Title: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Phil Farmer on November 03, 2009, 10:42:26
A quote from Todays London Evening Standard
"The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways has sparked fresh outrage over the ^ludicrously^ high cost of train travel.
The latest round of price rises means a first-class ^walk-on^ return from Newquay in Cornwall to Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland is ^1,002. Rail experts say it is the first time since services began in 1825 that passengers have been asked to pay ^a grand^ for a trip entirely in the UK."
According to the National Rail Enquiries Site a seven day first class all line Rover Ticket is only ^650
"The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways has sparked fresh outrage over the ^ludicrously^ high cost of train travel.
The latest round of price rises means a first-class ^walk-on^ return from Newquay in Cornwall to Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland is ^1,002. Rail experts say it is the first time since services began in 1825 that passengers have been asked to pay ^a grand^ for a trip entirely in the UK."
According to the National Rail Enquiries Site a seven day first class all line Rover Ticket is only ^650
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 03, 2009, 10:58:07
This is a real bug-bear of mine. A ^1002 fare is stupid but as soon as you complain about it the TOCs and their appologists (and there are a few on this forum) say "the fare doesn't matter because noone will pay it because they can get an all line rover or rebook at Birmingham or whatever".
BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.
BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on November 03, 2009, 11:03:11
This is a real bug-bear of mine. A ^1002 fare is stupid but as soon as you complain about it the TOCs and their appologists (and there are a few on this forum) say "the fare doesn't matter because noone will pay it because they can get an all line rover or rebook at Birmingham or whatever".
BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.
BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.
Well if they're ignorant or stupid they won't realise they've been conned. :D
Title: Re: The first £1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: brompton rail on November 03, 2009, 11:05:04
Compared with Standard Off Peak at £244.10 or Anytime at £456. There is a First Class Off Peak return priced at £561 but that fare "is not available on any of the services shown", both of which are multi change journeys either involving Sleeper services Crewe to Scotland or Par to Reading. Both services also contain the note that if you wish to travel on the sleepers (seated or berth) you must contact the operator's (FGW or FSR) website to book. Really weird!
EDIT - The £561 fare (Saver = Off Peak) is only valid after 09.30!
EDIT - The £561 fare (Saver = Off Peak) is only valid after 09.30!
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: brompton rail on November 03, 2009, 11:13:36
or ^749 via London for First Open Return (Anytime). East Coast set fare.
The ^1002 fare is set by XC! Say no more.
The ^1002 fare is set by XC! Say no more.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 03, 2009, 11:16:40
Well if they're ignorant or stupid they won't realise they've been conned. :D
So it is OK for a major industry which is highly regulated and subsidised by the tax payer to con the ignorant and stupid?
brompton's comment is spot-on XC appear to use a random number generator to price their fares.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: IndustryInsider on November 03, 2009, 11:26:52
Penzance to Wick - which mirrors the route from Newquay to Kyle most of the way, but is quite a bit further, comes out at well under ^900. Fare still set by XC. Firstly, why does the railway industry delight in scoring own goals by allowing a fare nobody will ever buy to go over ^1000. They could of kept it a ^999 for years! Secondly, when is somebody going to get a grip on this silly nonsense!?
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 03, 2009, 14:56:43
Had a bit of a play and it seems that all/most XC priced fares from Newquay are significantly more expensive than those from a mainline Cornish station. This makes no sense when a ticket for the branch costs only a few quid.
As to when someone will get a grip on this nonsense - it has to be the day when TOCs are relieved of the priveledge to set their own fares becaus ethey act with regard to teh short term only and don't seem to care about damaging teh industry as a whole.
Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC, NR, ORR?
As to when someone will get a grip on this nonsense - it has to be the day when TOCs are relieved of the priveledge to set their own fares becaus ethey act with regard to teh short term only and don't seem to care about damaging teh industry as a whole.
Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC, NR, ORR?
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: eightf48544 on November 03, 2009, 15:29:57
Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC, NR, ORR?
What about Passenger Focus it would give them something to do.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 03, 2009, 15:42:00
Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC, NR, ORR?
What about Passenger Focus it would give them something to do.
Their involvement in the "fares simplification" mess disqualifies them in my eyes.
Andrew Adonis will be looking for a job after the election. Perhaps he could do it single handedly?
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 03, 2009, 16:15:29
News of the fares has reached the BBC...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8340561.stm
Note that the XC spokesman uses the lame excuse of "noone would buy that fare" as predicted by me above and also seems to think that "saver" is a current ticket name and that it is an AP ticket!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8340561.stm
Note that the XC spokesman uses the lame excuse of "noone would buy that fare" as predicted by me above and also seems to think that "saver" is a current ticket name and that it is an AP ticket!
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: signalandtelegraph on November 03, 2009, 19:16:23
Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC, NR, ORR?
BR plc ;)
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Super Guard on November 03, 2009, 22:18:20
I wouldn't mind the commission on that :P
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 03, 2009, 23:07:05
Rather a shame you can't sell them from Exeter, then! ;D
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Phil Farmer on November 04, 2009, 14:02:52
This link is to an interesting BBC interactive quiz comparing rail travel with other forms of Transport as a result the ^1,000 fare ....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8342692.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8342692.stm
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Tim on November 04, 2009, 16:18:13
Quote from: signalandtelegraph link=topic=5598.msg53717#msg53717
BR plc
[/quote
BR plc
[/quote
I wish. BR was national and weighed both commercial and polical considerations in settign fares. Who is there now who ticks all three of these boxes.
TOCs are local. ATOC is only interested in the commerical side (it is afterall a trade association) and PF is only interested in the passengers. DfT woudl focus solely on the politics and ignore the commercial needs of the operators and the needs of the passengers
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 06, 2009, 18:00:18
From the Mirror (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/06/a-grand-day-out-115875-21801254/):
Quote
What DO you get for a ^1,000 train fare? 800 miles, 52 stations, 5 changes and a curry break..
For a thousand hard-earned pounds, you could fly halfway round the world to Sydney... and back again.
But we revealed this week that train bosses want a staggering ^1,002 for a first-class return from Cornwall to Scotland by rail!
So what do you get for your cash? Well, five changes and no hot meal for starters... JAMES ORR jumped on board for the epic 800-mile trek.
We leave Newquay station bang on time. But we're not exactly travelling in style. The First Great Western leg to Par, Cornwall, consists of just two carriages - with no firstclass cabin. Not the best of starts.
We arrive in Par after gliding past lush green meadows and dairy farms. I'm starting to relax. When we change trains for Plymouth I grab a coffee. Distance: 21 miles.
Plymouth comes into view as it's getting dark. I've had to stand for some of the journey as all the seats were taken. That wouldn't happen on a plane to Sydney. But the scenery - especially the view over the Tamar estuary - helps to cushion the blow. Distance: 36miles.
We leave for Birmingham on time and at last we're in first-class comfort. I crack open a beer to celebrate. Lovely. But the attendant spoils it by saying there's no restaurant carriage for the three-and-a-half-hour trip. That takes the biscuit - and so do I, plus a limp cheese and tomato bloomer.
It's dark and wet as we coast into Birmingham New Street. Fortunately our Virgin train to Crewe is already waiting on the platform so it's a quick change. Distance: 257 miles.
Leave on time. The train manager comes over to say the advertised Wi-Fi isn't up and running yet, which was nice of him, but it seems to work when we try it.
I don't fancy coffee so order a bottle of wine and a roast vegetable sandwich (not first-class by any means, but better than the bloomer).
We pull into Crewe and another rain-swept platform. I've an hour and-a-half to kill before the connecting train up to Inverness. I don't fancy freezing on the platform so hotfoot it to a curry house just outside the station for lamb korma, a naan bread and a pint. A proper meal at last. Shame it wasn't included in the price. I feel slightly sick as I hand over the money, and it's not down to the food. Distance: 314 miles.
We leave Crewe, this time with ScotRail. An assistant ushers me into my own sleeper berth. Nice. It's comfy and there's towels and soap for a wash. Nothing doing in the lounge carriage though and I head back to my berth but it takes ages to sleep. Damn those umpteen coffees earlier.
I finally nod off but wake up as we pull into pitch-black Perth.
The train chugs into Dunkeld and Birnam. It's still dark, I can't sleep and there's no one I can ask for tea.
Dawn breaks to reveal the most magnificent rolling Scottish hills under leaden skies. The scenery is out of this world - a bit like the price.
We pull in briefly to Kingussie. The platform's completely deserted.
Leaving Kingussie and the views are breathtaking. The train rattles past rivers, vast undulating hillsides, mist-shrouded valleys, ancient woodland, lochs and I can see snow-capped peaks!
This view deserves an equally magnificent breakfast - smoked kippers maybe, organic sausages and bacon, free-range eggs and a pot of fresh tea perhaps. Fat chance! I have a single complimentary shortbread biscuit and dunk a miserly teabag into a cup of lukewarm water.
We arrive in Inverness to change for a train for the final leg. I'm absolutely exhausted - I feel like I've run the whole way. Distance: 714 miles.
The train is slightly dilapidated but we pass beautiful sunlit lochs. We see the Moray Firth, the little villages of Beauly and Dingwall and I spot stags on the hillsides. Next comes Lochcarron with its white cottages reflected in the waters of the loch and we pass the pinetree lined fishing village of Plockton.
At long last, we arrive at the busy port of Kyle of Lochalsh where a bridge crosses to the Isle of Skye. Distance: 800 miles.
Verdict: So was it worth ^1,002 for the privilege? The views for the last couple of hours were amazing, but that's not enough to make up for the long overnight hours of mind-numbing coffee-fuelled tedium. And for that sort of money, a proper meal is the least you'd expect. And I had to stand up for some of the way! Whinge, grumble, moan. Now, where's the train back to Newquay?
1st LEG: Newquay, Par
2nd LEG: Lostwithiel, Bodmin Parkway, Liskeard, Menheniot, St Germans, Saltash, St Budeaux, Keyham, Dockyard Devonport, Devonport, Plymouth
3rd LEG: Totnes, Exeter St Davids, Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton Stafford, Crewe
4th LEG: Preston, Sterling, Dunblane, Gleneagles, Perth, Dunkeld and Birnam, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore, Inverness
5th LEG: Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Garve, Lochluichart, Achanalt, Achnasheen, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Attadale, Stromeferry, Duncraig, Plockton, Duirinish, Kyle of Lochalsh
39 miles per hour, average speed
20.5 hours. Total journey time
49 pounds. Cost per hour on train
3 different train operators used
12 cups of coffee drunk on trip
6 sandwiches eaten, plus a curry in Crewe!
3 stags spotted plus one heron
For a thousand hard-earned pounds, you could fly halfway round the world to Sydney... and back again.
But we revealed this week that train bosses want a staggering ^1,002 for a first-class return from Cornwall to Scotland by rail!
So what do you get for your cash? Well, five changes and no hot meal for starters... JAMES ORR jumped on board for the epic 800-mile trek.
We leave Newquay station bang on time. But we're not exactly travelling in style. The First Great Western leg to Par, Cornwall, consists of just two carriages - with no firstclass cabin. Not the best of starts.
We arrive in Par after gliding past lush green meadows and dairy farms. I'm starting to relax. When we change trains for Plymouth I grab a coffee. Distance: 21 miles.
Plymouth comes into view as it's getting dark. I've had to stand for some of the journey as all the seats were taken. That wouldn't happen on a plane to Sydney. But the scenery - especially the view over the Tamar estuary - helps to cushion the blow. Distance: 36miles.
We leave for Birmingham on time and at last we're in first-class comfort. I crack open a beer to celebrate. Lovely. But the attendant spoils it by saying there's no restaurant carriage for the three-and-a-half-hour trip. That takes the biscuit - and so do I, plus a limp cheese and tomato bloomer.
It's dark and wet as we coast into Birmingham New Street. Fortunately our Virgin train to Crewe is already waiting on the platform so it's a quick change. Distance: 257 miles.
Leave on time. The train manager comes over to say the advertised Wi-Fi isn't up and running yet, which was nice of him, but it seems to work when we try it.
I don't fancy coffee so order a bottle of wine and a roast vegetable sandwich (not first-class by any means, but better than the bloomer).
We pull into Crewe and another rain-swept platform. I've an hour and-a-half to kill before the connecting train up to Inverness. I don't fancy freezing on the platform so hotfoot it to a curry house just outside the station for lamb korma, a naan bread and a pint. A proper meal at last. Shame it wasn't included in the price. I feel slightly sick as I hand over the money, and it's not down to the food. Distance: 314 miles.
We leave Crewe, this time with ScotRail. An assistant ushers me into my own sleeper berth. Nice. It's comfy and there's towels and soap for a wash. Nothing doing in the lounge carriage though and I head back to my berth but it takes ages to sleep. Damn those umpteen coffees earlier.
I finally nod off but wake up as we pull into pitch-black Perth.
The train chugs into Dunkeld and Birnam. It's still dark, I can't sleep and there's no one I can ask for tea.
Dawn breaks to reveal the most magnificent rolling Scottish hills under leaden skies. The scenery is out of this world - a bit like the price.
We pull in briefly to Kingussie. The platform's completely deserted.
Leaving Kingussie and the views are breathtaking. The train rattles past rivers, vast undulating hillsides, mist-shrouded valleys, ancient woodland, lochs and I can see snow-capped peaks!
This view deserves an equally magnificent breakfast - smoked kippers maybe, organic sausages and bacon, free-range eggs and a pot of fresh tea perhaps. Fat chance! I have a single complimentary shortbread biscuit and dunk a miserly teabag into a cup of lukewarm water.
We arrive in Inverness to change for a train for the final leg. I'm absolutely exhausted - I feel like I've run the whole way. Distance: 714 miles.
The train is slightly dilapidated but we pass beautiful sunlit lochs. We see the Moray Firth, the little villages of Beauly and Dingwall and I spot stags on the hillsides. Next comes Lochcarron with its white cottages reflected in the waters of the loch and we pass the pinetree lined fishing village of Plockton.
At long last, we arrive at the busy port of Kyle of Lochalsh where a bridge crosses to the Isle of Skye. Distance: 800 miles.
Verdict: So was it worth ^1,002 for the privilege? The views for the last couple of hours were amazing, but that's not enough to make up for the long overnight hours of mind-numbing coffee-fuelled tedium. And for that sort of money, a proper meal is the least you'd expect. And I had to stand up for some of the way! Whinge, grumble, moan. Now, where's the train back to Newquay?
1st LEG: Newquay, Par
2nd LEG: Lostwithiel, Bodmin Parkway, Liskeard, Menheniot, St Germans, Saltash, St Budeaux, Keyham, Dockyard Devonport, Devonport, Plymouth
3rd LEG: Totnes, Exeter St Davids, Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton Stafford, Crewe
4th LEG: Preston, Sterling, Dunblane, Gleneagles, Perth, Dunkeld and Birnam, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore, Inverness
5th LEG: Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Garve, Lochluichart, Achanalt, Achnasheen, Achnashellach, Strathcarron, Attadale, Stromeferry, Duncraig, Plockton, Duirinish, Kyle of Lochalsh
39 miles per hour, average speed
20.5 hours. Total journey time
49 pounds. Cost per hour on train
3 different train operators used
12 cups of coffee drunk on trip
6 sandwiches eaten, plus a curry in Crewe!
3 stags spotted plus one heron
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on November 06, 2009, 18:59:05
The summary at the end of that story doesn't tally with the preceeding text. Our intrepid journo said he changed at Birmingham yet '3rd Leg' tells a different story. Must be wrong because I don't think there are any direct trains to Crewe from Plymouth these days.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 06, 2009, 19:28:42
"You may very well think that: I couldn't possibly comment."
C. ;) :D ;D
C. ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Phil on November 06, 2009, 19:48:53
The summary at the end of that story doesn't tally with the preceeding text. Our intrepid journo said he changed at Birmingham yet '3rd Leg' tells a different story. Must be wrong because I don't think there are any direct trains to Crewe from Plymouth these days.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Damn you bignosemac - you crashed my system :D
(http://www.terrascope.co.uk/images/conflict1.gif)
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on November 06, 2009, 20:16:30
The summary at the end of that story doesn't tally with the preceeding text. Our intrepid journo said he changed at Birmingham yet '3rd Leg' tells a different story. Must be wrong because I don't think there are any direct trains to Crewe from Plymouth these days.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Also with that change I make it 4 TOCs used.
Damn you bignosemac - you crashed my system :D
(http://www.terrascope.co.uk/images/conflict1.gif)
Hope you've backed up Phil, because I just spotted something else. What happened to Newton Abbot? Great detail listing all the stops in Cornwall and around Plymouth then totally missing a major station. Perhaps our intrepid journo was in the toilet......makes sense if he was on a Vomiter. ;D
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Bob_Blakey on November 06, 2009, 20:59:39
Any 'journalist' worth the name would know that one of the largest cities in Scotland is spelt STIRLING - what a pillock!
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on April 26, 2010, 23:47:31
Good news (?!) and worth resurrecting this thread:
CrossCountry have dropped the price of the Newquay-Kyle of Lochalsh First Class Anytime Return.
From a truly extortionate ^1068, it has been reduced to a much more agreeable ^921. :P
And, rather unusually, the fare change has already gone live. TOCs normally wait until a new NFM is published.
CrossCountry have dropped the price of the Newquay-Kyle of Lochalsh First Class Anytime Return.
From a truly extortionate ^1068, it has been reduced to a much more agreeable ^921. :P
And, rather unusually, the fare change has already gone live. TOCs normally wait until a new NFM is published.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Super Guard on April 27, 2010, 10:41:49
Yet the newspapers haven't picked up on the generosity of XC! ;)
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: devon_metro on April 27, 2010, 12:14:44
the generosity of XC! ;)
Surely they would be sued for posting utter lies ;)
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: inspector_blakey on May 04, 2010, 15:01:13
Now reported by Railway Eye (http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2010/05/fire-sale-at-arriva-cross-country.html) that XC has reduced *that* fare by 40%, by capping first class anytime returns (which also has the effect of chopping the price of many others too). Such generosity...
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on May 04, 2010, 18:22:46
Yep, CrossCountry have capped their First Class Anytime Returns to ^640. I've checked with journey planners.
As pointed out by Railway Eye, this now means that the UK's most expensive rail fare is set by the nationalised East Coast. The Newquay to Kyle of Lochalsh via London FOR remains priced at ^749.
As pointed out by Railway Eye, this now means that the UK's most expensive rail fare is set by the nationalised East Coast. The Newquay to Kyle of Lochalsh via London FOR remains priced at ^749.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: inspector_blakey on May 04, 2010, 19:11:14
The significance of the GBP 640.00 price tag has just dawned on me - it's GBP 10.00 less than the first class 7-day All Line Rover fare (travel first class with no time restriction across the entire network for a week). So there should definitely be no takers for the EC-set fare!
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: JayMac on May 04, 2010, 20:12:23
...and XC's Standard Anytime Returns have been capped at ^420. Again ^10 under the Standard 7 Day All Line.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: brompton rail on May 04, 2010, 20:57:34
Well, all credit to XC for doing that! (Never thought I would say that about XC!)
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: Brucey on May 07, 2010, 19:12:33
Something else that needs capping are first class season ticket fares.
A 7 day season from Penzance to London Terminals is ^413.90 standard or ^772.70 first.
A 7 day all line rover is ^430.00 standard or ^650.00 for first. So first is ^127.70 cheaper to buy a rover.
Plus you can get railcard discounts on the rover (unlike the season), which brings the price down to ^284.00 and ^429.00.
A 7 day season from Penzance to London Terminals is ^413.90 standard or ^772.70 first.
A 7 day all line rover is ^430.00 standard or ^650.00 for first. So first is ^127.70 cheaper to buy a rover.
Plus you can get railcard discounts on the rover (unlike the season), which brings the price down to ^284.00 and ^429.00.
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: grahame on May 08, 2010, 02:52:16
Plus you can get railcard discounts on the rover (unlike the season), which brings the price down to ^284.00 and ^429.00.
My emphasis in your quote. I've been trying to work this out for years - please tell me which railcard is the one that's applicable to me. I'm an able bodied, British person somewhere in middle age. Tend to travel with my partner, but the kids are no loger kids. I don't work for a train company, nor for the forces ...
I suspect you meant "many people" not "you" :-\
Title: Re: The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways
Post by: brompton rail on May 08, 2010, 08:21:28
Many years ago, in BR days, InterCity had a Railcard called (I think) Voyager aimed at regular travellors. Can't remember the discount or details but initially it could only be bought at Stoke on Trent. It didn't last many years as it didn't raise extra revenue. Also if one bought an Annual Season Ticket you could by a Card giving discounts after 10:00. The search was then on for the 2 closest stations and the cheapest Annual Season. That Railcard disapeared too. Unless it could be demonstrated convinceingly to ATOC that a National Regular User Railcard would produce substantially more revenue than it lost, it ain't going to happen.
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