Buying Tickets on Trains?

Changeling · 15-02-09, 15:59

I know this may be more suited to Open Chat, but I desperately need to know ASAP and half the time I ask questions in Open Chat they never get answered.

I'm travelling by train tomorrow (ScotRail) from Wick to Inverness and then swapping trains so I can get from Inverness to Aberdeen. Then, I'll be staying overnight in Aberdeen and getting a train back to Inverness, and then from Inverness getting a train back to Wick.

But the only thing is, the Wick Train Station is closed today and I haven't got tickets! I'm planning on catching the 06:20 train in Wick, arriving in Inverness around 10:30 and then departing to Aberdeen at 10:58. I was planning on going to Wick Train Station at around 5:30 in the morning tomorrow and asking the office for my tickets and stuff, but the office doesn't open until 8:00am.

So I was wondering, with ScotRail, is it possible to buy your tickets when you get on the train? Like when the staff comes round to ask for your ticket can you just pay for one then and there?

And if so, would I buy the full set of tickets for my whole journey or just seperate tickets for each train? My full request would be:

Return Ticket
Wick - Aberdeen
Departing - Monday, February 16th
Returning - Tuesday, February 17th
4 Trains alogether
2 Changes altogether

Or would I have to ask for a single ticket on each train to pay for their seperate journey?

If anyone could help me out on this, I would be REALLY grateful!

Thank you!

Dingaling · 15-02-09, 16:02

You can buy them on the train - I've seen plenty of folks do it.

Dunno about the "full set", you could just ask when you're on the train

.

Joely-Moley · 15-02-09, 16:05

I’m pretty sure you can. Especially if the ticket office is closed, I think they expect you to get your tickets on the train then.

Rai · 15-02-09, 16:05

I don't know how ScotRail does things, sorry. But on South West Trains and other services I have been on, you can buy the ticket on the train. Also are there ticket machines at the station, perhaps you can start there. I don't know if you'll be able to pay for your whole journey, maybe just the first part of that days travel. You shouldn't have a problem with buying a ticket though.

touchthesky · 15-02-09, 16:06

You can buy on the train but sometimes they won't let you use discount cards (young persons railcards, student cards etc). It's never happened to me but I've seen it happen to others. Be careful btw, because the trains between Aberdeen and Inverness are subject to short notice cancellations..Due to signaling problems. I've been getting the bus to college because thats the train I usually catch.

Jake Croft · 15-02-09, 16:06

I always buy my tickets on the train, its alot easier and convenient, sometimes they don't even charge... it's strange.

Rai · 15-02-09, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Croft

I always buy my tickets on the train, its alot easier and convenient, sometimes they don't even charge... it's strange.

They don't charge if the journey is short and the conductor hasn't been round to see the tickets yet. You have to go look for the conductor yourself.

Tsk tsk

Changeling · 15-02-09, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by touchthesky

You can buy on the train but sometimes they won't let you use discount cards (young persons railcards, student cards etc). It's never happened to me but I've seen it happen to others. Be careful btw, because the trains between Aberdeen and Inverness are subject to short notice cancellations..

Yeah, that's an issue that scares me. The train from Aberdeen to Inverness arrives in Inverness at 17:47, and I have to catch the next and last train to Wick which leaves at 17:52! I just desperately hope that the train doesn't get delayed in any way.

But I don't need to worry about the discount cards, I have plenty of money, plus I don't have any XD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rai

Also are there ticket machines at the station, perhaps you can start there.

Yeah, I was gonna book my tickets online, but my only option was to get them at a Ticket Machine, and Wick's Train Station is so crap it doesn't have one.

But anyway, thanks for all your answers!!

It's put my mind at rest a lot

coolaideonfire · 15-02-09, 16:28

It should be fine. It's what you're supposed to do if the ticket office is closed or you can't use the ticket machine for some reason anyway.

You should be able to get the full set of tickets as well. You'll probably get one for outgoing and one for returning, two tickets total, covering the whole journey.

Lew · 15-02-09, 16:29

yes you can, do you not have an automated machine ?

15-02-09, 15:59	#1
Changeling Professor Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 3,214	Buying Tickets on Trains? I know this may be more suited to Open Chat, but I desperately need to know ASAP and half the time I ask questions in Open Chat they never get answered. I'm travelling by train tomorrow (ScotRail) from Wick to Inverness and then swapping trains so I can get from Inverness to Aberdeen. Then, I'll be staying overnight in Aberdeen and getting a train back to Inverness, and then from Inverness getting a train back to Wick. But the only thing is, the Wick Train Station is closed today and I haven't got tickets! I'm planning on catching the 06:20 train in Wick, arriving in Inverness around 10:30 and then departing to Aberdeen at 10:58. I was planning on going to Wick Train Station at around 5:30 in the morning tomorrow and asking the office for my tickets and stuff, but the office doesn't open until 8:00am. So I was wondering, with ScotRail, is it possible to buy your tickets when you get on the train? Like when the staff comes round to ask for your ticket can you just pay for one then and there? And if so, would I buy the full set of tickets for my whole journey or just seperate tickets for each train? My full request would be: Return Ticket Wick - Aberdeen Departing - Monday, February 16th Returning - Tuesday, February 17th 4 Trains alogether 2 Changes altogether Or would I have to ask for a single ticket on each train to pay for their seperate journey? If anyone could help me out on this, I would be REALLY grateful! Thank you! __________________ Little deer, I've stuffed all the worlds diseases inside you

15-02-09, 16:02	#2
Dingaling Relic Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Land of Nessie PSN ID/XBL: Laraman Posts: 7,522	You can buy them on the train - I've seen plenty of folks do it. Dunno about the "full set", you could just ask when you're on the train . __________________ Reggie is awesome.

15-02-09, 16:05	#3
Joely-Moley Professor Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,764	I’m pretty sure you can. Especially if the ticket office is closed, I think they expect you to get your tickets on the train then. __________________ Sit?! Why does he get a chair?

15-02-09, 16:05	#4
Rai Moderator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UnKnown, the bubble popped Posts: 18,040	I don't know how ScotRail does things, sorry. But on South West Trains and other services I have been on, you can buy the ticket on the train. Also are there ticket machines at the station, perhaps you can start there. I don't know if you'll be able to pay for your whole journey, maybe just the first part of that days travel. You shouldn't have a problem with buying a ticket though. __________________ I’m tired of being in this slumber: Procrastination, I have your number! Last edited by Rai; 15-02-09 at 16:12.

15-02-09, 16:06	#5
touchthesky Tomb Raider Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 13,602	You can buy on the train but sometimes they won't let you use discount cards (young persons railcards, student cards etc). It's never happened to me but I've seen it happen to others. Be careful btw, because the trains between Aberdeen and Inverness are subject to short notice cancellations..Due to signaling problems. I've been getting the bus to college because thats the train I usually catch. __________________ “I've only been in love with a beer bottle and a mirror.”

15-02-09, 16:06	#6
Jake Croft Professor Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: under a rock Posts: 3,618	I always buy my tickets on the train, its alot easier and convenient, sometimes they don't even charge... it's strange. __________________ I love myself its not a sin, i cant control whats happenin'

15-02-09, 16:28	#9
coolaideonfire Archaeologist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, UK ♂ Posts: 1,951	It should be fine. It's what you're supposed to do if the ticket office is closed or you can't use the ticket machine for some reason anyway. You should be able to get the full set of tickets as well. You'll probably get one for outgoing and one for returning, two tickets total, covering the whole journey.

15-02-09, 16:29	#10
Lew Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,660	yes you can, do you not have an automated machine ?