Great Western Coffee Shop

Looking at the First Great Western fares, Trowbridge to Bristol Temple Meads, peak hour.

THIS coming week - 8.10 single, 11.30 return
The FOLLOWING week - 7.90 single, 8.90 return

That's a reduction on the return fare of over 20%!

How are your fares going to change?  Is this just an odd case - or are a lot of fares being reduced?  Has there been some sort of announcement putting it into context?  Feedback welcome!

Off Peak:
Paignton - Taunton  CDR ^13.10
New Fare: ^17

Up ^3.90!!!

A nice saving from Trowbridge though!!

For anybody who wants to see the new fares: http://www.evolvi.co.uk/tryEvolvi/

erm devon_metro yours is actually still ^13.10

the ^17.00 ticket is an off peak return (Open)
the ^13.10 ticket is an off peak day return (so what used to be your cheap day return)

So it is. Shows how simple these new fares are  ::)

Return Fares             
        
Standard Off Peak Day Return    ^13.10                                            
        
Standard Off Peak Return    ^17.00    

Off peak open fare... What????????????????????

Imagine what it's like for the staff. Having just learnt the fare structure, I am now cramming frantically to memorise the 'new' tickets.  At least the codes on Avantix stay the same. :-\

off peak day return....off peak return....these are more confusing!!

"off peak day return"
"off peak day return"
"off peak day return"
"off peak day return"
just practising, before I get overcharged after 9.30am again....

I only discovered the difference a few years ago, when me and a mate bought day returns to Weymouth from different windows at Temple Meads simultaneously...... during the journey we discovered his ticket was ^5 cheaper than mine. He said I should've asked for a "cheap day return", my response was "well I didn't ask for a bloody expensive one did I!"  ;D

I think there is "Super off-peak" as well. ::)

Although it is a praiseworthy attempt at simplification (espesially with the Advance fares - no more Chiltern E-day, Firstminute etc.), these new names are not very nice for the tongue:

"Anytime"
"Super Off Peak"

IMO.

Any reductions that occur will be cancelled out in January!

i always used to get the cheep day return now to me and this was never explained to me that means you cant use it peak times so whats that 4-6 or something..... they used to check my ticket at 1730 and say nothing...

Valid after 0930 on FGW

ahh so its 0930-midnight

Don't worry about it mate, just sell them what they ask for, and warn them of restrictions,or possible excess. If FGW can't be bothered to give us any training apart from a sheet of paper in your pigeon hole, thats their problem!

The "piece of paper" is quite a detailed document that is quite simple when you read it.

But not on First Capitcal Connect (Thameslink) where northbound (Bedford) from central London it's barred something 16:00 to 19:00 but travel South of the river (Brighton) it's valid all day after 09:30.  ???

Interesting point midnight, if the last train is after midnight is an off peak return still valid?

On DB and most German public transport, day tickets are valid to 03:00 the following day.

from Paddington restrictions between 15:59 and 19:16 and the same services are restricted from Reading too.

Stingy. I wonder if a service leaves at 1559?

This restriction is a pain to long distance leisure passengers, who arrive in London after 11 am to enable a CDR, only for them to either leave really early (not much of a day out) or get back really late* (a very long day etc.).

I can see how it relives overcrowding. My point is that it is a shame.

*I bet buffet cars do well on the later evening services, as more leisure passengers travel through "tea time" - they get home too late to eat.

note saying between 15:59 and 19:16 would be the same as saying from 16:00 until 19:15

I use the 15:59-19:16 method as I've had people say "oh so I can get the 19:15 then."

Note from Paddington there is no 15:59 service and no 19:16 service :) I think it just makes the peak period clearer.

Does anyone know if the new system changes the break-of-journey restrictions?

For example, breaking the outward journey was formerly prohibited on Saver Returns (but allowed on Cheap Day Returns). Has this changed?

Saver Returns is only barred on the outward portion of the ticket, the return is permitted.

However I'm not at work this week so I'm not sure how much has changed, however restrictions should be much the same, it's more of a re-brand.

However on the FGW network note the change from Network Awaybreak's to Savers. Finally.

But what about the recently-reintroduced exemption for people with CDRs heading home to Cotswold Line stations on the 16.21 to Oxford (connects with the halts train at Oxford)?

Like I've got time! Doing my 8 other duties in my 13 mins booking on time!! ;D

That's the peak period, yes during that time there are several easements for people on cheaper tickets.

I have had a look around, and it is getting more confusing. >:(

It seems that there will be tickets called "Off peak day" and "Off peak" to replace the Cheap Day and the Saver respectively.

So much for simplification - I thought the idea was to merge the two sorts of off peak ticket into one (called "Off peak"). ::)

And I still don't understand "Super off peak" - how will the restrictions be different? ???

So it isn't actually as easy as 15.59-19.16, or however one chooses to put it. Even the Moreton-in-Marsh booking clerks sometimes have to correct themselves about this CDR exemption when selling tickets, having only just got into the habit of saying 16.00 was the cut-off time after the exemption was dropped previously.

I don't envy barrier staff, conductors and revenue protection staff their lot in coming weeks.

Matters aren't exactly helped by the fact that on the FGW website, the only mention of Saturday, September 7, as the changeover day I can find is when you have navigated your way to the Ticket Options page. And even then, you get linked through to the National Rail site.

I would have thought an alert about the changeover should be right at the top of the FGW home page all this week, but instead there's a blurb offering Jounrey Alert email and text updates. How on earth do FGW expect people to pick up on the new names if they are making precious little effort to publicise them?

OK....I'm a bit confused (not difficult I know!!)... I've had a quick look at FGW website and can't find any easily accessibly info on Fare changes..

So I'll ask my question here.. As far as I know, in the past, off peak fares have been available after 9.30am... but then are valid all day.. So the return travel can be during the evening peak (something I've never understood).. Is this changing?

For Maidenhead the restrictions should be much the same unless FGW decide to restrict a fast train you will be okay.

FGW does not have any super off peak tickets.

Who does, and what are they replacing?

Chiltern Railways (Just 15)
South West Trains

There the main two that I can think of right now.

Cover turn? spare turn?

Really? When was the last time you sat spare? :'( My point is, we would have had a good bit of feedback on this important issue in previous years, not just a sheet of paper!

Passengers in Bristol have welcomed the new ticketing system (link below.)
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/New-ticket-welcomed-Bristol-rail-passengers/article-312179-detail/article.html

Further related article links.
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5180

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Rail_travel_is_easier_but_still_too_pricey&in_article_id=297232&in_page_id=34

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/10/transport

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/11/transport.transport

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Confusion-restrictions-rail-fares-tightened/article-327075-detail/article.html