Using the Trip Planner on a PC: Asking Sam questions

Prior to using the Trip Planner it can be a good idea to use Ask Sam to get an idea of where you can go and how.

Though you'll likely have questions about your trip that will crop up as you build your it - but it would be awkward to have to dive out of the planner to ask them.

So what makes the Conductor Sam trip planner rather special is that we've built a streamlined version of 'Ask Sam' into it.
The idea being that you can ask for info and answers - which you then save them to your plan as Notes.

Btw - Sam uses AI in its Ask Sam chat service, but we don't use it to write the Info Guides.

When you're in the planner there's multiple paths to accessing the Ask Sam tool.

It's there when you're adding journeys, though;

1 - the main access is by clicking this always visible Ask Sam button.

2 - You can also use the  Ask Sam icon on the journeys you have added to the plan, if you want to check something about the route, after you have selected it.

1 - Once you have clicked the Ask Sam tool, you simply put the questions in the box (and yes we have a plan to move it up the page, one day)

2 - Then you click the blue button and Sam will start 'thinking'

1 - You may have to scroll down to see a complete answer - Sam will do its best to tell you all that's worth knowing (which might take it a minute or two)

2 - Sam will usually suggest some questions which will continue the 'chat' (see below) or you can ask a follow up question.

Saving the Answer as a Trip note

1 - Your plan can be more than a list of locations and journeys.
Therefore because it's likely that the answer to your question will be worth knowing when you're on your trip, you can save it as a Note that will be added to the plan.

2 - Sam won't stop at a single response.
Below the answer to your question, you'll likely see a mix of buttons that you can either click for more detailed info, or because they're suggesting a follow up question.

To keep your plan in order, you can choose which part of it you'll want the Note to be saved to.

Accessing Ask Sam when Choosing A Journey

Prior to selecting a journey to add to your plan, you may want to verify your choice by asking a question or checking the details.

Hence a shortcut to Ask Sam is available at the top of the area of the planner where you add journeys.

1 - As before, simply ask the question in the box and..
2 - click the blue button beside it.

1 - Sam can let you know that you're on the right lines (ahem).

2 - While Sam is 'thinking' while it puts together an answer to a question, it will show the sources it's using.

1 - Sam can build short cuts into its answers.

2 - If it does do so, some of the follow up buttons below the answer will switch to enabling them, which can simplify the putting together of a plan.