First Great Western Rant Thread

[Paulie Tandoori]

Here is my rant-asked weeks in advance as to whether it possible to get a cheap ticket to Blackpool. Was sold one for £55 instead of £75. Then when weeks later on train, was told it was invalid as young persons ticket and had no young persons railcard so had to pay excess £25.
I wrote a letter complaining about this to First Great Western as it was embarresing, no-one had told me it was a young persons ticket and certainly don't look it but was told was all my fault for not checking the ticket
Err, but shoudn't I not have been sold it in first place? I did not ask for young persons ticket and did not expect it to be one or to have to pay the extra charge which buggered me up a bit as skint

But First Great Western don't go to Blackpool, that's Northern Rail i thought

 

[Isambard]

AFAIK this sort of thing doesn't happen on the continent (granted, most railways in Europe are state owned).

Prices are reviews annually by all operators. The rise in the cost of fuel is universal. Although European operators do run their tariffs to encourage the use of off peak trains they don't jack up the fares to choke off demand.

 

[cyberfairy]

But First Great Western don't go to Blackpool, that's Northern Rail i thought

I bought the tickets from them though at the train station..I was told at the train station when complaining that to write to them to recieve refund

 

[Isambard]

All tickets sold at BTM, subject to the "National Conditions of Carriage" represent a contract with FGW. In the case that they mis-sold to you, you have a case with THEM. Even though a Bristol-Blackpool journey is more likely to have been on Virgin and then Norhern Trains.

Jesus, where else do you get a full anorak service at 3 AM ?

 

[Tom A]

I'd like to see more fare strikes/boycotts on othere rail operators trains. like the one on FGW the other day. There really is no reason why fares should be increased annually on the first working day of the new year. To suggest that all prices automatically increase on the 1st of January is well...a little hard to believe. AFAIK this sort of thing doesn't happen on the continent (granted, most railways in Europe are state owned).

I think they should do a nationwide day-long fare boycott of Vermin Trains. £44 Saver Return from Lancaster to London (with young person's railcard, it would probably be nearly £70 without) is just ludricrous, especially if you can't get the Vermin (no)value tickets, and if you wanted to get back to Lancaster on a Sunday the last train is often at about 3pm. Hence why trips to London often involve getting a train to Manc and then getting a coach or Megabus from there.

Bastards.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

All tickets sold at BTM, subject to the "National Conditions of Carriage" represent a contract with FGW. In the case that they mis-sold to you, you have a case with THEM. Even though a Bristol-Blackpool journey is more likely to have been on Virgin and then Norhern Trains.

Jesus, where else do you get a full anorak service at 3 AM ?

Is your surname 'Kingdom Brunel'?

 

[Shmu]

I've just noticed that FGW seem to have withdrawn their fabulously cheap first class tickets which have been saving me from insanity.

Now it really would be indulgent to pay twice as much as I have to to travel first class - the difference only used to be £4 on a return from Wales to London if I booked in advance.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I've just noticed that FGW seem to have withdrawn their fabulously cheap first class tickets which have been saving me from insanity.

Now it really would be indulgent to pay twice as much as I have to to travel first class - the difference only used to be £4 on a return from Wales to London if I booked in advance.

You sure - i'm travelling down to cornwall next weekend on a first class saver that's only £2 more than standard fare? Only booked it last week as well.

 

[nino_savatte]

I think they should do a nationwide day-long fare boycott of Vermin Trains. £44 Saver Return from Lancaster to London (with young person's railcard, it would probably be nearly £70 without) is just ludricrous, especially if you can't get the Vermin (no)value tickets, and if you wanted to get back to Lancaster on a Sunday the last train is often at about 3pm. Hence why trips to London often involve getting a train to Manc and then getting a coach or Megabus from there.

Bastards.

Agreed. I would be happy to partake in any fares boycott, even if I'm not due to travel anywhere. I understand that an ordinary return (not booked in advance and not taking advantage of other deals) from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly is around £260. There is no reason why a train journey of some 170 miles should cost so much.

On the one hand the government is telling people to use cars less and on the other we have the train operating companies making it too expensive to use the railways.

 

[Shmu]

You sure - i'm travelling down to cornwall next weekend on a first class saver that's only £2 more than standard fare? Only booked it last week as well.

Not sure - just had a look at fares for the end of Feb as I have to book something and my cheapest single standard class is £16 (cheaper than I usually find), cheapest single first class is £33.50, rather than £24 that it used to be.

Maybe they've just sold out of the cheaper 1st class tickets. Hope so.

 

[Ribbit]

All tickets sold at BTM, subject to the "National Conditions of Carriage" represent a contract with FGW. In the case that they mis-sold to you, you have a case with THEM. Even though a Bristol-Blackpool journey is more likely to have been on Virgin and then Norhern Trains.

Jesus, where else do you get a full anorak service at 3 AM ?

On the contrary. It would've been a Virgin ticket he was sold, so despite FGW being the company that sold it, any problems with said ticket would have to be taken up with Virgin. The ticket was just sold on behalf of Virgin.