My wife and I are visiting Scotland next month. Several weeks ago, I booked two adult tickets on Scot Rail with a two together railcard that I plan to purchase when I'm in Scotland.
I read that there is a restriction on using the two together rail card until after 9:30
When booking I booked the 08:42 train from Inverness direct to Glasgow. That was an error on my part and that time is not valid with the rail card use-when booking the tickets I must have clicked the wrong train/time.
When trying to contact Scotrail on their website I get no response. I sent a note through to their customer service last month but have not heard back.
We will be in Scotland a few days before this train trip so could I sort out this out, or pay the difference at the ScotRail ticket office when in Scotland?
Posted by
Florida
19 posts
Hi there
I’m sorry to learn that you made this simple mistake. It’s very common. May I suggest if you get no reply from Scotrail in the meantime, that once you arrive in Scotland, attend the information desk at the train station and simply explain your mistake. They’re usually very helpful.
An alternative option
If you’re able to get thru the ticket barrier with your 08.42 ticket, address the train manager, usually located at the rear of the train once it arrives at the platform and ask him can you board, explaining your mistake. Often if you’re polite (and you are not a group) the train manager (guard) MAY use his discretion and allow you to board. You may have to be quick, as he’s trying to keep the on time departure, So be prepared!
It’s always worth a try, and no harm in asking.
Good Luck and safe travels. Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
Lake District, England
12501 posts
The system shouldn't have allowed that to happen.
Are you travelling on a Saturday when the 0930 time restriction doesn't apply, as that would explain why it was allowed?
The strictly correct way to rectify this is to buy tickets to the 1st station call after 0930- which is Kingussie.
That fare is £16.90 per person, single.
Totally off the record, I hardly ever have my railcard checked, but I'm always travelling on paper tickets so there is no prompt by the bar code scanner to check railcard.
Posted by
OP
112 posts
Sorry I should have mentioned the date it's Thursday October 22. I also thought the system should have caught that too...
Posted by
Lake District, England
12501 posts
Given the timings this suggests an error on the new Scotrail app/website. We know that 6 weeks on it still has spasmodic errors.
As such, you have on the face of what you say (and without seeing the tickets) have been effectively mis-sold the tickets. So in principle you are entitled to go into any Booking office, and have the tickets 'excessed' up to the non railcard fare.
I don't know if these are cheap Advance tickets, or full fare. But the Advance Tickets are now sold out.
However if they are full fare, the cheapest way to issue the fares on that train now is-
Inverness to Pitlochry- 2 people, no railcard Any Time Day Single £57.20
Pitlochry to Glasgow- 2 people, railcard, Any Time Day Single £34.20
A Total of £91.40
(stay on the train and in the same seat at Pitlochry)
A good ticket clerk (anywhere in the UK) should be able to 'excess' the tickets up to that (ie- re-issue the tickets, and charge you the difference in fare between whatever you paid and £91.40). At my local station, as the original tickets were inadvertently mis-sold the clerk might even re-issue the tickets as above, on a zero excess basis- that is not charge you the difference in fare to show goodwill. But that would be a big bonus, please don't expect or ask for zero excess.
The problem is that the train at Inverness only has a 16 minute turn round (it arrives from Aberdeen at 0826) so if the gates refuse you entry you are scrabbling round with no time to spare trying to resolve this, and it could all get a bit frantic. especially if the gate and/or train staff decide to stick to the letter of the law.
Posted by
OP
112 posts
Thanks everyone for the replies. We will be in the Scotland starting on Oct 16, which should give me enough time to get this figured out at ScotRail's ticket office...