Rail fare prices - the basis of increases (merged ongoing discussion)

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Someone in Swindon said so?

[Zoe]

I would like to know how they are getting away with pushing up a regulated fare by 20% though.

[JayMac]

Super Off Peak will be current Off Peak price. Off Peak will rise by apx 20p for every pound it is now. Super Off Peak fares are not regulated, apart from changing the name and validity times Off Peak remains unchanged. Thats how they get round it and this is what will happen.

So, the current Off Peak fare (^83.00 RED-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) will be applied to a new Super Off Peak product. And this leaves FGW^▸ (First Great Western) free to increase the Off Peak by 20%? That can't be allowed under the regulated fares rules surely? If it is, then it appears that FGW are returning to some of the sharp practices that got them slapped with a remedial notice in 2007. I'll wait until 7th September before I email Lord Adonis.....

[Zoe]

So, the current Off Peak fare (^83.00 RED-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) will be applied to a new Super Off Peak product. And this leaves FGW^▸ (First Great Western) free to increase the Off Peak by 20%? That can't be allowed under the regulated fares rules surely? If it is, then it appears that FGW are returning to some of the sharp practices that got them slapped with a remedial notice in 2007. I'll wait until 7th September before I email Lord Adonis.....

There is also the potential that in a few years time once everyone has accepted the higher Off Peak fares the FGW will scrap this new Super Off Peak fare forcing everyone to pay the higher Off Peak fare.

[vacman]

I would like to know how they are getting away with pushing up a regulated fare by 20% though.

didnt think SVR's were regulated??

[devon_metro]

I would like to know how they are getting away with pushing up a regulated fare by 20% though.

didnt think SVR's were regulated??

Yeh, appears you are right.

I'm informed that South West Trains did exactly the same as this.

[JayMac]

I would like to know how they are getting away with pushing up a regulated fare by 20% though.

didnt think SVR's were regulated??

Regulated fares include SVRs (Off Peak Return in new money), Season tickets, Standard Day Singles/Returns and certain 'commuter' fares.

[old original]

Went into Truro this morning and the man in the ticket office showed me the screen of his ticket machine. He put in Truro - Paddington, SVR (apparently they still use the old codes?!) for the 5th of Sept and it showed ^83.00. He just changed the date to the 6th and the fare changed to ^100. He did the same for the new super off peak ticket and on the 5th it wouldn't show anything but on the 6th it showed ^83.00.  He did say that officially they don't sell new fares at the new prices until four weeks before hand so this might be why they don't show on the web yet and that things could change... umm interesting....

[slippy]

I havnt any hard evidence to support this change as its not yet been made public, but can guarantee it will happen. The new Super off Peak fares are only available to Reading/Paddington and beyond. Other areas across the network the SVR fare remains unchanged.

Another example is the PGN to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) SVR goes from ^69 to ^84.

[vacman]

did someone say on here that the first "super off-peak" was the 1029 from Redruth? (1000 from Pnz), which is the busiest train of the day!!!

[old original]

did someone say on here that the first "super off-peak" was the 1029 from Redruth? (1000 from Pnz), which is the busiest train of the day!!!

Yep, that's the one and only valid on the 12.06,  14.06 & 23.45 coming back (direct services)
and the 19.03 changing at Plymouth

[vacman]

did someone say on here that the first "super off-peak" was the 1029 from Redruth? (1000 from Pnz), which is the busiest train of the day!!!

Yep, that's the one and only valid on the 12.06,  14.06 & 23.45 coming back (direct services)
and the 19.03 changing at Plymouth

Thats another load of crap because the 1206 is about the busiest London-Cornwall train! I could understand all this if it meant easing turn-up-and-go's on the busiest trains but it's not! It's allowing you to go on the busiest trains!

[slippy]

I'm loving the fact that singles are now way cheaper than returns, just doesnt appear to of happened to all destinations, strange...

[Zoe]

Thats another load of crap because the 1206 is about the busiest London-Cornwall train! I could understand all this if it meant easing turn-up-and-go's on the busiest trains but it's not! It's allowing you to go on the busiest trains!

It won't be any cheaper to go on them than it is now though so many people will likely only travel on them if they book in advance.

Looking at the NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) website it seems at though it will be time based rather than train based.  If the site is correct the Super Off Peak fare is not valid on the 09:35 from Newton Abbot but is valid on that train from Exeter.  In the same was the ticket is not valid on the Cornish Riviera from Penzance but is valid from Plymouth.  The site is also not showing any Friday restriction.

[JayMac]

Well it looks like I may indeed be wrong. A stealth increase just like SWT^▸ (South West Trains) when they introduced Super Off Peaks. Shame on you FGW^▸ (First Great Western). You have done wonders in re-building passenger trust following the disasterous period after winning the 'Greater Western' franchise. And now you throw it back in the passengers' faces with another woeful piece of sharp practice. How are you gonna spin this one Mr Hopwood? Are you Alison Forster in disguise?