collecting train tickets at the station

agrinnall

yorkie2 wrote: »

Actually, since last Summer, any card can be used for collection.

I wonder if that's why the machine at Aberdeen has the notice on it, because people were still expecting to have to use the purchase card.

yorkie2

trukdiver wrote: »

It looks like the rail companies' own websites are out of date:

Indeed. I'm not sure whether or not the Companies have been informed. It may be a deliberate change of policy, or it may be an error. If the latter, it might get 'fixed'

trukdiver wrote: »

Is there some other confirmation that any card can be used?

My information came from sources in the industry. The change co-coincided with a change of supplier for one of the back end systems.

The rail industry is notorious for not keeping information up-to-date, and also for errors, leading to it being difficult to determine when such a change is deliberate or not.

yorkie2

tripled wrote: »

....Yorkie2's advice is usually pretty solid though....

only usually?

bebewoo

Any card can be used, I do it all of the time.

Book with my credit card then collect using a different debit card, it works fine, it asks you to key in the reference and spits out the tickets.
When buying the ticket you choose which station the tickets should be collected from so choose one near your son.

We also do it at work the admin person books the tickets with the corporate credit card and sends us the booking number so we can collect the tickets ourselves at the station.

wealdroam

bebewoo wrote: »

When buying the ticket you choose which station the tickets should be collected from so choose one near your son.

Whilst the first part of that is true, it actually makes no difference.
You can collect your tickets at any station that has facilities to do so.

I think the reason they ask you to choose a station is so that you don't inadvertently chose a station that doesn't have ticket collection facilities.

cookie365

Also, if you buy the tickets through EastcoastSpottedLine.com how does Virgin Trains know what credit card you used?

wealdroam

cookie365 wrote: »

Also, if you buy the tickets through EastcoastSpottedLine.com how does Virgin Trains know what credit card you used?

Hmmm...

Another question might be:
if you buy the tickets through EastcoastSpottedLine.com how does Virgin Trains know what tickets you booked?

The answer to both questions is that the railway companies, and the third party sellers, share this information.

lammy82

I usually collect mine using my Clubcard or Cineworld Unlimited card, despite being told I have to use the card I payed with.

One other tip; if you book the journey through https://www.megatrain.com (a very limited selection of journeys available, but does include Coventry) then you get a code to travel with and that's all you need; you don't even need to print the email out.

cookie365

wealdroam wrote: »

Hmmm...

Another question might be:
if you buy the tickets through EastcoastSpottedLine.com how does Virgin Trains know what tickets you booked?

The answer to both questions is that the railway companies, and the third party sellers, share this information.

I understand that without sharing the ticket information there are some practical difficulties that might prove unsurmountable

But on what basis is the company you purchase your tickets from authorised to release credit card details to other companies?

yorkie2

wealdroam wrote: »

Whilst the first part of that is true, it actually makes no difference.
You can collect your tickets at any station that has facilities to do so.

I think the reason they ask you to choose a station is so that you don't inadvertently chose a station that doesn't have ticket collection facilities.

Spot on.

cookie365 wrote: »

Also, if you buy the tickets through EastcoastSpottedLine.com how does Virgin Trains know what credit card you used?

They don't, but the national booking 'system' used to restrict collection by any card of the same 4 digits as the card used to book. So, for most people, that would require the same card. But I did know someone who had 2 different cards, each with the same final 4 digits, and he could use either card!