MSE News: Cheaper train fares on the way with planned ticket overhaul

yorkie2

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Thanks to all for your time, but we may have crossed wires... I don't have an issue/problem with the price, tickets or itinerary. My post was simply a heads up for anybody surfing for fares to perhaps check National Rail, who forwarded the sale/buying process onto TPE, for a quote too.

Ah, we're almost there...

So, you booked with TPE who quoted a higher price than RSH.

I suspect you have a 16-25 Railcard, is that correct?

If so, that explains everything, as TPE give a 50% discount (rather than the usual 34%) to holders of such Railcards when you book one of their Advance fares through their own website.

Chaufeurse1956

yorkie2 wrote: »

Ah, we're almost there...

So, you booked with TPE who quoted a higher price than RSH.

I suspect you have a 16-25 Railcard, is that correct?

If so, that explains everything, as TPE give a 50% discount (rather than the usual 34%) to holders of such Railcards when you book one of their Advance fares through their own website.

No Yorkie, we've 'been there' since my first post! No railcard, no discounts, no inside leg measurements Quoted fare; 2nd class, 12 week advance Sunday fare, Durham to Heald Green. National Rail website returned a £3 cheaper quote, £17.90, other sites, including TPE's main site, £20.90. The NR site forwarded to TPE as point of sale, which opened a page with relevant booking details including the £17.90 fare.

I'm not trying to catch anybody out... my post was purely a heads up to perhaps check the National Rail website during a train fare search. Yorkie, try it yourself, do weekday/weekend, circa 12 week advance, searches using NR and other aforementioned sites.

yorkie2

OK, I see it (I searched for 23rd October); the itinerary is not quite the same. To get the lower fare you have to change at York (not Leeds). So that explains it!

NRE doesn't sell tickets but does pass on the requirement to change at Leeds to TPE, whose site is capable of selling the ticket with a change at York but doesn't do so by default, which is daft.

Trainsplit.com does find the £17.50 fare automatically (in this case it's not cheaper to "split" so it can't find any splits) and does so without any fees.

Thetrainline.com does find the £17.50 fare but there is no way to avoid their transaction fee.

Chaufeurse1956

yorkie2 wrote: »

OK, I see it (I searched for 23rd October); the itinerary is not quite the same. To get the lower fare you have to change at York (not Leeds). So that explains it!

NRE doesn't sell tickets but does pass on the requirement to change at Leeds to TPE, whose site is capable of selling the ticket with a change at York but doesn't do so by default, which is daft.

Trainsplit.com does find the £17.50 fare automatically (in this case it's not cheaper to "split" so it can't find any splits) and does so without any fees.

Thetrainline.com does find the £17.50 fare but there is no way to avoid their transaction fee.

You got it Yorkie, daft Ironically, change at York or Leeds it's the same train into Man Airport! Two year gone the conductor said to stay on to Huddersfield for an easy same platform change, then board the train from York/Leeds. With conductor approval we've since done this change each time.

Cheaper options also on Man Airport to Durham when using NR.

Wouldn't touch the Trainline due to their booking/cc fee.

t0rt0ise

It's the same as with the gas and elec suppliers.. if they are forced to highlight the cheapest tickets to everyone, then the cheapest prices will inevitably go up.