Angry commuters start fightback against fines

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Apparently, XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have also shamelessly axed XC only fares in the South West meaning that locals will have to shell out the full whack.

Full whack often being just ^1-^3 more for the 'Any Permitted' fare. A fare that lets them use any train.

[Btline]

For some people ^3 makes all the difference, especially if they travel regularly.

[paul7575]

no one is jumping to the wrong conclusion it is fact!!

The way you wrote it meant they were removing all XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) ONLY fares. That was not correct.  You could have said most fares?

Paul

[Milky Bar Kid]

okay my wording a bit iffy, just fares that effect south west and other areas.

[Btline]

Pretty much all of them have been axed. Only Glasgow to Edinburgh seems to have survived the latest XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) fares bloodbath. And that fare, once a very reasonable ^2 (?) has been jacked up to ^7.50 over the years.

[vacman]

Now that the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) only walk up fares have been removed there will no doubt be less people who accidently on purpouse buy the XC only tickets from the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and get on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services, who incidently could be and have been Penalty Fared for this.

[Southern Stag]

Pretty much all of them have been axed. Only Glasgow to Edinburgh seems to have survived the latest XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) fares bloodbath. And that fare, once a very reasonable ^2 (?) has been jacked up to ^7.50 over the years.

I don't think you can complain too much about them increasing the Glasgow to Edinburgh fare, they used to operate 3 trains a day, now they operate 9 trains a day.

[Super Guard]

Now that the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) only walk up fares have been removed there will no doubt be less people who accidently on purpouse buy the XC only tickets from the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and get on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services, who incidently could be and have been Penalty Fared for this.

Here here. 

Worked the same service EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) 3 days in one week... 1st day, lady "accidently" boarded with a XC Only fare... was excessed to correct fare (I should have charged new ticket, but used my discretion  ).  2nd day, I had a ticket assist who saw said lady, same excuse, was excessed again (I didn't realise it was her until the assist TM^‡(resolve) mentioned it after).  I went through the train and warned her I was aware what she was doing and if full fare would be charged in future.  A couple of days later... same ticket, same woman... full fare new ticket was sold, and received a huge amount of verbal abuse from her for being a "jobsworth".   

[Timmer]

Worked the same service EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) 3 days in one week... 1st day, lady "accidently" boarded with a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Only fare... was excessed to correct fare (I should have charged new ticket, but used my discretion  ).  2nd day, I had a ticket assist who saw said lady, same excuse, was excessed again (I didn't realise it was her until the assist TM^‡(resolve) mentioned it after).  I went through the train and warned her I was aware what she was doing and if full fare would be charged in future.  A couple of days later... same ticket, same woman... full fare new ticket was sold, and received a huge amount of verbal abuse from her for being a "jobsworth".   

A good example of why TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) do end some types of TOC specific tickets when blatant abuse like this goes on which is a shame as it spoils it for those who did use the ticket on the right trains.

[eightf48544]

Worked the same service EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) 3 days in one week... 1st day, lady "accidently" boarded with a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Only fare... was excessed to correct fare (I should have charged new ticket, but used my discretion  ).  2nd day, I had a ticket assist who saw said lady, same excuse, was excessed again (I didn't realise it was her until the assist TM^‡(resolve) mentioned it after).  I went through the train and warned her I was aware what she was doing and if full fare would be charged in future.  A couple of days later... same ticket, same woman... full fare new ticket was sold, and received a huge amount of verbal abuse from her for being a "jobsworth".   

A good example of why TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) do end some types of TOC specific tickets when blatant abuse like this goes on which is a shame as it spoils it for those who did use the ticket on the right trains.

In my opinion the whole of these problems arise for both staff and passengers from the overtly complex fares system.

TOCs trying to be airlines with their pricing, having their own fares between places so they get all the revenue, (it only makes work for the "bean counters" allocating the money), numerous restrictions on trains you can travel on with certain tickets etc. etc.

The whole fares manual conditions of carrige need to be scrapped.

Start again with a fresh sheet of paper.

The mainfare should be a ticket to travel on any train between any two points by any permitted route (farily freely interpreted and the fare should be the fare. No cheaper splits etc. break of journey permitted both directions.

The TOCs should then be compelled to sell Advanced tickets with a leyway of one train either side for most trains. You lose your reservation if you travel on wrong train.

KISS^▸ (keep it simple, stupid!)!

 Keep It Simple Stupid.

[Btline]

In my opinion the whole of these problems arise for both staff and passengers from the overtly complex fares system.

TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) trying to be airlines with their pricing, having their own fares between places so they get all the revenue, (it only makes work for the "bean counters" allocating the money), numerous restrictions on trains you can travel on with certain tickets etc. etc.

The whole fares manual conditions of carrige need to be scrapped.

Start again with a fresh sheet of paper.

The mainfare should be a ticket to travel on any train between any two points by any permitted route (farily freely interpreted and the fare should be the fare. No cheaper splits etc. break of journey permitted both directions.

The TOCs should then be compelled to sell Advanced tickets with a leyway of one train either side for most trains. You lose your reservation if you travel on wrong train.

KISS^▸ (keep it simple, stupid!)!

 Keep It Simple Stupid.

Agree with that.

Also add:

*All tickets valid for one day only.

*All tickets sold as singles (being half the price of a current return)