CJT-80 wrote on Oct 1
st, 2013 at 12:51pm:
I had to contact Virgin Trains Assisted Travel Line. I used the alternative listed in the Database as I was using my mobile but at the time of my call (around 8pm) all I got was an automated hold message.
I was fortunate enough to have access to a landline as well (which had included 0845 calls) so I had a friend call that number while I stayed on hold. His call was answered almost immediately.
I am therefore suggesting that this number may have either been changed (but no message been place on it) or the call routing changes after a certain time.
For reference the numbers are:
08457 443366
01709 849536
The bookings lines for Virgin Trains are, or certainly were at one time, operated by TheTrainline.com. The same is true of a number of other operatores.
Alternatives were found in the 01709 849xxx range and matched up to respective 084 numbers. In some cases these have been found to have been changed in the past. Perhaps someone would like to go through all entries containing
TheTrainline.com and report back any which no longer work.
On a more general note, when what appears to be an alternative is found it is only ever a "best guess". We cannot know if it provides access to exactly the same service as on the published number or if it is one of a number of underlying numbers.