2002-03-11 South Central franchise to get 700 new carriages (The Go-Ahead Group)

_______________________________________________________________

date 19 April 2002
source ATOC
type Press release

National Rail operators have joined forces with leading high street retailer WHSmith to lure customers onto the railway with the first national rail promotion in over ten years.

The Great Spring Getaway Rail Tickets promotion offers WHSmith customers a 2 for 1 rail voucher when they spend L10 or more. The promotion runs in over 500 WHSmith high street stores and on WHSmith.co.uk from 22 April to 21 May.

Customers who obtain the rail voucher can then purchase two rail tickets for the price of one when they present the voucher to a National Rail ticket office or provide details to telesales, rail appointed travel agents, or selected internet sites.

Commenting on the promotion, Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) Director of Commercial Services, Philip Benham, said: "This is the first national promotion in over ten years and it shows the National Rail operators’ commitment to working together to offer the benefits of rail travel to even more customers.

"The National Rail operators, through ATOC, are delighted to be involved in this promotion with WHSmith. During the period of the promotion, we expect to issue millions of the 2 for 1 vouchers to WHSmith customers who will then be able to experience the comfort and speed of travelling by rail and take someone with them for free!"

Andrea Jerome, WHSmith Promotions Manager comments “This is a really exciting promotion that adds great value for our customers. By spending just £10 instore or online our customers can save up to £100 or more when two people travel together using the rail travel voucher to visit family and friends or see the sights as part of the great spring getaway”.

To avoid disappointment, Mr Benham encouraged customers to book early as the promotion is expected to be very popular and tickets on some of the busier trains will be limited.

Tickets can be used for travel between 22 April - 30 May and between 10 June - 7 July 2002 inclusive on all National Rail operators (except Connex South Eastern and Gatwick Express). Customers must book before 1600hrs on the day before travel except for some shorter distance, mainly day trip journeys.

ENDS

For more information ATOC press office 0207 904 3010

Note to editors

Train companies participating in the promotion

This promotional offer is available on Anglia Railways, ARRIVA Trains Merseyside, ARRIVA Trains Northern, c2c, Central Trains, Chiltern Railways, First Great Eastern, First Great Western, First North Western, Great North Eastern Railway, Hull Trains, Island Line, Midland Mainline, ScotRail Railways, Silverlink Train Services, South Central, South West Trains, Thameslink Rail, Thames Trains, Virgin Trains, West Anglia Great Northern Railway, Wales & Borders Trains, Wessex Trains and Transport for London.

The promotion is not available on Connex South Eastern, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express and Eurostar services.

The Great Spring Getaway 2 for 1 rail ticket offer.

o Customers spending £10 or more on a single transaction at participating WHSmith stores will be given a rail travel voucher. When an adult voucher-holder purchases one of the nominated ticket types a second person, adult or child travels free.
o The offer will be available at all 537 WHSmith high street stores. Plus WHSmith outlets at airports and hospitals and customers purchasing through the WHSmith website (www.WHSmith.co.uk)
o The promotion will not be available at WHSmith stores located on railway stations.

The promotion is available on the following ticket types:

o Adult Saver Return;

o Adult SuperSaver Return;

o Adult Cheap Day Return;

o Adult AwayBreak Return;

o Adult Off Peak Day Travelcard for travel to London (issued for travel from outside the London Travelcard area;

Specific Train Company advance purchase tickets where available.
How to exchange a voucher for a rail ticket:

Use your 2-for-1 rail ticket voucher to book rail travel at most staffed National Rail stations rail-appointed travel agents or through selected internet and telesales services by 1600 on the day before you travel (Cheap Day Returns, AwayBreaks and some other tickets may be available on the day of travel). For more details on the offer and telesales offices, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk

o Offer applicable to principal Standard Class leisure fare types (Saver, Supersaver, Awaybreak, Cheap Day Returns and TOC-specific Advance Purchase fares) and Outboundary OneDay Travelcards.
o National Railcard discounts will be available for Young Persons, Senior, Family and Disabled Railcards. Forces and Network Railcards are excluded.
o In store offer to last four weeks: 22 April - 21 May 2002.
o Redemption period 22 April to 7 July inclusive. Period of 31 May - 9 June to be excluded. Both legs of journey must be made within redemption period.
o All outward and return travel must be made between 22 April and 7 July 2002 inclusive. However, travel between 31 May and 9 June inclusive is excluded from this offer.
o In most cases, tickets must be booked in advance and the booking should be made at least by 1600 on the day before travel. Reservations are compulsory for longer distance journeys (including most Saver Returns, SuperSaver Returns) and specific Train Company advance purchase tickets. However, local journeys using the following ticket types: Cheap Day Returns, some Saver Returns, some SuperSaver Returns, Off Peak Day Travelcards for journeys to London (issued for travel from outside the London Travelcard area) and AwayBreak Returns, may be booked on the day of travel.

Railhub Archive ::: 2002-04-19 ATO-001