Will Someone Please Explain

[whole diary]

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

According to the Network South East Chronological record, Network South East ceased to exist on 31 March 1994. On 1 April 1994 -The  Railways Act for rail privatisation takes effect: BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) rail infrastructure transferred to the ownership of new company Railtrack; business sectors abolished with 25 new Train Operating Units (TOUs) established covering passenger services - all still owned by BR, but ready for franchising to the private sector as Train Operating Companies; NSE^▸ (Network South East)^s nine Divisions reformed into 11 TOUs -of which Thames Trains was one. Wikipedia says "The Thames Trains franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to Victory Rail Holdings, a company owned by Go-Ahead (65%) and some ex British Rail managers (35%), with operations commencing on 13 October 1996. Go-Ahead bought the remaining shares it didn't own in June 1998.

[thetrout]

I punched in Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads First Class Advance and was quoted ^131.00 for the 17:05. But I knew from past experience that splitting on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) does often work, so I punched in:

Manchester Piccadilly - Stafford - First Class Advance @ ^17.50
Stafford - Birmingham New Street - First Class Advance @ ^7.00
Birmingham New Street - Cheltenham Spa - First Class Advance @ ^26.00
Cheltenham Spa - Bristol Temple Meads - First Class Advance @ ^14.00

Total ^64.00

Saving of ^67 aka 51.14%

and then there is this:

I'll get my coat!