A press article I saw last week suggested that the railways should adopt a similar system to airlines in selling a base product and then charging for extras. The idea is that people who travel light and easily for the railway get a lower price, with extra then charged for other things that make for more work for staff, slow the train down, or take more space.
Lumo MD quoted at a rail conference last week
and I have re-found the press link - in
2 days ago:
A train boss has suggested imposing airline-style surcharges on passengers laden with luggage – while offering cheaper fares to those who “travel light”.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Lumo, which runs cut-price services between London and Edinburgh, said he would like to offer “even cheaper baseline fares for customers who are only travelling with a rucksack”.
He told the Standard: “We are all about getting our customers the lowest possible fare. Why should somebody who is getting on our train with a ginormous suitcase pay the same fare as somebody just bringing on a small laptop or rucksack?”
He has a point, but worth bearing in mind that aircraft have holds for suitcases etc, even if you charged rail customers extra, it's still going to take up the extra space, so it's only the
TOC▸ that benefits...........luggage vans anyone?
The hand baggage only fares on planes are cheaper, because the space not used for luggage in the aircraft hold can be used for freight. That freight is generating money for the airline which usually is far greater than than the reduction in fare.
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