UK Rail ticket fiasco

[hullexile]

And one wonders (at least we from the colonies), how the hell did the English conquer the world? Especially since ya'll appear, at least from Wan Chai observations, to be a bunch of stumbling drunk n' disorderly's!

Because we built the empire without interference from mad politicians (just a few mad royals) bent on privatisation at any cost and in the worst way possible.

[ReverendJay]

How timely. Today's Mother Goose And Grimm

[PDLM]

Er, well maybe, but the railways were private at the time we built the Empire.

[hullexile]

Er, well maybe, but the railways were private at the time we built the Empire.

But at least with one line owned and operated by one company.

[MovingIn07]

we have used the national express a few times, in fairness it is pretty good for the price ( alot lower than train) but the departures for the coach to Devon are only every few hours..which can result in waiting much longer than is desirable after a 12 hour flight!...the problem of being from the deep dark south west!

Exactly. I would have preferred the bus - it's also much cheaper - that's what we used last time and also I put my parents on it when they came here, but as you note, the timings are terrible. I would also have had to wait 4 hours. And after a long flight that's really not much fun!

[MovingIn07]

How difficult is it for you to cancel your tickets and start from scratch? My alternative suggestion to save you too much faffing with interchanges etc is to get the Heathrow express to Paddington and then get your connection to Devon from there. I know it sounds a bit wierd going into town only to go back out again but having been through a similar experience trying to get to Bath, we found that this was the path of least resistance.

I'm fairly sure you can get a train from Heathrow T4 to Hayes, it was called the Heathrow Connect when I used to use it going to Paddington. It basically the service that runs on the same line as the Heathrow Express but stops at the local stations enroute and costs half the price.

Good luck.

Ticket was none refundable.

It costs double to go via Paddington - I already looked at that. This train is exactly the same one as I would be on from Reading as from Paddington, just cheaper....

Yes, I know I can get to Hayes from heathrow - that was the ticket I purchased - you just cannot pick it up before you travel!!

[MovingIn07]

And one wonders (at least we from the colonies), how the hell did the English conquer the world? Especially since ya'll appear, at least from Wan Chai observations, to be a bunch of stumbling drunk n' disorderly's!

Good question. I reckon we must have got soft in the last 100 years. Mind you, I left limey and am now Australian by choice (except when it comes to holiday in Europe when the old passport makes a reappearance!)

[MovingIn07]

I'm struggling to understand why you would do this online in advance anyway - I would simply have bought the ticket at the ticket office at Heathrow airport when I got there.

You are clearly happier to throw money away than I am. It's about 70% cheaper booked in advance. 34 pounds vs about 100. Or 39 if you add the extra I will have to pay twice to get to Hayes.....Even at today's measly exchange rate that's a couple of nice dinners saved.

[PDLM]

OK - I guess I'm out of date on UK rail tickets. The price was fixed last time I bought any that were more long distance than Heathrow to London.

[MovingIn07]

OK - I guess I'm out of date on UK rail tickets. The price was fixed last time I bought any that were more long distance than Heathrow to London.

My parents-in-law were the same ... ex-brits they went back a couple of years ago and caught a train from London to Edinburgh without booking - even with a seniors discount that they got 'on the day' the price was exorbitant (over 100 pounds each if I recall) and they were told when they paid "why didn't you just book an advance ticket" and of course being in Aus they didn't realise you needed to these days. They now have various different fares for different periods of booking in advance; different fares for different trains etc etc - all booked on a site that resembles an airline website. I guess it makes sense, given it costs as much as a flight to Europe! I just wish they might consider borrowing the concept of an e-ticket (or paper printout ticket) from the airlines too.... might save a whole lot of hassle.