getting a ticket to ride

A best laid plan didn't quite work out as expected.

I've an early start tomorrow, probably alarm clock set for 05:30.

As the trip involves a train I thought I'd pre-buy the ticket and save a vital few minutes at the train station.

Internet web site, type in train time, order ticket, pay.

Ah, the ticket isn't printable on my computer, unlike a postage stamp (which is) or a plane ticket (which is, although strictly not needed with e-tickets)

There was an option to collect the train ticket from the railway station, so I decided to grab it this evening, instead of getting in a line tomorrow morning.

I remembered to take my credit card and the airline-like eight letter reference code (sort of JX7TH6Y if you know what I mean).

The only thing was, the ticket itself wasn't available.

There's a two hour gap between ordering and it being available at the ticket machine.

So now, I'd travelled to a station, where I could have bought the ticket immediately, only to be refused access to the one I'd ordered over the online system.

I shall remember to travel more slowly next time.