And so we continue the tale of woe of trying to buy my train tickets for Transpocalypse.
Last time on The 12 Tasks of Pandora I was told Central Trains were fannying about switching from return fares to singles only. The incredibly helpful girl at Norwich station gave me a timetable with *new single fares* scribbled on, and the advice to leave it for a couple of weeks. So I did.
I was about to ring the ticket sales line when I noticed the warning “Please note this telephone service is for ticket sales only. If you wish to enquire about times or prices please call National Rail Enquiries on…”
After a bit of negotiation, where it is clear I have access to better information than the National Rail Enquiries helpdesk, I am told that Central are still selling return tickets. Thanks. Bloody helpful you’ve been!
So I call the sales line after all. And it’s an automated voice recognition system. First off I’m invited to take part in a customer service survey. With hindsight I wish I’d said yes. I then go through all the palaver of calling out the trains, times and stations I want in a clear voice. And then I get “Please wait while I transfer you to our partner service” and I’m on the line to a young girl, who asks for all the details again as their system isn’t playing. After a brief mix up (because anybody could confuse LIVERPOOL with CHESTERFIELD) I am offered an advance saver for over £100.
“No thanks,” I say. “I want a Value 7.”
“Not available,” is the reply.
“Why?” I ask.
“Sold out,” says she.
“Already? For the end of January 2007?”
“Or not available…”
“And how do I find out?”
“I’ll check.”
Five minutes later.
“They’re not available yet. Try again in a week or two.”
Stunning!
So I’m still without travel yet and it’s getting closer.
Connects and disconnects
1 day ago
3 comments:
All I'm gonna say is, try www.virgintrains.co.uk ... that's where I get all my rail travel from.
Using this post as an example, they'll do you a single ticket, Norwich - Liverpool, for about £19. That's as cheap as it'll get.
You need to keep checking the website to find out when the cheap tickets are released, though- the standard return trip is £69!!
It's also a lot cheaper to get two singles than a return ticket, for some reason.
Me? I can get there... but haven't found a room yet...
Virgin use tha same cheap tickets as Central: the Value 7 (£19.00), but the've been buggering me about for weeks, and no-one know if they are not available yet, or sold out or what. I've given up and I'm going to drive. I feel much more relaxed already!
Woo-hoo! Road trip!!
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