I have a great idea that could make meeelions
Discussion
...but I don't know how to implement it.
What I need is some kind of code monkey who can autocomplete a website, analyse the results, hold them in memory and return a favourable result for the customer, whilst adding a paltry 50p per transaction for the privilege.
Has to be a winner, surely?
Yes, it's train tickets!!
I mean, thetrainline doesn't give cheapest fares, it works for the companies I'm guessing, it has no vested interest in providing the cheapest tickets. Whereas we all know that if you are creative with fares, you can get them much cheaper.
There you go, it's a freebie, and on me.
What I need is some kind of code monkey who can autocomplete a website, analyse the results, hold them in memory and return a favourable result for the customer, whilst adding a paltry 50p per transaction for the privilege.
Has to be a winner, surely?
Yes, it's train tickets!!
I mean, thetrainline doesn't give cheapest fares, it works for the companies I'm guessing, it has no vested interest in providing the cheapest tickets. Whereas we all know that if you are creative with fares, you can get them much cheaper.
There you go, it's a freebie, and on me.
TheEnd said:
An automatic train ticket booker, if there isn't one, i'd say it'll work.
Train fares are overcomplicated as it is, with clicking on the first one that turns up costing way more than if you do some searching about
My point exactly. You never get the cheapest fare by simply inputting the destination. If you had access to the DB with the fares, you could query it more creatively and come up with the cheapest fares.Train fares are overcomplicated as it is, with clicking on the first one that turns up costing way more than if you do some searching about
As a coder it would be easy enough to implement, but the query is, what do you do about the different rail companies? Interrogate them all and store it in a DB?
Where would your pricing come from? Hitting the rail companies websites every morning to grab the data needed will take them down and piss people off, or do you have a source that will provide them everyday?
just some quick thoughts, pm me off site if you want to chat.
Where would your pricing come from? Hitting the rail companies websites every morning to grab the data needed will take them down and piss people off, or do you have a source that will provide them everyday?
just some quick thoughts, pm me off site if you want to chat.
Pricing is already centralised. It is held and administered by ATOC - the Association of Train Operating Companies. They also run www.nationalrail.co.uk on the back of that database (as well as timetabling databases)
The reason it has to be held centrally is due to the RSP - Rail Settlement Plan. This is the process whereby receipts are 'divvied up' between TOCs (train operating companies) for any journeys which cross multiple TOC areas.
The reason it has to be held centrally is due to the RSP - Rail Settlement Plan. This is the process whereby receipts are 'divvied up' between TOCs (train operating companies) for any journeys which cross multiple TOC areas.
V8mate said:
Pricing is already centralised. It is held and administered by ATOC - the Association of Train Operating Companies. They also run www.nationalrail.co.uk on the back of that database (as well as timetabling databases)
The reason it has to be held centrally is due to the RSP - Rail Settlement Plan. This is the process whereby receipts are 'divvied up' between TOCs (train operating companies) for any journeys which cross multiple TOC areas.
Clearly I know nothing about the detail. But my point is it's possible to find cheaper fares by breaking up journeys, getting two singles, using alternative routes, that type of thing. It seems the rail companies have no incentive at all to find the cheapest fare for the customer, so I was thinking there has to be a way to do it, is all.The reason it has to be held centrally is due to the RSP - Rail Settlement Plan. This is the process whereby receipts are 'divvied up' between TOCs (train operating companies) for any journeys which cross multiple TOC areas.
Morningside said:
Trainline doesnt do the cheapest.... as in adding a load of single tickets, etc...TheEnd said:
Maybe database access isn't the answer, just knowledge, ie a seasoned traveller, or even the ticket office being would know which boxes to tick to get the cheapest options.
That learning and knowledge is what you can see to the public
The knowledge doesn't really exist though as most of the ticketing anomalies exist where travel is across multiple TOC regions. There's no reason for a ticket office clerk to know anything about destinations outside of his company's area, excepting maybe issues which may cause the price to change due to arrival and departure times at connecting London stations.That learning and knowledge is what you can see to the public
It's only by playing 'trial and error' with the ticket machine that you find the 'gems'.
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