The ^327 rail ticket from Bath to Northallerton

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Businessman Nick Mayell was determined to do the environmentally-friendly thing as he set off on a 250-mile journey.

The 45-year-old decided to go by train to a meeting in North Yorkshire to cut his carbon footprint.

But the ^327 cost of the standard class return ticket from Bath to Northallerton has made him vow never to catch another train in his life.

For the full article, see http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Return-ticket-Bath-Yorkshire-cost-327/article-488104-detail/article.html

[vacman]

I like the way everyone who's commented is comparing it to air travel, so you could fly to America for less than that? what, by just turning up at the airport on the day? I doubt it! mind you, it is a rip off fare!

[devon_metro]

Or avoiding London only ^170.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

yeh but hes just really stupid do you go out and buy a tv without looking into it?? for the price he paid he could have bought a 7 day all network rover ticket........

sorry hes just dumb and can you get a railcard at the station that would have been an amazing saving!

[Btline]

I find that most people do not play around with fares at all to make them cheaper. They just take the first one they are given.

Probably because they do not use NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast)'s website which is by far the best website.

They don't realise that NX is a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company), and even if they do, they assume they can only book ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) tickets on their website.

[Chris from Nailsea]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News video report, including coverage of the ^327 ticket story, and future fare increases, with quotes from MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) and FGW^▸ (First Great Western): see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7742531.stm

[devon_metro]

The fare is set by National Express East Coast - NOT FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

[devon_metro]

arggg

Are MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) THICK?

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has to pay money to the corrupt Government. Do something useless and complain to the DAFT rather than moaning.

[dog box]

Why would you ever want to go Northallerton via London, unless of course you want to do a spot of sightseeing en route.
Mr Mayall has only himself to blame for this one, a few minuites spent on his computer researching the options and a couple of thought out questions whilst at the ticket office....,something like i need to travel to Northallerton today what are my journey and cost options....would have saved him a fortune.

[John R]

Return from B Parkway appears to be <^100, even first thing in the morning. 

[Phil]

To be fair to Mr Mayall, it does seem he was a businessman travelling out of necessity during the peak time, and if you plug "Bath Spa to Northallerton on a weekday after 8am with an open return" into the NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) website you only get given 3 choices:

^135 if you travel out on the 09:13 or after (not an option here)
^327 standard class
^481 first class

So, yes, obviously, he could have saved himself money by doing some simple research - ask questions which, to most of us reading this, come as second nature.

I'm sure I'm not alone though in that when placed into a stressful situation, such as rushing to a loved one or striving to make an unanticipated appointment, there comes a point when you just decide to throw money at the problem, and bu**er the consequences. Jump in a taxi, get the first train that turns up, just do whatever you need to do to get there.

I get the impression this was an unplanned trip which had to be made at short notice, so I can quite see how a stressed person in a hurry could end up spending that sort of money. I'm not defending the person involved and I'm not defending the ticketing system which came up with that unholy sum, I'm simply saying I can see how it might have happened.

The difference here though is that having made that decision, I would never, ever dream of running to the press bleating about it afterwards. That's the part which really sticks in my throat. He made his own bed - he should lie on it quietly now and make damn sure he learns his lesson, and learns it well.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

To be fair to Mr Mayall, it does seem he was a businessman travelling out of necessity during the peak time, and if you plug "Bath Spa to Northallerton on a weekday after 8am with an open return" into the NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) website you only get given 3 choices:

^135 if you travel out on the 09:13 or after (not an option here)
^327 standard class
^481 first class

So, yes, obviously, he could have saved himself money by doing some simple research - ask questions which, to most of us reading this, come as second nature.

I'm sure I'm not alone though in that when placed into a stressful situation, such as rushing to a loved one or striving to make an unanticipated appointment, there comes a point when you just decide to throw money at the problem, and bu**er the consequences. Jump in a taxi, get the first train that turns up, just do whatever you need to do to get there.


I get the impression this was an unplanned trip which had to be made at short notice, so I can quite see how a stressed person in a hurry could end up spending that sort of money. I'm not defending the person involved and I'm not defending the ticketing system which came up with that unholy sum, I'm simply saying I can see how it might have happened.

The difference here though is that having made that decision, I would never, ever dream of running to the press bleating about it afterwards. That's the part which really sticks in my throat. He made his own bed - he should lie on it quietly now and make damn sure he learns his lesson, and learns it well.

yes i agree! its like screaming out look i jumped before looking , see how stupid i am.... why go to the press with his own ignorence?

[grahame]

Are MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) THICK?

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has to pay money to the corrupt Government. Do something useless and complain to the DAFT rather than moaning.

The wording [MTLS spokesman] of the video that's being referred to goes something like "In this time of recession when stock markets are falling and crashing all over the place, First seem to be making a decent profit. Obviously, they're making it at the traveller's expense."

Doing a few sums on the back of an envelope, First Great Western income seems to be roughly paid back out / assigned as follows:
One third - to Network Rail
One third - to RoSCos
One sixth - to the Government as payment for the franchise
One sixth - other operating costs (including staff) and any profit

The "one sixth to The Government" is indeed a 'killer' - 1.x billion pounds.  It's a figure that First elected to bid, though, so it's a moot point as to whether or not any "blame" should be pointed at:
* - the Government for milking the traveller
* - the Train Operating Company for putting in such a high bid
* - the traveller for complaining when at least (for the most part - TransWilts excepted!) he does have trains available more or less when he wants them

[grahame]

There seems to be a degree of criticism on this thread ... of travellers who haven't booked ahead / haven't found the lowest fare.   I'm not sure if such criticism is justified - after all, not everyone can be an expert in everything, and you need to be an expert in fares to get a decent priced ticket sometimes.

I have started a new thread on this ... see
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3918.0

[Ollie]

NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) must be enjoying this, groups such as MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) saying FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are money grabbing when they won't actually see much of the fare as they do not set it.