Tickets for Ghost Trains

[6rdfar90]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7160445.stm


I found that quite funny. In the respect that I would have made the same mistake.

[jpantera]

It is really non-news as the ticket is a saver return.....

Not date specific and trains have not run on Xmas & Boxing day for decades if not since the start of the railways.

The million dollar question is did they state that they wished to travel on Boxing day when purchasing? If FGW said that was possible then FGW are in the wrong. If they didn't state that then the request for compensation should be put in the bin.

[enotayokel]

They've been reserved seats from the Picture. What I love is they expect FGW to be there on Christmas Day/Boxing Day to answer.

[AlistairW]

They've been reserved seats from the Picture. What I love is they expect FGW to be there on Christmas Day/Boxing Day to answer.

I was going to say that of course FGW aren't going to be in office, or available to comment, it's certainly a non-news story. Would be interested to see if they did state the return date, but the pictures of the tickets do say 'NO SEAT' on.

Cheers,
Ali

[6rdfar90]

The picture also shows it saying any date between 22nd December and 23rd January

[nwallace]

Where it says No Seat there is a specific time and date on that. It def says 2?DMR and looks like a 6.

If it is a 6 then they have been provided tickets for a non-existent service and the provider is in the wrong as this confirms that tickets were requested for the 26th (It doesn't matter a monkeys that they are valid for another month.).

[spartacus]

Now, to me the date looks like the 24th. I think they might have reserved a seat on the 24th, but through; 'Oh, it's a saver, I'll be able to go back a day or two later if needs be"...........

[jonfun]

This is absolutely disgusting. I saw it last night, and was on the verge of writing an e-mail to the BBC to complain about their reporting.

1) Irrespective if you reserved seats, you still need to check your travel plans before you go on your journey. There is a note on the FGW website detailing this. If she had have checked, then she would have found out there were no trains running, and would have been able to get a refund on the tickets.

2) Why does she want to talk to FGW? They'd only tell her she should have checked her plans prior to the journey. And phoning them on a bank holiday...

3) Compensation? Because she's too stupid to realise that trains might not run on Boxing Day... People must think trains drive themself.

[/grump]


Hmmph,


Jon

[allypally]

If you had checked Birmingham New Street's live departures board yesterday you'd have seen just how misleading these things can be!

A full service running totally to time apparently!

[jonfun]

Point taken.

[gswindale]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7161767.stm

FGW have admitted making a mistake.

[spartacus]

I don't think they've admitted it was their mistake yet, despite what the headline says.

[MoonKid47]

I don't think they've admitted it was their mistake yet, despite what the headline says.

Dude, the headline is:

Train company admits ticket error

Had can that NOT be an admittion of error?

Also here is a quoite from the page:

"First Great Western is extremely concerned to hear that customers have somehow been sold tickets for services which we did not run"

[spartacus]

I'M concerned about it, but I'm not admitting it's my fault. I can't see anything in the article to say that FGW have admitted blame. The news have never been known to twist things and make one thing try to say another before, I know, but maybe this is a first?

There are many ways in which one can book a ticket for any service, one of many is through the TOC. Some salesperson from any party may have been convinced there was a train running on boxing day and so forced the error, which would be a good reason for 'NO SEATS' being on the ticket. The big concern is that this forced arror should not be possible, IF this is the case.

[6rdfar90]

I don't think they've admitted it was their mistake yet, despite what the headline says.

Dude, the headline is:

Train company admits ticket error

Had can that NOT be an admittion of error?

Also here is a quoite from the page:

"First Great Western is extremely concerned to hear that customers have somehow been sold tickets for services which we did not run"

That isnt the headline at all....

Return tickets 'leading nowhere'

The tickets for the Totnes to Paddington Boxing Day service
A hospital doctor is stranded at his parents' house in Devon, after finding out the train service he has a ticket for does not exist.
Pamela Thompson, from Tuckenhay, bought return tickets for her son and his partner over the phone in November.

The couple were due to return to London on the 2002 GMT service from Totnes, but discovered it was not running.

First Great Western has not commented, but National Rail Enquiries confirmed there were no trains until Thursday.

"I'm extremely angry," Mrs Thompson told BBC News.

They've taken the money out of my account,

Pamela Thompson

"My son is a hospital doctor and has to be back as there are always a shortage of doctors around the holidays.

"I bought these tickets in good faith. They've taken the money out of my account, but they haven't notified me that the train's not running now.

"It's spoilt our Boxing Day."

She said First Great Western was not answering any phone calls, while the family has been struggling to find a means of getting the couple back to London.

"I want compensation and I want to speak to someone at First Great Western," she said.