Train tickets, online purchase and refunding

Nanako

Hello everyone, I have an unusual situation.

I'm making arrangements for someone to travel up to visit me.  The exact purpose of the visit is unimportant

I'm in glasgow, they're in london, we're planning to arrange the travel by train

I intend to pay for the costs of this travel. But me and this person don't fully trust each other,  at least not enough for me to simply wire them the money, and I feel it would be prudent to minimise risk. There is a possibility that this trip won't happen

Given that background, my question is thus:

Is it possible for me to purchase the train tickets online for this person, presumably for them to print at the station

And, in the event that they don't make the trip and everything falls through, to cancel those tickets and refund the cost back to my account?

Is the type of ticket important? We're thinking open return

no particular preference for travel class or train operator

Browntoa

From memory, you need the card used for payment to collect Train tickets at the station 

Browntoa

Some , but not all , allow print at home
https://www.mytrainticket.co.uk/self-print-tickets/

Browntoa

Appears national rail now allow you to choose e tickets that they can print out at home 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/218425.aspx

James_Londoner

E-tickets are not available for all National Rail journeys - but if they are available for the precise ticket you wish to buy, that will be the best option.

If e-tickets are unavailable and you need to send the other person a TOD (ticket on departure) code to collect their tickets, then use a website that lets you pay by Paypal (or Apple Pay) as this will set the order to 'any card' collection. 

JGB1955

I don't think your 'guest' will be able to pick up the tickets without having the original card that bought it... I went to pick up some tickets (yesterday) for a future trip ..  it took 3 attempts before I input the 'correct' credit card. I've not botehered thinking about refunds... less than £20 and it's small change lost...

Nanako

The print at home option is not ideal, printing at station would be better. Etickets ARE available for this route

Can I pay for a ticket that they can print on arrival at the station?

JGB1955

Nanako said:

The print at home option is not ideal, printing at station would be better. Etickets ARE available for this route

Can I pay for a ticket that they can print on arrival at the station?

Not where I am - you need to input the original payment card before the tickets get printed...

Nanako

James_Londoner said:

E-tickets are not available for all National Rail journeys - but if they are available for the precise ticket you wish to buy, that will be the best option.

If e-tickets are unavailable and you need to send the other person a TOD (ticket on departure) code to collect their tickets, then use a website that lets you pay by Paypal (or Apple Pay) as this will set the order to 'any card' collection. 

TOD sounds like exactly what I want. Any idea which operators/websites would allow making this purchase ?

James_Londoner

For a 'simple' London to Glasgow journey (with no tube travel included, or other complicating factors) you'll almost certainly be able to get an e-ticket.  This would be the simplest option - it will come as a PDF that you can send to the passenger, and that they can either show on their own device or print as they wish.

Any train operating company will sell TOD tickets, but these days they are keen to push you towards e-tickets as far as possible, as it's a cheaper system to operate.

If the particular ticket you want is available as an e-ticket, I would go for that. If not, then worry about TOD. 

James_Londoner

JGB1955 said:
I don't think your 'guest' will be able to pick up the tickets without having the original card that bought it...

It's not that simple - it depends. See above.