tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post3010093278218488547..comments2024-03-25T22:17:35.616+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Why fbb Doesn't Like Journey Plannersfatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-66934708762295025392019-05-05T10:48:29.704+01:002019-05-05T10:48:29.704+01:00"The "FastJP" site, also confirmed ..."The "FastJP" site, also confirmed the lack of an 0552 path, by the way" - that's because it's not a valid connection through London.<br /><br />Try it now and there is a 0552 itinerary available avoiding London.<br /><br /><br />FastJP will give an invalid itinerary across London if you specify a negative connection time at a relevant London Terminal, but unless you specifically request an invalid connection, it will only suggest valid ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-17411848352288730522016-03-30T18:26:01.753+01:002016-03-30T18:26:01.753+01:00To answer the fares question, the claim from virgi...To answer the fares question, the claim from virgin is as a result of them offering "Saver Half" fares, only valid as part of a return journey. Therefore they can get away with showing single fares as two saver half fares, or an advance one way plus a saver half the other (or two advances) is generally (but not always!) cheaper than a saver return. These fares are only available through the virgin website, hence the claim you won't find cheaper fares! Since national rail adult fares are offered in fares ending in tens of pence, then the half fare is rounded down to the nearest 10p. Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13793451685912419925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-57014459987428843272016-03-30T16:25:18.500+01:002016-03-30T16:25:18.500+01:00To anonymous at 1030. I never made a journey plann...To anonymous at 1030. I never made a journey planner. Far too tricky. I did however manager the data for one. BUT the xephos JP was both superior to what lies behind both National Rail and Traveline as it was designed specifically for the UK's convoluted and disintegrated non-system.<br /><br />I did not lose the contract : there never was a contract.<br /><br />But the failure of "them" to adopt xephos has cost you and me as taxpayers something like £50 million a year in unnecessary costs.<br /><br />Government and its Local Authority lackies have a wonderful knack of wasting our money on ludicrously overpriced technology projects.fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-46814557005951281612016-03-30T13:21:17.850+01:002016-03-30T13:21:17.850+01:00My mistake. I clicked on Monday by mistake on RTT....My mistake. I clicked on Monday by mistake on RTT. Vandalism, apparently. <br /><br />According to NRE (for tomorrow), the onward connection at Exeter from the 0552 is Cross Country service with the next change at Birmingham @ 0952.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-45717004992248937682016-03-30T13:17:23.147+01:002016-03-30T13:17:23.147+01:00I tend to forget about that hidden button, and som...I tend to forget about that hidden button, and sometimes it doesn't reduce them by that much. <br /><br />Yes, fbb's reasoning for disliking journey planners is valid, but he seemingly fails to realise they *have* to make assumptions. If they gave very limited interchange times, there would no doubt be scores of complaints from the elderly, luggage carriers or the 'portly' that they had missed connections. Journey planners also have to take into account someone walking from coach 1 or coach 8, tourists, stairs, lifts, gates, people who walk up to the gate and then realise they don't have their ticket in their hand, people who stay seated until the penultimate person has got off the train before ambling slowly, the list is endless. I can transfer at STP or VIC much faster than at Waterloo or Paddington because I know exactly where I'm going. The journey planner doesn't know I know.<br /><br />I would, though, be interested to hear how and why fbb thinks he can do better, given his history. Isn't traveline data Open Source?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-7923228530088335192016-03-30T13:08:08.282+01:002016-03-30T13:08:08.282+01:00The 0552 to Exeter was cancelled on Tuesday as the...The 0552 to Exeter was cancelled on Tuesday as the train to form it didn't arrive Axminster until 0633 from where it ran light to Exeter. The 0552 to Waterloo arrived a little late at 0852.<br />I don't understand your Birmingham comment as neither 0552 doesn't run via Brum but there are engineering works en route at Wolverhampton but these shouldn't have impacted this trip so it is baffling why it was hidden. Also even though the 0930 from Euston was late it still just made the connection to Newton LW or the Wigan option.Karlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-33117544005652834802016-03-30T12:17:48.029+01:002016-03-30T12:17:48.029+01:00To Anonymous @ 10:56 - if you had taken the troubl...To Anonymous @ 10:56 - if you had taken the trouble to comprehend FBB's prose, you would have noticed that he has explained the reason behind his dislike of journey planners, and it is not at all irrational. It is, in fact, extremely rational! "The problem, as usual, is that some journey planners make assumptions about interchange times."<br /><br />To Anonymous @ 10:11 (and also to FBB), the National Rail journey planner has a potentially helpful trick hidden away under the "Advanced Search" link: a tick-box to allow less time to transfer through London.<br /><br />Incidentally, the duration of prophesised Underground rides is normally quite accurate as they are all timetabled. It is the interchange times between trains that are usually overestimated, an issue that can be somewhat alleviated by ticking the above tick-box.Anonybusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-18248978246111665922016-03-30T10:56:28.569+01:002016-03-30T10:56:28.569+01:00FBB if you hate journey planners so much why did y...FBB if you hate journey planners so much why did you make one? <br /><br />There seems to be a correlation between you losing the tender for the national journey planner and your irrational hatred of the current one. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-31374948386310139082016-03-30T10:11:40.119+01:002016-03-30T10:11:40.119+01:00I find National Rail allows far too much time to c...I find National Rail allows far too much time to connect across London, and many times on the return journey have been able to get an earlier (non restricted) train.<br /><br />Surprised the 05:52 wasn't showing - it is for tomorrow (so hardly hidden), and it did run as far as Exeter (albeit late) on Tuesday. As that runs via Birmingham, perhaps some early morning engineering work?<br /><br />Virgin says their prices can't be beaten. It doesn't say they'll be cheaper, just that nobody else will be cheaper than them. It's aimed at the "trainline" market, which claim to be cheap then sting you for delivery and the like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-3416338594613139682016-03-30T09:50:43.006+01:002016-03-30T09:50:43.006+01:00Those connections seem fine provided you walk abou...Those connections seem fine provided you walk about like a normal person. <br /><br />The morbidly obese will struggle and need to adjust accordingly. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com