Hmm, that is indeed very disappointing. 

However - please do read that linked news article from 'thisiswiltshire' and the subsequent update comment which gives an explanation of what, unfortunately, happened.

No-one is "blaming" George Osborne - merely saying what has happened. It's fairer to say that the fare update system in place failed to cope with an 'unexpected' last minute amendment from the Government.  With 'unexpected' in quotes as it''s not the first time that government has made last minute algorithm changes like this.

I'm relieved the change is a permanent one to fares; rather taken aback when it initially came in (but very happy / not sure if I would have gone quite so low).  And I'm relieved that it's not a systemic problem that would be hard to fix (such as an ORCATS^▸ (Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services) objection in some way from another company that takes a share of Westbury - Trowbridge or the old / not quite so popular now Trowbridge - Chippenham via Bath Spa flow).

I am disappointed at the requests to buy the permanently lowered priced tickets were met with "not available - you have to pay more" - from both staff on the ground, and from twitter @FGW^▸ (First Great Western).   That's put a number of people off, some perhaps permanently and every permanent loss is also an anti-ambassador who may continue to badmouth the service. It took me until my 3rd attempt to get anyone to look at this, and then only when I challenged the original answer and did a bit of "name dropping" - 'as launched last month by Duncan Hames MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'.  Even then, look initially slow - "I will look into it and let you know" - and that has just been answered after just under 48 hours.  In the end I pressed what I might describe as my "emergency button" with customer complaints, press, and indeed a stop on our marking material which talks of the lower price.

And I am happy - though waiting to see if it works - at the work around / staff instructed to manually put in the price.   

Not totally bad news - a mistake is seen to be acted on and worked around when it comes to light, and the featured "via Melksham" fares are shown to be (a) something that's here for good and (b) something that can make a very real difference to travel costs / methods / plans.

Thanks for your ongoing help with this, Ollie ... looks like we may not be fully there on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site.   I was relieved to see it back in the Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) machine last night; need to double check TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and Station booking offices to assure myself what I say to the press is reasonably accurate.   I am slightly surprised that the pricings offered aren't from a (totally) common database and that different web sites seem to need different data updates. As of 06:30 this morning, I'm getting a lowest fare of 14:30 from Trowbridge to Swindon still ... may put people off seeing that, but I don't imagine that a high proportion of people book day returns on line for station pickup or postal delivery.   Still a serious thing that needs fixing a.s.a.p (and I have a "by Monday" assurance from one of our high level contacts, from Tuesday / Wednesday of this week, which also said it might be much earlier; Ollie's in touch with her - 'sitting in same office').   

Planning to go to Trowbridge tomorrow for the WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) talk by Dan Okey.

It seems I can get the ^7.00 Off Peak Day return fare on the 18:50 from Swindon to Trowbridge, but that is only valid to return on a train leaving Trowbridge 13 minutes after I arrive!

As all the following services involve going via Bath I will have to get the ^14.30 Any Permitted ticket.  The fares system is complicated enough I know but I suppose there is no scope for an evening easement as it would make the journey from Trowbridge (via Bath) to Swindon cheaper than Bath to Swindon (not that that is without precedent).

Oh my gawd ... I am just imagining lots of people doing this on a regular basis ...