Purchasing railway ticketing can be mighty difficult and confusing so I though it might be an idea to share knowledge and ideas on here.

I like to think, probably misguidedly, that I know something about how ticketing works and am quite good at getting the best deal. I'm also very conversant with the network and timetabling which is a big advantage in working out the bst route etc.

I travel fairly regularly by rail. Today, having a bit of spare time, I bought my regular day return from Teignmouth to Bristol but instead of using Trainline, which I usually do, I'd have a shop around.

This is what I discovered :

Now I know that many people don't like Trainline because it applies a small commission to the charge but.....

Using the GWR App the price for the  same train was £11 more.
Now, I could get that down a bit by buying tickets from Teignmouth to Taunton then Taunton to Bristol but it was still £6 more.
Trainline automatically applies the Split Ticket rate in their algorithm rather than me having to do it.

I also noted that with GWR you can't get a refund if you've made a mistake but Trainline gives you a free 30 minute cancellation period and allows a cancellation (with an admin fee) up to the time of departure.

My final point, for now, is that both Apps only offer selected trains.
I guess that is because most people want the quickest train.
As an example, I'm offered Teignmouth to Exeter SD then Exeter SD to Bristol TM.
But.....it means I get to Bristol a bit too early.
I often plump for a slightly later service from Exeter to Bristol which goes the longer way via Weston Super Mare. I don't mind sitting on the train at all and the timings suit me better but this service isn't offered by either App as a default.

I just wondered if others might be inclined to share their thoughts.

Quote from: port perran on Today at 05:09:29 PMPurchasing railway ticketing can be mighty difficult and confusing so I though it might be an idea to share knowledge and ideas on here.

I like to think, probably misguidedly, that I know something about how ticketing works and am quite good at getting the best deal. I'm also very conversant with the network and timetabling which is a big advantage in working out the bst route etc.

I travel fairly regularly by rail. Today, having a bit of spare time, I bought my regular day return from Teignmouth to Bristol but instead of using Trainline, which I usually do, I'd have a shop around.

This is what I discovered :

Now I know that many people don't like Trainline because it applies a small commission to the charge but.....

Using the GWR App the price for the  same train was £11 more.
Now, I could get that down a bit by buying tickets from Teignmouth to Taunton then Taunton to Bristol but it was still £6 more.
Trainline automatically applies the Split Ticket rate in their algorithm rather than me having to do it.

I also noted that with GWR you can't get a refund if you've made a mistake but Trainline gives you a free 30 minute cancellation period and allows a cancellation (with an admin fee) up to the time of departure.

My final point, for now, is that both Apps only offer selected trains.
I guess that is because most people want the quickest train.
As an example, I'm offered Teignmouth to Exeter SD then Exeter SD to Bristol TM.
But.....it means I get to Bristol a bit too early.
I often plump for a slightly later service from Exeter to Bristol which goes the longer way via Weston Super Mare. I don't mind sitting on the train at all and the timings suit me better but this service isn't offered by either App as a default.

I just wondered if others might be inclined to share their thoughts.

I see hundred of train tickets a day at work and the only App I would actively avoid is The Trainline one!
Cheers Colin

Quote from: Shropshire Lad on Today at 06:00:55 PMI see hundred of train tickets a day at work and the only App I would actively avoid is The Trainline one!
Cheers Colin

And the reason, Colin??

Purely because of the amount of invalid tickets people buy in good faith.
Cheers Colin