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JayMac
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« on: March 04, 2022, 00:25:57 » |
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I've just been looking at the fares for various journeys on flows price by South Western Railway. There are numerous examples where the Anytime Day fares are now cheaper than the more restrictive Off Peak Day fares.
Templecombe to Exeter:
Anytime Day Return £30.40
Off Peak Day Return £30.60
Southampton to Basingstoke:
Anytime Day Return £17.40
Off Peak Day Return £17.50
Axminster to Salisbury:
Anytime Day Return £30.80
Off Peak Day Return £30.90
Micheldever to Upwey:
Anytime Day Return £42.50
Off Peak Day Return £42.80
Bonkers. There are many more examples, including 1st Class Day fares.
Okay, it's less than 50p (in the examples I've found), but I do wonder what ticket offices and TVMs▸ will offer customers when they ask for/want the cheapest Day Return fare on these anomalous flows.
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« Last Edit: March 04, 2022, 00:42:44 by bignosemac »
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2022, 11:56:51 » |
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As I suspected. TVMs▸ aren't offering the cheaper Anytime Day Returns outside peak hours. Nice bit of widespread overcharging there. Also went to ticket counter and asked for cheapest day return to Basingstoke. Was offered the Off Peak Day Return. Not good SWR» .  |
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2022, 12:07:36 » |
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Definitely one tobe reported to Transport Focus
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JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2022, 12:19:21 » |
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Definitely one tobe reported to Transport Focus
I don't think a lowly individual like me can report anything to Transport Focus. I'm drafting a letter to SWR» in the first (well, second - already tweeted) instance. Rail Ombudsman down the road if there's no satisfactory resolution/changes. |
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2022, 13:02:29 » |
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I expect SHRUG (South Hampshire Rail User Group) will be all over this...oh, wait, now it's not Stagecoach operated they don't appear to give much of a monkeys any more.  |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2022, 13:39:33 » |
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In my experience, Transport Focus *do* listen to passengers & pick up on things like this. London TravelWatch the same in their area
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paul7575
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« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2022, 14:04:17 » |
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I expect SHRUG (South Hampshire Rail User Group) will be all over this...oh, wait, now it's not Stagecoach operated they don't appear to give much of a monkeys any more. I think they are still coming to terms with the blue/white train argument being badly affected by painting all the trains grey…  |
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JayMac
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« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2022, 14:20:10 » |
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In my experience, Transport Focus *do* listen to passengers & pick up on things like this. London TravelWatch the same in their area
Transport Focus's own website says to contact Rail Ombudsman after you've exhausted the complaints procedure with a TOC▸ . They also say they'll pass on complaints to the relevant party if you contact them direct. Since the formation of the Rail Ombudsman I don't believe TF deal with individual rail users complaints. |
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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grahame
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« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2022, 14:26:40 » |
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In my experience, Transport Focus *do* listen to passengers & pick up on things like this. London TravelWatch the same in their area
Transport Focus's own website says to contact Rail Ombudsman after you've exhausted the complaints procedure with a TOC▸ . They also say they'll pass on complaints to the relevant party if you contact them direct. Since the formation of the Rail Ombudsman I don't believe TF deal with individual rail users complaints. I have raised one issue with the Rail Ombudsman, which they informed me was outside their remit and passed on to Transport Focus - so in that "routing" just another step along the way. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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ChrisB
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« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2022, 16:24:31 » |
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Be interesting to see if the Ombudsman will pick this up.
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bradshaw
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« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2022, 18:16:59 » |
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There is an article on the role of the Rail Ombudsman in the March edition of the Railway Magazine, p17
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ChrisB
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« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2022, 18:44:34 » |
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Another one....this time on XC▸ /GWR▸
Banbury - Evesham off-peak return with railcard is now £12.10
Oxford - Evesham, same railcard, same fare type is now £12.65
So not only do you get a free ride from Banbury to Oxford, you get a further discount on the Oxford-Evesham portion too!
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2022, 18:55:44 » |
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At least Banbury is closer to Evesham than Oxford as the crow flies…or any bird for that matter!  |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Ralph Ayres
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« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2022, 20:03:13 » |
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This could all be seen as sloppy (and indeed it may be to an extent) but equally might partly be a result of the DfT» /government dithering over the date and size of the fares increase. Final confirmation only came as everything was winding down for Christmas at around the time the various fares departments would normally have finished their fares work, and may have scheduled annual leave, training, system upgrades or other tasks for what they expected to be a quiet period. As someone marginally involved in all this, I'd based my retirement date on the normal timescale and so departed leaving a new member of staff desperately trying to get up to speed. Equally, staff at the DfT who would need to authorise some of the changes and clarify the detail behind the high level announcement may not have been readily available. The whole process won't necessarily be particularly nimble as it has traditionally not needed to be, with dates and other targets normally known a year or more in advance.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2022, 20:25:50 » |
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The BIG problem for the railways now is that they’ve always promised to offer the cheapest available flexible fare at points of purchase. Unless they swiftly swing into action, in certain areas (or all areas? God forbid, further research required, but it’s possible) this is obviously so NOT true any more.
The TVM▸ removing peak fares automatically ince off-peak time has passed has to be looked at more carefully so that IF it’s now cheaper, the peak remains the fare most prominently offered, not simply the off-peak as now.
Indeed, I saw a TVM somewhere today, can’t remember exactly where, that had a prominent sticker below the glass that said navigate to the station that you wish to travel too and all fares available to that station are listed on that page, then choose the fare you want….
Not ideal. The TVM software needs a reprogram. As does the journey planner ideally to give you fewest change, longer journey option
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