Maidenhead passengers overcharged for First Class upgrade (merged discussion)

[whole diary]

[NickB]

Hi All,

Its that magical day of the year when I get to go and renew my annual season ticket.  Fine, we all know its going to hurt, but something just doesn't add up this year and I wondered if someone can explain why I appear to have had a 15% increase in my Maidenhead-->London season ticket.

I keep my receipts for these purchases and they are as follows:

Renewal on 30th December 2011 (so 2011 prices) - Maidenhead-->London z1-6 travelcard, including 1st Class Eastbound Only.  ^3,454.20.
(I believe this included a 5% discount??)

Today's renewal (so 2012 prices) - Maidenhead-->London z1-6 travelcard, including 1st Class Eastbound Only.  ^3,982.40
(Again, including a 5% discount)

Thats an increase of ^528 or 15%.

Please can someone explain how this has come about, and if the 15% increase isn't right then which price is wrong?

Thanks

Nick

PS. I questioned and queried the woman selling me the ticket about the 15% increase.  She said she couldn't do the maths, and couldn't tell me if it was right or not.  So that was very helpful. 

[grahame]

Looking at National Rail pricing, Maidenhead to London 1 - 6:

4680.00 (today) -> 4876.00 (3rd Jan) First
3356.00 (today) -> 3496.00 (3rd Jan) Standard

Site does NOT price the oneway First, oneway Standard ticket, which (I suspect) is an unregulated fare.   

I'm guessing that the split fare was introduced at a very good price as an introductory offer, and has now risen to about halfway between standard and first seasons.

[EBrown]

Looking at National Rail pricing, Maidenhead to London 1 - 6:

4680.00 (today) -> 4876.00 (3rd Jan) First
4192.00 (today) -> 4368.00 (3rd Jan) First (East only), Standard
3356.00 (today) -> 3496.00 (3rd Jan) Standard


Site does NOT price the oneway First, oneway Standard ticket, which (I suspect) is an unregulated fare.   

It does, you have to search Standard Class rather than First Class tickets. Bottom two options:

(Travel is permitted in First Class accommodation for Journeys to London.)

I've added it into your list above.

[NickB]

Thanks for the replies.
My question was really about the increase between 2011 prices and 2012 prices for a 1st Eastbound ticket, rather than the relative price of Standard vs 1st.

Is the 1st Eastbound an unregulated ticket (as suggested) and therefore the 15% rise is genuine??

Thanks

[JayMac]

The 1st Class Eastbound Seasons are unregulated and thus FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are free to price them as they see fit and at a level they think the market for them will bear. Only Standard Class Seasons are regulated and limited to the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+n% price rises.

You could vote with your wallet and trade down to a Standard Class Season and complain to FGW that the reason you've done so is because of the 15% increase to the 1st Class Eastbound Season.

[NickB]

Thanks for the confirmation. 
This is a shame.  I guess I'll enjoy my final year as a 1st class eastbound commuter (Translation: get a seat most days) and return back to standard travel when this ticket expires.  My wallet can't sustain stupid price rises like that.

 

[NickB]

Incidentally I've also worked out that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) charge an extra 25% for London Underground travel with a First Class Eastbound ticket than with a standard ticket, and 1st both ways.

Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington Standard with Underground and without Underground = ^712
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Eastbound with Underground and without Underground = ^888
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Class with Underground and without Underground = ^712

Cynical or criminal.  Bit of both in my view.

[johoare]

That sounds like an error to me? Unless you're entitled to a whole tube carriage to yourself for that? 

[laird]

I just keep hoping that the Eastbound 1st season ticket will be extended just one more station to the West so I can buy one at Reading.

[EBrown]

Season ticket from Overton (OVR) to London Terminals or Paddington (PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) might be suitable for you Laird. Plus you would get free first class travel to Basingstoke whenever you wanted. It's quite a good deal and valid by Reading (RDG^‡(resolve)).

Yearly 1ST Season tickets:
OVR -> PAD ^6480 (Valid RDG -> PAD without question)
RDG -> PAD ^8232

[thetrout]

Season ticket from Overton (OVR) to London Terminals or Paddington (PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) might be suitable for you Laird. Plus you would get free first class travel to Basingstoke whenever you wanted. It's quite a good deal and valid by Reading (RDG^‡(resolve)).

Agreed. I've never been questioned on tickets West of Basingstoke - London being passed via Reading. In some cases that is actually quicker.

*edited to add:*

I recall a certain Tweeter @FGW^▸ (First Great Western) informing such tickets are valid. The particular one I was using was Salisbury - London Terminals. Valid via Reading or Woking Not valid via Warminster

[NickB]

Just to keep you updated I raised this to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Services over two weeks ago but haven't heard diddly fro mthem.  When I receive an answer I'll let you all know the outcome.

Incidentally I've also worked out that FGW charge an extra 25% for London Underground travel with a First Class Eastbound ticket than with a standard ticket, and 1st both ways.

Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington Standard with Underground and without Underground = ^712
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Eastbound with Underground and without Underground = ^888
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Class with Underground and without Underground = ^712

Cynical or criminal.  Bit of both in my view.

[Network SouthEast]

Season ticket from Overton (OVR) to London Terminals or Paddington (PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) might be suitable for you Laird. Plus you would get free first class travel to Basingstoke whenever you wanted. It's quite a good deal and valid by Reading (RDG^‡(resolve)).

Agreed. I've never been questioned on tickets West of Basingstoke - London being passed via Reading. In some cases that is actually quicker.

Indeed. The National Rail Enqs site says the following about Overton to London Terminals season ticket validity:

Using National Rail services you can travel to / from the following London stations: London Bridge [LBG], London Cannon Street [CST], London Charing Cross [CHX], Vauxhall [VXH], London Blackfriars [BFR], London Waterloo East [WAE], London Victoria [VIC], London Waterloo [WAT], London Paddington [PAD], City Thameslink [CTK]

[EBrown]

Indeed. The National Rail Enqs site says the following about Overton to London Terminals season ticket validity:

But we already know this. Everything I post is gospel!!

[johoare]

Just to keep you updated I raised this to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Services over two weeks ago but haven't heard diddly fro mthem.  When I receive an answer I'll let you all know the outcome.

Incidentally I've also worked out that FGW charge an extra 25% for London Underground travel with a First Class Eastbound ticket than with a standard ticket, and 1st both ways.

Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington Standard with Underground and without Underground = ^712
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Eastbound with Underground and without Underground = ^888
Difference between Maidenhead-->Paddington 1st Class with Underground and without Underground = ^712

Cynical or criminal.  Bit of both in my view.

I think FGW are supposed to answer faster than that.. I thought it was supposed to be within 5 days usually..Although they may be overwhelmed with complaints I guess.. Might be worth re-sending it?