Where can I travel with these tickets?
These tickets are available for journeys on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Birmingham (Moor Street station and Snow Hill station) and one of the following stations:
Bicester North
Banbury
Stratford-Upon-Avon
A limited amount of tickets are also available for travel between London Marylebone and Great Missenden.
How do I make a return journey?
You'll need to buy 2 separate tickets, one for each direction. Just add them to your transaction basket and you can pay for them together.
Are these tickets available at all times and on all trains?
They are only available on selected trains between Monday and Saturday. There are a limited amount of tickets per train, so if the train you are looking for is showing up as unavailable it may be sold out.
How far in advance can I book?
Tickets are released for sale between one and three months before the date of travel. They may be booked until 1800 hours on the day before travel, subject to availability.
Can I buy a ticket for somebody else if I am not travelling?
No, because the person who is named on the booking must be present with each passenger that is travelling. The account holder's name will appear in our database and on the confirmation e-mail. Photo identification may be requested, which must match the registered user's details on our database.
Can I board the train at any station?
Tickets are valid only on the date and train service shown on the ticket. You may board and alight at any Chiltern Railways station, as long as it is between the points stated in on your ticket. For example, with a Birmingham to London E-Day ticket, you may join at Leamington Spa and alight at High Wycombe, as long as the train stops at these points.
Can I get a Railcard Discount?
Yes, Railcards can be used to obtain the relevant discounts. Only one type of Railcard can be used per booking. If your travelling party has a combination of Railcards such as a Senior Railcard and a 16-25 Railcard, you will need to make two separate bookings to obtain the appropriate discount.
Can I book from overseas?
Yes. If you are purchasing a text ticket, please make sure that you select the correct country code from the drop down list. There are some international phone numbers which aren't compatible with our system; however a copy of your confirmation e-mail and photo identification will suffice.
Am I still eligible for '2 for1 entry into London attractions'?
The participating attractions will accept these tickets but they aren't able to verify barcodes, so you'll need to print off your confirmation email (which contains your name and travel details) as well as your payment confirmation e-mail (which contains the last few digits of your credit/debit card). Please be aware that you may be asked to produce the credit card used for the booking.
What if I can't find the make of my mobile phone in the registration list?
We try to keep our database up to date, but if the manufacturer of your phone isn't listed, simply select 'other' from the drop down list.
What is a tckt by txt and what do they look like?
It is a travel ticket which is sent as a SMS text message. The text message contains the details of your journey (like a normal paper ticket) and a 2-D barcode made up of black and white squares. Some SMART phones and Blackberry devices may have difficulty displaying the barcode, in which case a WAP push message will be sent. Some older phones will be sent a text only ticket; this is still valid for travel but will need to be manually checked by our staff.
How many tickets will I receive if I purchase several journeys in one transaction?
print@home
You will only receive one booking confirmation e-mail per transaction; however you will receive one ticket per journey. Please make sure that you print the correct ticket when you travel.
tckts by txt
You will receive one text message for each train departure which you have purchased a ticket for; and it is valid for the number of passengers. So if you purchase four tickets for two people (two from London Marylebone and two returning from Birmingham Snow Hill) you will only receive two text messages. You can identify which message relates to each journey by reading the text underneath the barcode. Please ensure that you save the messages.
What if there are a lot of us travelling together?
Up to 6 tickets can be purchased at a time for a specific departure, although all tickets will be sent to the registered user's phone. On board the train, the hand held scanners used by our staff will indicate the number of people who are permitted to travel. Our staff will allow you through the gates at Marylebone.
Can I forward a text ticket to another mobile phone?
It is possible that the barcode within a text ticket may become corrupted when forwarded to other phones. However, a printed version of your confirmation e-mail, together with photo ID will allow us to verify your authority to travel in exceptional circumstances.
Must I have my ticket with me when I travel?
print@home
Yes, your rail ticket will be sent to you as an e-mail along with an e-mail confirming your booking. Please make sure that you print a copy of your ticket before you travel.
tckts by txt
Yes, you must save the text message on your mobile phone.This text message is your ticket allowing you to travel and can be checked with the barcode scanners carried by our staff (please turn the backlight on to enable easier scanning). Text tickets that do not contain barcodes will be manually checked. Please also keep a copy of your confirmation e-mail, should there be a problem with your text ticket. A printed version of your confirmation e-mail, together with photo ID will allow us to verify your authority to travel in exceptional circumstances. It is therefore vital that you enter your e-mail address correctly when registering, to ensure you receive your confirmation e-mail.
What if I do not receive my booking confirmation e-mail or my ticket?
print@home
Your ticket and confirmation e-mail should be sent to your e-mail address almost immediately. If you have not received it within an hour, it is likely that the email address was entered incorrectly when you originally registered. We can resend it if you contact us.
tckts by txt
If you have not received your text ticket after 1 hour, please check that your message inbox is not full and that you have a network signal. Sometimes, switching the phone off and then on helps to retrieve undelivered messages. If none of these actions work, please contact us. If you still haven't received your barcode by the time of travel, make sure that you have a copy of your confirmation email and proof of identification to enable travel.
My text message does not contain a barcode, what shall I do?
Some phones may not be compatible with our bar-coded system, in which case you will be sent a text only message. This is still valid for travel but it will need to be manually checked by our staff, rather than being scanned.
What happens if my mobile phone's battery goes flat or if I don't have my phone with me when travelling?
Your mobile phone carries your ticket, so it is your responsibility to look after it and have enough battery life for your entire journey. However, a printed version of your confirmation e-mail, together with photo ID will allow us to verify your authority to travel in exceptional circumstances. We can resend your ticket if you contact us.
I've changed my mobile phone- what should I do?
You'll need to update your registration information; log in and your details will come up automatically. Simply edit anything that's changed. We can resend your ticket to your new phone if you contact us.
How do I get through the ticket gates?
At London Marylebone, there are barcode readers at two of the ticket gates, (to the right of the Excess Fares booth when leaving the platforms). These are clearly signed. If your text ticket is for more than one passenger or if it does not contain a barcode, you'll need to have your phone checked or scanned by one of our ticket examining staff at the 'wide aisle' ticket gate to allow each member of the group through the gates.
Can I get a refund if I do not use my ticket?
These tickets are offered at a bargain price and to keep the price of them so low, we are unable to offer any refunds.
Can I transfer or make an amendment to my booking?
Yes, the difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for your journey is payable, plus a £10 administration fee per person, per single ticket for each change to a journey. If you change to a train where a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded. Please contact us if you would like to change your booking advancetickets@chilternrailways.co.uk.
What happens if I miss the train that I am booked on?
These tickets are train specific, each ticket is only valid on the date and time specified on the ticket. Your ticket will not be valid on any other train, and please make sure that you catch the right train to avoid having to purchase another ticket.
What happens if my train is delayed or cancelled?
Your ticket will be valid on the next available service.
Who do I contact if I need to know more?
If the above Q's and A's have not addressed your query, please e-mail us advancetickets@chilternrailways.co.uk (Monday-Friday 9.00-17.30).