticket.
After a few mins the guy said you can have an anytime ticket to Paddington for £19 and my dad said you sold him the wrong ticket so he was going to pay the extra £2 difference from the off peak but bloke said no pay £19 for new ticket and he can refund the unused ticket minus £10 admin charge.
So they make a mistake and then wanted him to pay £19 for a new and £10 admin charge from £17 ticket so the single ticket will cost him £26.
My dad just walked away and then later told me.

maniacmartin

Are you sure there was no Maltese Cross. I've looked the fare up in the database and I see it as Route +AP SLOUGH. This is plus is the Maltese Cross.

Also, the 10GBP admin would not apply to convert an off-peak ticket to an anytime of the same route/date etc, as this can be covered by an excess fare.

Boohoo

I went with my dad to Leagrave station and the the bloke was not there so we spoke to another and explained again.
He said the ticket he has covers cross-London( the cross next to AP looks like a cruxifix and not +) and when I said about the other ticket my dad was issued by this guy he said it was useless as he already has one that covers the route. Asked about refund and was told £10 admin fee, he said pay £2 extra and you can have anytime ticket but whats the point as ticket we have will do. He said the other bloke has had loads of people saying he has sold/given wrong tickets to and given duff info.
My dad went for the refund minus £10. The bloke gave us times of the tubes to Paddington, maps and other helpful info. goes to show that there are some good CS staff about.
Thanks for all the help anyhow.

dzug1

It might be worth a written complaint to FCC - you might get the other £10 back

yorkie2

There's a lot of text in this thread, but unfortunately not the information that is required to determine validity.

Can you please take a photo (or scan) of the ticket, and any accompanying reservation coupons and upload them here please?

Also a screenshot of the booking confirmation would be useful, if bought online an email should have been provided, but you can also obtain the confirmation by logging in to "My Account" viewing your booking history, and selecting view details.

The thread title suggests it's an Advance Single. If so, it is only valid on the booked (reserved) train between London & Plymouth. A recommended service will have been provided on the booking confirmation; I suggest printing this confirmation and showing it to anyone who challenges the use of the ticket. The ticket will allow "appropriate connecting services", and the one shown on the itinerary is the latest that would be a valid connection. An earlier train may be caught if he would like more time to cross London. If there are delays on FCC or LU, then the ticket is valid on the next available train from Paddington to Plymouth.

There is no concept of "peak" with an Advance ticket.

For completeness, a Super Off Peak Single (£65.35) or Super Off Peak Return (£66.00) is valid as follows on the outward or single leg:-

....On services timed to depart London Paddington between 1010 and 1501, and from 1901....

There is no restriction on the Leagrave to London portion of the journey:

NETWORK AREA:
The 'Network area' is defined as the area in which the Network railcard is valid. For details, Network Railcard map.

Super Off-Peak tickets issued for journeys commencing within the Network Area to destinations outside the Network Area with travel via London are valid by any train to London to connect with trains from London.

While an Off Peak Single (£81.85) or Off Peak Return (£82.50) is valid as follows on the outward or single leg:-

....On services timed to depart London Paddington between 0810 and 1640, and from 1801.....

There is no restriction on the Leagrave to London portion of the journey:

NETWORK AREA:
The 'Network area' is defined as the area in which the Network railcard is valid. For details, Network Railcard map.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys starting within the Network Area to destinations outside the Network Area with travel via London are valid by any train to London, to connect with trains from London..

If anyone at FCC is denying this, I urge you to email FCC with a complaint. If FCC do not give a satisfactory response, and provide assurances that appropriate training will be provided, contact Passenger Focus.

This should be done irrespective of the franchise change, as unknowledgable staff will still be in the ticket office when Govia take over, and they need to be dealt with appropriately and trained correctly.

Note the fare held should have a maltese cross. But, if it doesn't, the ticket is still valid via London. Bring the booking confirmation with you to show to any staff. If anyone charges extra, ensure you retain all extra tickets and receipts, and insist on a full refund as well as compensation for your time. If this is not provided, contact Passenger Focus, and if Passenger Focus do not resolve it let me know all relevant reference numbers nd I'll speak to my contact at Passenger Focus if you like.