How long ahead of your train are you at the station [outbound, morning]

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Yes, I have now edited my post to remove the confusing typo, thanks.

[broadgage]

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So, as off-peak/super off-peak are already available on all trains designated off-peak or super off-peak, you are simply suggesting removal of Advance fares?

Yes, I am suggesting the removal of advance fares, and a reduction in off peak and super off peak fares to broadly similar levels.
The exact level of fares charged would be such as to ensure that the change was revenue neutral.  For local journeys I would propose just 2 fares between any two points, peak and off peak.
Longer trips would justify 3 fares, peak, off peak, and super off peak.
Easily understood and should be available from TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine), unlike the present hugely complex array of fares.

Taking a journey with which I am familiar, London to Taunton, first class. Reasonable fares under this simplified system might be
PEAK=^160 (this is slightly less than the present first open fare, and should be about revenue neutral remembering that no discounted tickets would be available)
OFF PEAK=^80, again a bit less than the present off peak fare, but should not loose any revenue as no cheaper fares would be available.
SUPER OFF PEAK=^40, very cheap for first class but would apply to only a very limited number of trains that are very lightly used, and PERHAPS also in the rush hour for those travelling against the main flow, on near empty trains.

The above fares are only approximate examples, the exact fares would be calculated so as to be revenue neutral.

[grahame]

I see some evidence that the step changes between fare levels cause a wave in traffic levels - especially with people waiting for the train after the price falls.   Is the solution along the lines of the one taken by the boxing world where (and I'm mixing my standards a bit here) they have

Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Light Heavyweight
Super middleweight
Middleweight
Super welterweight
Welterweight
Super lightweight
Lightweight
Super featheweight
Featherweight
Super bantamweight
Bantamweight
Super flyweight
Flyweight
Light Flyweight
Mini flyweight
Atomweight

Translated into train tickets, that's

Any Time
Premium PLUS
Premium
Peak PLUS
Peak
Shoulder Peak PLUS
Shoulder Peak
High Season PLUS
High Season
Off Peak PLUS
Off Peak
Mid Season PLUS
Mid Season
Super Off Peak PLUS
Super Off Peak
Los Seson PLUS
Low Season
It's at WHAT time??
 
Problems ... not enough trains to offer all prices on all flows.  Jumps of several steps between trains.  Enforcement issues for the right tickets, though electronic ticketing would help (even there, how would you deal with the person who arrived early, went through the barriers for breakfast at Bonoparte's and travelled in a different prize zone).  Journeys that go across pricing times / zones.  But at least you're closer to a smooth scale.

[TaplowGreen]

Grahame - for the sake of simplifying what is already a ridiculously complex and incomprehensible system, I hope your suggestion gets knocked out in the first round! 

[Henry]

 .

[stuving]

...
Problems ... not enough trains to offer all prices on all flows.  Jumps of several steps between trains.  Enforcement issues for the right tickets, though electronic ticketing would help (even there, how would you deal with the person who arrived early, went through the barriers for breakfast at Bonoparte's and travelled in a different prize zone).  Journeys that go across pricing times / zones.  But at least you're closer to a smooth scale.

Of course that only captures the fixed average loadings of trains on one route, and if the time slots are uniform over several routes it's even more of an average. So if you want responsive and proportional congestion-based pricing, you would need something more closely tied to a train, and its capacity, so perhaps we should tie it to one seat on one train? Maybe even reserve that seat and make its use compulsory? Then we could vary the price as we get nearer to the time of travel. Of course really we'd like to set the price retrospectively, but I suspect the public wouldn't like that at all. Now, what shall we call that kind of ticket  - perhaps something with "advance" in it?

[Billhere]

What a disaster all this ticketing is, and yet I seem to remember the time when I was in Newbury Booking Office in 1991/2 it didn't seem to be all that different.

We were part of NetWork SouthEast then who had there own special NSE^▸ (Network South East) 5 day returns as well as a range of tickets which included entry into sponsored locations. I remember once selling a ticket from Newbury which included entrance to Leeds Castle in Kent. What a palaver that was.

I remember those famous words "We are going to simplify all the ticketing to make it easier" I wonder when they are going to start, it must be a nightmare for ticket clerks imposing the third degree on intending passengers to find out exactly what they want.

Heyho for the days when we had regulars at Newbury who would pop in on a Monday with their requirements for the next weekend and leave us to work it out in between and issue the tickets when they turned up. The worst was the Boots 2 for 1 when a lady wanted thirty bought tickets plus the same number on the Boots ticket from Newbury to Skegness for a weekend. It involved not only working out the route and times, but calling the ticketing section in Croydon so they could adjust the services to accommodate those number of free seats. It took hours to do.

Not as easy as it looks, especially as the clerks are now tasked with offering the cheapest option, the knowledge required must be mind blowing.

[IndustryInsider]

We were part of NetWork SouthEast then who had there own special NSE^▸ (Network South East) 5 day returns as well as a range of tickets which included entry into sponsored locations. I remember once selling a ticket from Newbury which included entrance to Leeds Castle in Kent. What a palaver that was.

Yes, I remember the good old five day Network AwayBreak as well.  It always seemed that the person who wanted one was going on the Friday and weren't sure whether they were returning on the Tuesday or Wednesday.  And as soon as the customer mentioned the Isle Of Wight you knew you were there for the long haul... "Would you like to go via Southampton, Portsmouth, or Lymington?"... "I'm not sure, can you run me through the various options and prices...?"   

[Billhere]

Or the lady who turned up just before the fast cheap day train to London who wanted a Young Persons single from York to Knaresborough and got quite huffy when I made her look at the queue behind her that was stood outside the door waiting to buy their Travelcards.

A Travelcard issue half a minute, looking in the fares manual, getting the price, doing the discount and then issuing it because it saved her going to the booking office in York, have a guess - I don't know I wouldn't do it.

If you want something out of the ordinary do yourself and the clerk a favour, call in at a quieter time and get it in advance.

[JayMac]

If you want something out of the ordinary do yourself and the clerk a favour, call in at a quieter time and get it in advance.

I was always taught, when I worked in a customer facing role, to deal with the customer in front of me.

Not suggest they plan their purchases at the retailer's/service provider's convenience.

I'm glad that these days there is a Ticketing and Settlement Agreement with retail standards that all franchised TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have to adhere to. It's not perfect and there are still some clerks who will balk at doing anything other than a simple ticket from A to B. But it is a vast improvement over the days of 'customer service' under British Rail.

[LiskeardRich]

If you want something out of the ordinary do yourself and the clerk a favour, call in at a quieter time and get it in advance.

This is what I try and do, go in when I know there is a gap in trains and the ticket office is probably quiet.

[ellendune]

If you want something out of the ordinary do yourself and the clerk a favour, call in at a quieter time and get it in advance.

I was always taught, when I worked in a customer facing role, to deal with the customer in front of me.

Not suggest they plan their purchases at the retailer's/service provider's convenience.

I'm glad that these days there is a Ticketing and Settlement Agreement with retail standards that all franchised TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have to adhere to. It's not perfect and there are still some clerks who will balk at doing anything other than a simple ticket from A to B. But it is a vast improvement over the days of 'customer service' under British Rail.

So you would deal with the one who does not need a ticket now and let all the others who do miss their train?  Is that good customer service? 

[JayMac]

When is there not a time when there could be somebody rocking up last minute to both buy their ticket and board a train?

First come, first served. It's a simple concept.

[ellendune]

When is there not a time when there could be somebody rocking up last minute to both buy their ticket and board a train?

First come, first served. It's a simple concept.

Fine at a large station with a number of clerks where you can have separate counters for tickets for immediate travel and others,

But for a small station with one clerk and a very peaky load. On occasions good customer service may sometimes dictate otherwise.

[JayMac]

very peaky load.

Sounds painful.