This is about the most civilised way of buying a train ticket that I have come across.
The site is extremely easy to operate, as there are only 8 steps involved. One specifies the departure and destination stations; dates and preferred times of travel for both outward and return journeys. If a single ticket is required one simply leaves the return details out. The next step takes a few moments to find train times around those entered and one is then presents with a list of times around those entered as well as an option to look for earlier and later trains.
One then enters the number of people travelling – adults and children, bicycles, type of ticket - the choice is presented on a ‘Drop down’ menu - whether the fastest or cheapest. Specify type of railcard (if any), stations to avoid or pass through as well as an option to avoid changes or to allow for extra time in case of changes. Finally one specifies the type of ticket: single or return.
(It takes longer to read the above than it does to fill in this section)
The next section shows the train times as well as types of ticket and prices available for those times. Having chosen the required times and tickets and specified smoking or non-smoking and direction of seating one is shown the type of ticket to be issued together with the journey routing.
Thereafter one enters one’s name and address, proceeds to the shopping basket and if the ticket shown is acceptable, completes the purchase. However, if one is not happy, it is very easy to ‘backtrack’ and make changes. At this point one can specify the type of ticket delivery. I choose ‘First Class’ post and the ticket has, so far, always arrived by first delivery next morning. In our case around 7.30 – 8 AM
If for some reason one has to cancel a ticket there is no difficulty in doing this. One is charged a £ 5.00 cancellation fee and the balance is back in one’s account in about 10 days time. . If one makes a particular journey frequently, there is an option for the site to remember this which is a bit of a time saver.
This is a very thorough way of buying a ticket. Imagine doing all that over the ‘phone, considering the ticket and timing options available. It would be virtually impossible to make a considered choice whilst talking to an operator for whom one has waited in a que for xxxx number of minutes with the resulting rise in temperature.. Imagine wanting to change one’s mind under those conditions.
Now since this is a Train ticket purchasing site some of the scoring below is not universally relevant relevant as they are based on my travels with Midland Main Line.
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How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Unsure from your review if you can use railcards on the site, i.e. family railcard or young person's railcard, without phoning or going into a station to get the discounts available
pyela1 01.10.2004 16:03
Trainline have just taken over travel booking for our company and to put it mildly its been and out and out disaster. Lynn
Chadderz 07.08.2002 20:55
It may be in the wrong category bit Trainline is the best online rail ticket system I have used.
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May 6th, 2002
very helpful by (42%):
helpful by (42%):
somewhat helpful by (17%):
