Simon FlettFeb 15, 2025
Labour's nationalist rebrand of ye olde British Rail, Grate British Railways GBR (yay! pay more but get Patriotism!) is SCREWED in the conception stage (trying to be all things to all 'stakeholders') & promises to be an expensive lemon.
Trying to eliminate byzantine ticketing AND keep the likes of private ticketeer Trainline in cash, is a fudgey recipe for failure.
Ticketeers & train operators inflate prices according to what they figure you're prepared to pay. (See also Oasis).
Private Eye 👇
Show threadSimon Flett

Buying a British train ticket is like buying a gourd in the bazaar - 'no no no you've got to haggle - ere this bloke won't 'aggle'.

"Didn't we 'ave a loverly time the day we went to Bangor?" Forget it. By the time you've got a ticket you're skint, & lost the will to live.
Do better Labour 🚆🚅

Feb 15, 2025 at 10:22amWeb
Show threadTiggyFeb 15, 2025

@RejoinEU

Even worse if you need step free access and assistance. I have to check if the stations I'm using are accessible then negotiate the scooter policy for each train company (I currently have 7 different scooter permits), then book the ticket without knowing if there is a wheelchair space available.
I could avoid the last bit and book the ticket via the passenger access but I have to tell them which stations and train times and talk them through prices.

#DisabledTravel

Show threadLinux and praxis: part of the resistance 🇵🇸 ☮️Feb 15, 2025

@RejoinEU

Had wonderful service from staff at ticket office in Loughborough - saved us a packet.