A new iGoogle Southern ‘gadget' is now available for passengers to download and store on their iGoogle home page. The gadget allows passengers to book train tickets through Southern's new online booking system.
Using the gadget, train tickets can now be bought to and from any national rail station using Southern's new online system and can be collected from National Ticket on Departure (TOD) enabled ticket machines at stations.
Southern has also developed a Vista gadget that will sit on the vista desktop making access to the online journey planner ever quicker.
The online booking system helps passengers make informed decisions about which tickets to buy, allowing them to purchase the best value tickets based on their journey preferences. Passengers can create their own journey plan using a ‘mixing desk' on the system which provides a full list of journey and fare options available.
Both day tickets and season tickets can be bought using the gadgets and can be either delivered by free first-class post, or day tickets can be collected ahead of the train's departure from enabled self-service machines at stations. For a limited time only, Advance Purchase tickets bought through the Southern website can be discounted by up to 40% cheaper than the equivalent tickets bought at stations. One way fares between London Victoria and the South Coast start from £3 on Southern services.
To download the gadgets, visit the Southern home page at www.southernrailway.com
Quick Facts about Webtis - the benefits:
- The sale of train tickets to/from any UK rail station, not just the Southern network
- The opportunity to find the lowest fare across a wide range of services
- Postal ticket delivery or collection from self service ticket vending machines at stations
- Simple summaries of ticket terms and conditions
- Facilities for customers with visual impairments and other disabilities have been included in the system
- A wide selection of enquiries can be submitted and answered
- Season ticket holders can renew without the need to queue at ticket offices
- Large choice of alternative services shown for each enquiry or request
- Cost comparison of single and return tickets on the same page
- Customers can request refunds and ticket amendments online
- No booking fee and no standard postal charges
- Free first class recorded delivery to customers paying more than £100 in a single transaction.
Advance purchase fares are only available on certain routes. Passengers are advised to check the website for details.
About Southern
Southern provides services in south London and between central London and the south coast, through east and west Sussex and Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire.
Some fast facts about Southern:
- We have over 4,000 employees
- The service is provided by a fleet of 300 new and refurbished trains
- We provide over 2,000 train services each day
- We carry around 165,000 passengers each day
- Southern manages 167 stations, 113 of which have secure stations status
For more information about Southern, visit www.southernrailway.com
About Govia
Southern is owned by Govia, the partnership between the Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. Govia is the most enduring partnership between transport operators delivering rail franchises in this country. Govia is the UK's busiest rail operator, responsible for almost 30 per cent of UK passenger rail journeys through its three rail companies, Southern, Southeastern and London Midland. Govia has retained the South Central franchise which commences on Sunday 20th September and runs until July 2015. Further information on Govia is available at www.govia.info
Southern also operates Gatwick Express. For more information, log on to www.gatwickexpress.co.uk