Booking UK Trains

jonny68

Can someone tell me what the story is with trying to book a train with any train operator in the UK?

All the ones ive tried so far, Virgin Trains, Silverlink and Trans Pennine ask for a postcode and when i enter an Irish (Dublin) one it doesn't recognize it (despite Ireland being selected as a country)haven't these idiots not thought that there are people from outside the UK that may want to book a train,but cant because of this stupid postcode nonsense, has anyone any ideas on what to do?

Id sooner not have to call them and just do it online.

therecklessone

You cannot currently register to book online from outside the UK, according to the FAQs on all of the train operators sites. They are "working on it".

I have previously booked with Virgin over the phone, I now have a valid log in for their site and can book online (but must be for collection, they won't post to me)

maxheadroom

jonny68 wrote:

Can someone tell me what the story is with trying to book a train with any train operator in the UK?

All the ones ive tried so far, Virgin Trains, Silverlink and Trans Pennine ask for a postcode and when i enter an Irish (Dublin) one it doesn't recognize it (despite Ireland being selected as a country)haven't these idiots not thought that there are people from outside the UK that may want to book a train,but cant because of this stupid postcode nonsense, has anyone any ideas on what to do?

Id sooner not have to call them and just do it online.

You can buy tickets for any European railway in the CIE travel office on Abbey St. in Dublin (http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/your_ticket/UK_and_european_rail.asp has phone numbers if you'd rather phone them)

John R

The problem with the system is that although there are a dozen or so train operators they all use the one booking system run by www.thetrainline.com

There is a possible way around the ban on non-uk addresses, you can sign up with any UK address and then go back to Account Details and change the complete address to your CC billing address (Put IRELAND in as the postcode as well as the country location from the dropdown menu). I've just tried it and it seems to work. although I didn't book a ticket so I don't know if the CC charge will go through, can't see why it wouldn't.


I hope it works because if past experience of that company are anything to go by allowing non-UK addresses to sign up won't be fixed in a hurry.


If it doesn't work the best thing I can suggest is thst you can use the planner at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk to work out the best trains and fares and then ring up one of the train operators.

Oh, and don't book tickets through thetrainline.com directly as they charge a booking fee, none of the train operator websites charge anything above the fare.

You will need to use a real credit card not a virtual one as you will need the card to collect the tickets from the machine at the station.

parsi

I booked tickets last year in SouthWest Trains website and reecived my paper/physical tickets to my Cork address without any problem.

jonny68

Cheers folks some good advice there.:)