LNER to pilot removal of Off-Peak tickets

[Krokodil]

And tickets with TOC restrictions, rather than geographical restrictions, are particularly customer unfriendly

Yes, they're the fares that really do need simplifying away. The Anytime, Any Permitted fare should be at a sensible price.

Which shouldn't be difficult for two operators under common ownership.

You'd like to think so, but these days I wouldn't be too sure.

 

[AdamWW]

The Opposition. It's their job to hold the government's feet to the fire.

But possibly not on a policy that might well appeal just as much to them.

 

[thedbdiboy]

The Opposition. It's their job to hold the government's feet to the fire.

But possibly not on a policy that might well appeal just as much to them.

It's one thing to object to anything vaguely unpopular from the safety of opposition, but the prospect of having to manage the economy in its current toxic state in the very near future means that Labour aren't going to commit to any marginal populist causes right now. Anyone remember Nick Clegg and 'no tuition fees'....?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Which shouldn't be difficult for two operators under common ownership.

They might have the same ownership, but the two TOCs have different types of contract to run trains - one is DfT NRC and the other Open Access via ORR/NR.
For one thing, XC revenue goes to the DfT/Treasury, while GC (OA) revenue stays with Arriva.
In the past, the DfT, and the regulator, have been very unhappy with franchise/open access mixtures.
Even within the DfT/franchise setup Virgin had to unpick some of its WC and XC joint management (when it ran both franchises).

 

[Twingo37175]

I assume this is now being move to other routes. I commute 2 days a week from Doncaster to Leeds, usually getting an advance, though the LNER app to get the credits (depending upon price difference) or anytime day return (if I want flexibility on return from Leeds). Sometimes as well splitting through the Rail UK site (given price match is no longer there on the APP).
Having gone to book for tomorrow the only option for "standard return" is 2 advance tickets (£22+ as against £20.40 for anytime day return) or a short distance day return at £33.70.
I assume if I book through the forum site (or northern app) the anytime day return is still valid on all operators (ie both LNER as well as Northern)?

 

[Haywain]

Having gone to book for tomorrow the only option for "standard return" is 2 advance tickets (£22+ as against £20.40 for anytime day return) or a short distance day return at £33.70.

You need to have another look. The £20.40 Anytime Day Return is definitely available for tomorrow on the LNER app.

 

[Twingo37175]

You need to have another look. The £20.40 Anytime Day Return is definitely available for tomorrow on the LNER app.

Thanks Haywain. I swear when I looked earlier it was not showing, it is now!

 

[mangyiscute]

Does anyone know whether LNER advance tickets can be bought say 1 minute before the train is going to leave. I am planning a journey where my bus will get to Berwick 3 mins before the train to London leaves, so obviously I don't want to buy an advance ticket in case the bus is late, but if it is on time LNER have removed off peak singles from this flow, so could I buy an advance if there is a cheap one available 1 min before the train leaves?
My other option is to buy a ticket through to Reading (my final destination) from the TVM but this would take longer so could cause me to miss the train if timings are really tight, although then I can obviously just get a super off peak single for a decent price. I cannot get the ticket to Reading beforehand since I won't be certain to be going this route until the day before by which time I won't be passing through any stations so I would have no opportunity to collect any train tickets, and obviously Berwick to Reading tickets are collection only.

 

[Haywain]

Does anyone know whether LNER advance tickets can be bought say 1 minute before the train is going to leave. I am planning a journey where my bus will get to Berwick 3 mins before the train to London leaves, so obviously I don't want to buy an advance ticket in case the bus is late, but if it is on time LNER have removed off peak singles from this flow, so could I buy an advance if there is a cheap one available 1 min before the train leaves?

It used to be 5 minutes before, but I'm not sure what the setting is now. I would suggest starting the process and getting the ticket in your 'basket' a little earlier than you are due to arrive at Berwick so that you can just complete the purchase if you arrive in sufficient time.

My other option is to buy a ticket through to Reading (my final destination) from the TVM but this would take longer so could cause me to miss the train if timings are really tight, although then I can obviously just get a super off peak single for a decent price. I cannot get the ticket to Reading beforehand since I won't be certain to be going this route until the day before by which time I won't be passing through any stations so I would have no opportunity to collect any train tickets, and obviously Berwick to Reading tickets are collection only.

Another option would be to buy a walk-up ticket to Newcastle, giving you time to look for a better deal from Newcastle to Reading. If you buy on the app, LNER allow you an hour to cancel a ticket if you don't use it, so that is risk free (they also offer this option with Advances but I suspect they might, not entirely unreasonably, refuse the refund after the booked train has departed!).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Does anyone know whether LNER advance tickets can be bought say 1 minute before the train is going to leave. I am planning a journey where my bus will get to Berwick 3 mins before the train to London leaves, so obviously I don't want to buy an advance ticket in case the bus is late, but if it is on time LNER have removed off peak singles from this flow, so could I buy an advance if there is a cheap one available 1 min before the train leaves?
My other option is to buy a ticket through to Reading (my final destination) from the TVM but this would take longer so could cause me to miss the train if timings are really tight, although then I can obviously just get a super off peak single for a decent price. I cannot get the ticket to Reading beforehand since I won't be certain to be going this route until the day before by which time I won't be passing through any stations so I would have no opportunity to collect any train tickets, and obviously Berwick to Reading tickets are collection only.

5 minutes before I believe. But there may not be any good value ones left.

Another option is buying a Super Off Peak Single from Reston and starting short at Berwick (which is permitted). But to be honest I'd probably say that arriving at a station 3 minutes before the train by bus is almost certainly going to result in there being insufficient time to buy a ticket - the only vaguely sensible way is to do so using a phone app while the bus is pulling into the station forecourt.

Another option would be to buy a walk-up ticket to Newcastle, giving you time to look for a better deal from Newcastle to Reading. If you buy on the app, LNER allow you an hour to cancel a ticket if you don't use it, so that is risk free (they also offer this option with Advances but I suspect they might, not entirely unreasonably, refuse the refund after the booked train has departed!).

That's a good idea - grab a very quick single to Newcastle, get on the train and take your time to find a good deal on that train (or others if you've got time) from Newcastle, though obviously completing your purchase before it arrives there (and being willing to alight there if it fails). I might be inclined to do that!

 

[mangyiscute]

Yep I just checked if lner would let me book the 13:13 train 1 minute before departure and it does but only an anytime ticket, just shows another reason why this trial sucks! I think the fares from Reston are the same, however, so that is certainly an option, or one of the others you both listed above - thanks for the advice

 

[andythebrave]

You could always use Google Maps, input the destination as the bus stop you're to alight at and if the ETA has you getting there in time when you check just over 5 minutes from train departure away then purchase at that time.