Train company online ticket purchase debacle.

Davesquire

I am attempting to travel to Scotland to visit my mother this weekend, who will still be in hospital on her Birthday.
My intended journey:
Luton to Derby (EMR) on Friday, with overnight stay;
Derby to Edinburgh ( X-Country) on Saturday.
Both EMR and X-Country use the Trainline.com system (says so on their respective websites).
I attempted to purchase tickets for each leg of the journey, but both of my bank cards were refused, due to a security issue.
I contacted my main card bank who reassured me that there is no problem/hold on my card. I have used both cards with other online retailers with no problems.
I then contacted EMR, who confirmed the "security" problem and requested that I provide evidence of my identity - either a photo ID card or bank statement - yes, to purchase a rail ticket (at less than £30!).
I have reluctantly provided requested evidence, but have been told that I am now in an escalation process. 
I am pretty certain that I can visit the station ticket office and purchase the tickets, using the same card, with no problems. However, as to whether I will get the discounted ticket prices is another matter.
Has anyone else experienced this issue?
I think that it is unacceptable to request photo ID for a train ticket. Yes, for a flight or Eurostar, but not a domestic journey.

la531983

There are a number of websites where you can book tickets, which are you attempting to use?

Davesquire

The EMR (East Midland Railway) and X-Country sites. Both being the main providers.

MSE_James

Davesquire said:

I am pretty certain that I can visit the station ticket office and purchase the tickets, using the same card, with no problems. However, as to whether I will get the discounted ticket prices is another matter.

With limited exceptions, the tickets available online are exactly the same as can be purchased at the ticket office.

Davesquire

I do hope so and will hopefully confirm when I have tried. There is also a risk of the cheaper priced trains being full, it being the end of term weekend for many.
Also, why on earth make all of the noises about benefits of pre-purchasing tickets when whatever security issue (on their side) is preventing this.

Emmia

You should be able to buy both tickets from one rail company,. Presumably you're splitting due to departure times or to get a split ticket discount?

Personally I use the GWR app to buy tickets, that's showing a cheapest price of £105.80 for Luton - Edinburgh on Friday(single) but you need to come into London, and go back out.

la531983

Davesquire said:

The EMR (East Midland Railway) and X-Country sites. Both being the main providers.

Davesquire said:

The EMR (East Midland Railway) and X-Country sites. Both being the main providers.

Have you tried any of the others? You dont have to buy tickets from the organisation operating the trains,.

Try LNER site etc etc.

Davesquire

Firstly, my apologies as I haven't thanked anyone for their prompt responses. So thank-you.
I am apprehensive about purchasing from other sites as they all appear to use the same online platform, so wonder whether there is more of a systemic problem. What I didn't mention was that the X-Country site also bounced my card when I tried buying the second leg of my journey. 

DullGreyGuy

Davesquire said:

The EMR (East Midland Railway) and X-Country sites. Both being the main providers.

You can buy tickets for one railway from a number of different vendors and dont have to buy from them themselves. Uber recently have been fairly cheap for tickets and have promotions often for example. 

In principle the station sells the same tickets but it depends when you can get to the station. 

Voyager2002

You should be able to buy the same tickets (at the same or lower prices) from Trip.com. They use a different "engine" (not Trainline) so you ought not to experience the same problem.

daveyjp

I wouldn't use a none TOC third party site such as Trip, Trainline etc as it makes things difficult if there are problems with the journey.

I use LNER, Northern and Scotrail to purchase tickets with no issues.