TrainSplit not showing cheapest fares Edinburgh-Glasgow?

[ABB125]

TrainSplit doesn't appear to be showing super off peak fares between Edinburgh and Glasgow. According to BRfares, there is a super off peak day return priced at £6.85 as well as an off peak day return at £9.35 (both railcard prices).
CrossCountry will offer the £6.85 fare, as shown below:

TrainSplit doesn't:

Both these searches are for today.

I can't see any reason for this: the super off peak restrictions are "not before 1100", "not boarding in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen 1500-2000" and "not at weekends". None of these conditions are fulfilled, so I can't see why TrainSplit isn't offering the cheaper fare.

 

[Watershed]

TrainSplit doesn't appear to be showing super off peak fares between Edinburgh and Glasgow. According to BRfares, there is a super off peak day return priced at £6.85 as well as an off peak day return at £9.35 (both railcard prices).
CrossCountry will offer the £6.85 fare, as shown below:
View attachment 120377
TrainSplit doesn't:
View attachment 120378
Both these searches are for today.

I can't see any reason for this: the super off peak restrictions are "not before 1100", "not boarding in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen 1500-2000" and "not at weekends". None of these conditions are fulfilled, so I can't see why TrainSplit isn't offering the cheaper fare.

I think the Super Off-Peak Day Return is, in ScotRail's infinite wisdom, only 'supposed' to be fulfilled on smartcard. Which fulfilment options is XC (Trainline) offering?

 

[ABB125]

I think the Super Off-Peak Day Return is, in ScotRail's infinite wisdom, only 'supposed' to be fulfilled on smartcard. Which fulfilment options is XC (Trainline) offering?

Well that explains it then!

 

[miklcct]

View attachment 120379
Well that explains it then!

Can it be bought on, for example, GTR or South Western Railway websites that offer smartcard fulfillment?

 

[OscarH]

Just to confirm, we've had a look, the ticket type can be fulfilled as an eTicket on some flows, but this isn't one of them, and it can never be fulfilled by TOD, so its impossible for us to retail unfortunately

 

[ABB125]

Just to confirm, we've had a look, the ticket type can be fulfilled as an eTicket on some flows, but this isn't one of them, and it can never be fulfilled by TOD, so its impossible for us to retail unfortunately

Ok, thanks

 

[XAM2175]

I think the Super Off-Peak Day Return is, in ScotRail's infinite wisdom, only 'supposed' to be fulfilled on smartcard. Which fulfilment options is XC (Trainline) offering?

Well that explains it then!

Can it be bought on, for example, GTR or South Western Railway websites that offer smartcard fulfillment?

Yes, ScotRail Super Off-Peak singles and returns can only be fulfilled to smartcard or mTicket:

Super Off-Peak Tickets

Super Off-Peak Tickets are not available between 2 Oct 2023 and 28 June 2024.

www.scotrail.co.uk

ScotRail's own website and app will sell them, and they're also available from SR ticket offices and TVMs (though in the case of the latter you have to choose the "smartcard tickets" option on the home screen, as they won't be offered through the normal vending process). I've only ever loaded them to SR and SPT smartcards, so I can't give any guidance on whether ITSO cards from other providers will work.

Of course, the standard advice of "it's very rarely necessary to buy flexible tickets in advance" applies.

 

[ABB125]

Yes, ScotRail Super Off-Peak singles and returns can only be fulfilled to smartcard or mTicket:

Super Off-Peak Tickets

Super Off-Peak Tickets are not available between 2 Oct 2023 and 28 June 2024.

www.scotrail.co.uk

ScotRail's own website and app will sell them, and they're also available from SR ticket offices and TVMs (though in the case of the latter you have to choose the "smartcard tickets" option on the home screen, as they won't be offered through the normal vending process). I've only ever loaded them to SR and SPT smartcards, so I can't give any guidance on whether ITSO cards from other providers will work.

Of course, the standard advice of "it's very rarely necessary to buy flexible tickets in advance" applies.

Interesting - thanks. I'll see what I can find when I get to EDB.

I don't think I've used m-tickets before (as opposed to e-tickets) - do they limit the flexibility of a flexible ticket (ie: you must travel on the service you selected when booking)?

 

[XAM2175]

I don't think I've used m-tickets before (as opposed to e-tickets) - do they limit the flexibility of a flexible ticket (ie: you must travel on the service you selected when booking)?

No, it's the same ticket with the same rights, but in the hateful needs-the-retailers-app-and-has-to-be-activated-before-use-and-remains-locked-to-the-one-device format that has rightfully earned so much ire here over the years. You may be familiar with it from bus company ticketing apps.

That said, on a short and uncomplicated journey such as you're planning the odds of having bother with it are very small and the saving over the CDR is very significant, so it's probably worth suspending the usual scorn for infrequent use.

 

[ABB125]

No, it's the same ticket with the same rights, but in the hateful needs-the-retailers-app-and-has-to-be-activated-before-use-and-remains-locked-to-the-one-device format that has rightfully earned so much ire here over the years. You may be familiar with it from bus company ticketing apps.

That said, on a short and uncomplicated journey such as you're planning the odds of having bother with it are very small and the saving over the CDR is very significant, so it's probably worth suspending the usual scorn for infrequent use.

I'll see what happens with an m-ticket. Thanks!

 

[miklcct]

I'll see what happens with an m-ticket. Thanks!

The problem as discussed on the forum repeatedly over time is that it shows on the app as expired before it actually expires, which may cause a huge trouble when using it.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Can it be bought on, for example, GTR or South Western Railway websites that offer smartcard fulfillment?

No it shouldn't be , there is no agreement in place with TfS for English TOCs to sell ScotRail Smartcard products

 

[Trainbike46]

Why is scotrail making this so complicated?

 

[ABB125]

Why is scotrail making this so complicated?

Presumably to "encourage" smartcard use?

Anyway, I tried to buy an m-ticket using the Scotrail app. It didn't work ("no delivery options available"). Yet if you go to the mobile version of their website, it says something along the lines of "m-ticket only, delivered to you smartphone app".
I didn't have time to mess around with stuff, so I just got a normal off peak ticket from a ticket machine instead.

 

[XAM2175]

Presumably to "encourage" smartcard use?

It's the reason I got one

 

[philthetube]

Presumably to "encourage" smartcard use?

Anyway, I tried to buy an m-ticket using the Scotrail app. It didn't work ("no delivery options available"). Yet if you go to the mobile version of their website, it says something along the lines of "m-ticket only, delivered to you smartphone app".
I didn't have time to mess around with stuff, so I just got a normal off peak ticket from a ticket machine instead.

Interesting one as the ticket you required was not available to buy, what happens if you board?

 

[XAM2175]

Interesting one as the ticket you required was not available to buy, what happens if you board?

I suspect you'd have a bit of bother getting through the gateline first.