MalaiseForever
Member
Is anybody having issues with the RST website? Trying to buy a ticket urgently for travel and getting an invalid origin error, which I have never seen before. Origin is Birmingham New Street.
Yes. I have the same problem. It's really frustrating. This website is getting worse and worseIs anybody having issues with the RST website? Trying to buy a ticket urgently for travel and getting an invalid origin error, which I have never seen before. Origin is Birmingham New Street.
They are, to my knowledge, still available from booking offices and guards.Damn - what provision is there for staff to travel when they can't buy a Priv ticket?
The ticket office, I'm afraid, same as for other passengers.Damn - what provision is there for staff to travel when they can't buy a Priv ticket?
I think Network Rail staff have to use the website and can't buy "in person".They are, to my knowledge, still available from booking offices and guards.
Not for Network Rail staff like myself!The ticket office, I'm afraid, same as for other passengers.
It's also affecting the text-only version of the site, but not other sites that use Worldline WebTIS (Great Western, South Western and TransPennine) so looks to be some sort of configuration error at RST's end.
Yes for TOC staff, use the ticket office if there is one; if there isn't they are entitled to buy on board without penalty.
For NR staff, the position is unclear; perhaps someone could ask NR?
Rail Staff Travel said:RST Online outage
RST Online is unavailable due to a system issue as of 29 February 2024.
As a temporary arrangement, holders of the RST Online Leisure Card may purchase tickets at National Rail station ticket offices at Priv rate whilst this outage is ongoing.
Once the issue in RST Online is resolved and ticket purchase is available, this arrangement will be withdrawn.
29 February 2024
Possibly, though GWR, SWR and Transpennine weren't affected and they use the same backend (i.e. Worldline WebTIS.)Probably due to it being February 29th. Bit like the Millennium Bug.
Out of interest, I see RDG have offered Network Rail the Priv with this weird limitation - does anyone know the reason why it's online only? I understand the discussion around the differences between the TOCs and NR and everything, but if RDG agrees to the idea that NR staff could have access, it just seems a bit petty to put extra restrictions on.I think Network Rail staff have to use the website and can't buy "in person".
It's probably online only because that can more easily control the limitations of what tickets can be bought, and can control access (if you leave the industry you lose access pretty sharply).Out of interest, I see RDG have offered Network Rail the Priv with this weird limitation - does anyone know the reason why it's online only? I understand the discussion around the differences between the TOCs and NR and everything, but if RDG agrees to the idea that NR staff could have access, it just seems a bit petty to put extra restrictions on.
Thank you.I think there is a view within RDG that many staff don't buy a ticket at all, knowing that on board staff will likely let them travel for free. So requiring NR staff to buy online is an attempt to make sure they do buy a ticket. Trying to apply those rules to existing Priv holders would be harder as the unions would likely kick off.
Good point.It's probably online only because that can more easily control the limitations of what tickets can be bought, and can control access (if you leave the industry you lose access pretty sharply).
It's saved me about £85* for leisure travel alone since mid-December, and I've had seven long distance journeys using free travel! I guess that the £250 is more an average figure, so RDG don't gain from those who travel less any more than they lose out from those who travel more.(Full disclosure: I have a Priv and it absolutely hasn't saved me anywhere near £250 in any year over the last 5 years, so RDG would be 'quids in' if I had that under the NR terms.)
They should offer it to Third Party Retailer employees, the cost would definitely be worth it for some of us!TfL made a commitment to investigate access to Priv by April 2025, presumably under the same terms as NR (if I recall correctly, the NR deal cost them £250 per employee?). How many other organisations could potentially be eligible for that deal?
Do you not already have access to TADA discount which gives 45% discount?They should offer it to Third Party Retailer employees, the cost would definitely be worth it for some of us!
This needs addressing by RDG. If their online cards cannot be used, there is no listed easement for use of booking offices, only a vague bulletin few of us actually noticed.What provision is there for staff to travel when they can't buy a Priv ticket?
Yeah, and I understand before my time it was 75% too. Now it's 45 we have to sit and envy priv holdersDo you not already have access to TADA discount which gives 45% discount?
That was planned maintenance of RDG's Smartcard back office and affected all TOCs.Yesterday I was unable to purchase a new season ticket due to 'maintenance' on the smart card systems. Felt odd given I get them fulfilled as e-tickets anyway. As others have said, wouldn't be surprised if these were both some kind of leap year thing.