CJT-80 wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2010 at 10:47am:


Traveline's continued use of an 0871 number is especially disgusting when one of their main target audiences is financially impoverished bus customers and they are mainly likely to be called from mobiles or BT Payphones.

BT Payphones charge £1 per minute to call an 0871 number and the price of  Traveline's 0871 number from most mobile phones is not far short of this.

CJT-80 wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2010 at 10:49am:


I now find that 020 1104 8060 is already listed as a verified alternative for TrainTracker in our database.

CJT-80 wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2010 at 9:31pm:

It's the same old crap, ducking the issue of the fact that NRE's 0845 number takes a subsidy from callers and passing the buck about call charges to originating telcos... 

Clearly, we are dealing with a body that has no morals and will not simply come out and say that they need to charge a premium through use of a 0845 number! 

The fact that the number has existed since 1996 is clearly of much greater importance than the fact that it imposes a premium charge on callers, or for that matter, NRE talking about the fact that it uses a premium number.

Here is my reply to NRE's Customer Relations Dept, sent today:

"Thank you for your reply, I feel that it’s necessary to give you some feedback about the information and advice you have provided, and also request the details of how to take this matter further.

National Rail Enquires (NRE) only had the 08457 number since around April 2000, before this including in 1996 when you advise the service started it was 0345 48 49 50, ( here is a link from a South West Trains leaflet advertising the number - http://www.crowsnest.co.uk/north/swt_1.htm).  Ofcom currently has a range of 03 Numbers specifically available to organisations who have 08457 numbers such as NRE, which allows them to migrate/move their existing number over, therefore NRE’s number would be: 03457 48 49 50, a change of 1 digit, 8 to 3.

As NRE introduced the 0871 number along with Train Text it proves it IS possible for NRE to introduce new numbers when it suits them, and NOT it’s users. I also noted that NRE has an overseas 020 number which it blocked from being dialled in the UK, so it IS possible to have more than one number as you already display 2!

On a final note, regarding being “unhappy” with the charges my service provider makes for calling this number, it is NOT an option to discuss it with them, they are a business who provide means of communication, NRE is a National Information service and therefore it is up to NRE to change its number NOT the service provider to include these calls.

I request that these comments are passed to Chris Scoggins who is your Chief Exec. Alternatively please provide me with HIS e-mail address, and I will e-mail him personally."

Lets see what reply I get back,

CJT-80 wrote on Sep 28^th, 2010 at 2:18pm:

So what they're saying is that their telecoms provider is unable to run two numbers in parallel, where calls are dealt with irrespective of which number was dialled? 

The alternative number for National Rail Enquiries we published last month, 020 7383 5564, is now not recognised.

It was given out in a FOI response from East Coast, and was answered with the same menu for NRE as the published covert-premium number, 0845 748 4950.

As if travelling by rail is not expensive enough, we have rip-off phone numbers for getting information on timetables and the prospect of more fare rises of 30 to 40 per cent within the next four to five years!

The Enquirer, Spring 2010 Edition (NRE's newsletter) has published the direct phone numbers and e-mail addresses of its management.