Great Western Coffee Shop

Can anyone explain how to work this out please?

I have a STD season that covers the journey I wish to make tomorrow (1622 to Oxford). What's the upgrade to 1st cost / how's it calculated? Is it just the difference in single (peak in this case) fare?

I don't know the answer and I am sure someone will be along shortly to enlighten both of us - but just to save time - 16:22 to Oxford from where?

Paddington...oops, sorry!

For a one way journey I believe it's the difference between the applicable standard single for the time of day, and the first single valid at that time of day.  (i.e. Offpeak or Anytime.)  In other words the season is pretty much an irrelevant factor, you pay exactly the same extra amount as someone with a walk up fare.

It is explained thus in the NR Conditions of Carriage, in section 39.


So it's definitely NOT the pro-rata difference (e.g. a 7th of a weekly season) between a standard and first season.

Paul

Yes, I knew that - what I didn't know was whether it was the difference between the value of 1 day on your season (which is what lateness compensation is based on) & the applicable 1st class fare. Could be reasonable if it was....

Upgrade is, according to the 'Excess Fares Procedure' guidance given to retail staff:


So, it's the difference between whatever Standard Class and 1st Class fares are available for the actual journey being undertaken, which logically has to be on the line of route of the Season Ticket. And one MUST purchase the Excess prior to boarding, where facilities exist.

So, strangely, you'll pay LESS to upgrade during the peaks than you will off-peak? That's just crazy!

(No difference in 1st class, peak or off-peak causesthis)

Them's the rules. Another bonkers bit of pricing.

Blame FGW for that. It's they that chose not to offer an Off Peak 1st Class Single fare on this flow.

You do pay less Off Peak if you are making a return journey and wish to upgrade both ways.

OK, I now have a note, stamped by the ticket office this morning, telling me to upgrade on board.

They found the 1st class fare, but were unable to be sure how much to discount it by to provide me with an Xcess ticket.

It would seem logical that since a standard season ticket effectively has the same validity as an anytime single (i.e. can be used on any train), then the anytime single fare is the appropriate fare to use as the basis for the first class excess where no first class off peak fare exists, regardless of whether off-peak tickets also happen to be valid on the train one chooses to use. Certainly whenever I've excessed my season up to first class for a single journey at Paddington ticket office, this is the basis of the excess I've been charged, both at peak and off-peak times - no one has ever tried to charge me a greater excess for travelling off peak! It will be interesting to see what ChrisB gets charged on the 1622 (is that off peak?)

There appears to be an off-peak single to Oxford, yes

First class advance tickets for London-Oxford start from ^16 (fgw site booking) which is somewhat less than the upgrade cost.

not at 1622 they don't :-)

I can see days next week when they are available at this cost on the 16:22.

ahh, news to me. thanks. That's new