Great Western Coffee Shop

Thanks, corrected. I can't actually see any showing up on the journey-planner but I'll take your word for it...

So an out-and-back journey on the Cathedrals Express from Charlbury to Paddington (out 08.31, back 18.22) increases from ^33.30 to ^62.40 - an increase of almost 90%.

The evening easement is a long-standing relaxation to recognise that the Cotswold Line has fewer trains, therefore fewer journey opportunities, than the "main lines" - one departure from Paddington between 18.00 and 19.00, vs five to Swindon or Oxford. There are also no Advance fares available on the Cotswold Line. (edited)

And why shouldn't fares be based on a similar pence-per-mile cost?

And why shouldn't fares be based on a similar pence-per-mile cost?

Agree. More than happy to see Swindon fares drop to match those of the Cotswold Line.  :P

And Exeter to London via Taunton to match via Honiton...

Dream on.....everyone else posting here has agreed the Cotswold Line fares have been held back

Dream on.....everyone else posting here has agreed the Cotswold Line fares have been held back

You'll also note that FGW mention an IT error for not having the Advance fares in place from May 17th.

They should have held back on the walk-up ticket price gouge until that was fixed.

This comment made me laugh out loud

First Great Western said the changes would standardise the ticket prices at the request of passengers on the line

Yeh, right.  "Please, oh please can you increase our fares by 90%."   Think what they actually asked for was advance fares.

And why shouldn't fares be based on a similar pence-per-mile cost?

And why shouldn't fares be based on a similar pence-per-mile cost?

Not sure whether this is a valid example of fares disparity for similar (distance) journeys, but Exeter to London comparisions (SWT - 3hrs 30mins, 179 miles v FGW 2hrs 20mins, 182 miles via Newbury)...

Anytime single: FGW ^123.50 (std)  ^194.00 (1st);
                       SWT ^70.80 (std)     ^116.80 (1st).

So, as I believe should be the case, the better the 'quality' of the journey, the more expensive the cost should be.

but, if you then look at off-peak fares
                       FGW   ^50.10 (std) ^n/a (1st);
                       SWT   ^65.20 (std) ^n/a (1st).

The great rail rip off: Worcester commuters hit out at price hike

ANGRY commuters from Worcester have slammed ^rip off^ rail fares price after an impending price hike will leave them paying ^16 more per return ticket than they did before.

However, First Great Western defended the price changes which come into force on Sunday, May 17, arguing they represent a better deal for customers ^ as long as they buy newly available advanced tickets.

First Great Western manage trains on the North Cotswolds line between Worcester stations (Foregate Street and Shrub Hill) to London Paddington.

Using the First Great Western website to look at ticket prices an off peak return to London Paddington now costs ^52 for those leaving Shrub Hill at 7.32am and returning to Worcester at 5.22pm).

But if you want to complete the same journey at the same times after the price rises on May 17 a ticket will cost you ^68.50, an increase of ^16.50 or 32 per cent.

IT specialist Pyers Symon, a rail commuter from Battenhall in Worcester, said the fares increase, particularly that on FGW services between Worcester stations and London Paddington, was so great that it was now cheaper and quicker for him to drive to Warwick Parkway and get a Chiltern Railways service from there to London Marylebone instead.

He fears that the price hike will make rail services from Worcester unviable, provoking an ^exodus^ of rail commuters to Warwick Parkway. He urged FGW to now introduce a two year price freeze on tickets.

He said: ^m annoyed about it. If people use Warwick Parkway on a regular basis instead of Worcester stations it will hugely damage the viability of Worcester stations.

^Rail commuters are feeling grim. They are being absolutely hammered. They seem to regard us as a captive audience. The fares are not regulated. That^s the important point. They are trying to raise as much money as they can in the short term. I feel people are being absolutely ripped off.^

Iain Macbriar, a Worcester-based consultancy director, said: "At present, if you go from Worcester to London for the day by train, then the most sensible ticket is an "off-peak Return" (^52). It's not valid on the 6.30am from Shrub Hill, but it is valid on the 7.32am departure. On the way back, you can use this ticket on any train.

"But from May 17 this ticket will no longer be valid on trains back from Paddington between 16.40pm and 6.30pm. Instead you'll have to buy a ticket that costs ^68.50 (32 per cent more).

This is effectively a fares increase by stealth."

First Great Western say this introduces thousands of low-cost advance purchase fares following requests from customers and stakeholders alike.

It also introduces peak time fares for the first time, bringing the North Cotswolds in line with all other routes across the Great Western network.

First Great Western is to make 10,000 seats-a-month available from just ^10 for passengers travelling between the North Cotswolds and London.

Advance Purchase tickets for the route are to be sold for the first time, allowing passengers to take advantage of 70 per cent discounted rail fares.

Station Manager for the North Cotswolds, Alan Field said: ^As a result of these changes, from May 17, the cheapest single fare on this line will drop from ^27 to ^10.

^Advance Purchase tickets will be made available on all services - as with all other long distance journeys (beyond Didcot Parkway and Pewsey from London Paddington) on the Great Western network.^

10,000 seats at just ^10 for North Cotswold rail passengers

Due to an IT fault Advance Purchase fares for travel to/from the North Cotswolds from Sunday 17 May will not be available on this website for 48 hours. Cheap, Advance Purchase tickets are available to purchase from all ticket offices and our Customer Services (03457000125) in the intervening period.

First Great Western is to make 10,000 seats-a-month available from just ^10 for passengers travelling between the North Cotswolds and London.

Advance Purchase tickets for the route are to be sold for the first time, allowing passengers to take advantage of 70% discounted rail fares.

Station Manager for the North Cotswolds, Alan Field said:

^The North Cotswolds is home to some of the most picturesque destinations on the Great Western network, and I am delighted that we have been able to extend the availability of Advance Purchase.

^Recognising the value of rail to the local economy, what better way to support the communities we serve than by helping to encourage travel to and from the area.^

With a guaranteed seat reservation, Advance Purchase tickets are available up until 18.00 on the day of before you travel and allow you to save up to 70% by booking in advance. Similar to an airline booking, tickets are specific to a train time and seat number.

The sale of thousands of low-cost advance purchase fares, following requests from customers and stakeholders alike, will also introduce peak time fares for the first time - bringing the North Cotswolds in line with all other routes across the Great Western network. The price of an Anytime fare will not change, and with 25 services a day beyond Oxford falling outside peak hours.

As a result of these changes, from May 17, the cheapest single fare on this line will drop from ^27 to ^10. Advance Purchase tickets will be made available on all services - as with all other long distance journeys (beyond Didcot Parkway and Pewsey from London Paddington) on the Great Western network.

While subject to availability, tickets are available by booking online at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk; from ticket offices, or by calling our customer services on 03457 000125.

The North Cotswold line serves the route between London Paddington and Hereford, and all stations in between. The new tickets will be available from Wednesday 22 April for journeys from Sunday 17 May onwards.

The peak return for Warwick Parkway to London Terminals is ^99, so not sure how that works out cheaper? The Off Peak is ^49 but not valid until the 09:02.

"Other operators charge more, therefore so must we."  ::)

To arrive in London before 10am ( which gives a fair equivalence with the example quoted in the WN), the fare from Warwick is currently ^40.  After May 17 it rises to ^50.  I was attempting to equate like with like. That is using two singles. It might be said that these are advance tickets - well yes they are but you don't even get that choice with the new FGW prices

Worcester's service is not comparable with Swindon's. There is still a two hour gap in services and it is mighty slow, averaging out at about 2hrs. 20mins for the through trip. You are not comparing like with like. In other areas of life I am sure you would accept that a low quality product should not be charged at the same level as a higher quality one.

Looking at FGW advance fares on 18th May for 07:32 from WOS and the 17:22 back from PAD, it comes to ^59. Admittedly, that is ^9 more than similar timings to/from Marylebone on the same date.

Looking at FGW advance fares on 18th May for 07:32 from WOS and the 17:22 back from PAD, it comes to ^59. Admittedly, that is ^9 more than similar timings to/from Marylebone on the same date.

Whilst not disputing the vast difference between Charlbury-London and Swindon-London fares, it is sometimes not appreciated that Swindon passengers can obtain a 34% discount using, for example, Senior Railcards, at any time of the day.  On the Cotswold Line, they are not available until the current 0831 departure from Charlbury, simply because a journey between Charlbury and London is wholly within the Network Railcard area and Swindon to London is not.

That's ^9 per person for the train tickets. Fuel costs and wear and tear would be per car. Two people in the car and you would be saving.

Online fuel calculators suggest around ^10 for the round trip.

Rail firms under fire for planning fare hikes of up to 87% that are due to come in just ten days after the election despite main parties vowing price freeze

PM has written to First Great Western asking for 'urgent review' of fare hike

• Passengers in his Witney constituency could face increases of up to 87%
• Comes after Mr Cameron pledged to freeze fares for whole of next term
• Other sharp hikes include Virgin's service between Stafford and Liverpool

Rail firms came under fire this weekend for planning a series of fare hikes of up to 87 per cent just ten days after the general election - despite the main party leaders pledging to freeze prices.

The Prime Minister has requested First Great Western (FGW) 'urgently review' its decision to almost double some fares on the route between London and the Cotswolds - which passes through his Witney constituency.

Mr Cameron has promised to freeze fares in real terms for the whole of the next parliament, while Labour has also pledged to bring in a 'cap' on price hikes.

Passengers travelling from Charlbury, the Oxfordshire station nearest to his constituency home, can currently purchase an off-peak return to London costing ^33.30.

This allows them to leave at 9.42am, outside the morning peak, but return on one of the four services that go from London during the evening peak period.

But from May 17, these customers will be forced to pay ^62.40 if they want to come home on one of these trains - an 87 per cent increase.

The planned changes have angered Mr Cameron's constituents - prompting him to personally intervene.

The Prime Minister's spokesman told The Sunday Times: 'Mr Cameron has written to First Great Western and asked them to urgently review their decision.'

Train companies have three windows every year in which they can increase 'unregulated' fares, which make up around half of their total revenue.

Unregulated fares can include journeys such as off-peak leisure and advance-purchase tickets.
 
First Great Western has insisted the reason for the change is to bring the north Cotswolds route in line with its other services.

The firm is also offering some customers a cheaper option in advanced single tickets, potentially allowing them to buy a return for ^20 if they book ahead.

Other sharp price hikes to be introduced include an off-peak first-class single from Crewe to Northampton on London Midlands, which will rise from ^30 to ^37, according to trainsplit.com - a website that provides passengers with cheaper ticket options.

The cost of an anytime return between Stafford and Liverpool, travelling with Virgin, will leap from ^26.50 to ^33 - a 24.5 per cent hike.

And an anytime first-class day return on Virgin from Manchester to Stoke will go up 22 per cent - rising from ^29 to ^35.30.
Virgin has said the 'vast majority' of its price hikes affected 'Virgin Trains-only fares' - which are at least 20 per cent cheaper than tickets offered by rival firms.

It added: 'Our overall fare increase this year on the west coast is just 1.65 per cent, well below the industry average.'
Speaking to Mark Hookham of The Sunday Times, Mike Richardson, of trainsplit.com, said: 'Passengers might very well be surprised at these fare increases when both the main parties have talked about price freeezes.

According to Which? Hundreds of 'anytime' and 'off-peak' returns rose by 40 per cent in January.

Its research found rail fare increases on tickets that passengers buy on the day and on rural routes. 

The 19.39 arrival at Swindon is off-peak. The 19.45 arrival at Oxford is off-peak. The 19.41 arrival at Charlbury will be peak, with another hour's wait until the first off-peak. That is not, by any stretch, "bringing the Cotswolds into line with other routes" as FGW claim.

Unregulated fares can be changed in January, May and September. Regulated fares are nearly always changed in January, but don't have to be. They can be changed at the other fares rounds as long as the minimum time between changes is 12 months.

Richard - Charlbury is further from London than either Oxford or Swindon, so this comparison is a complete dud.

Does the Swindon service have 2+ hour gaps in service both ways during the day, what is the last train from Paddington to Swindon in the evening? Is is not just distance that should be compared.

It is not as though FGW doesn't have previous form for changing the validity rather than the fares. There used to be a rule stating that Off Peak tickets could be used on the 0842 service from Charlbury towards London, this was withdrawn forcing a 30% (from memory) fare rise overnight for many Charlbury-Oxford commuters.

In addition to the 1022 PAD-HFD, it appears that 1W59 (1749 PAD-WOS) had some kind of problem yesterday. It was 17 minutes late at Didcot East Junction and 66 minutes late at Didcot North Junction.  It eventually arrived at Worcester 71 minutes late, having been overtaken by the 1822 ex PAD at Didcot.  Presumably, it went into Didcot Parkway station.  Does anyone know why?