What is the point of a day return?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I once questioned FGW^▸ (First Great Western) over the difference in fares for a similar 1hr journey and then told me it was because Swindon gets far more frequent services than Oxford! But that doesn't make any difference to me.

I looked up peak morning trains and the service looks very similar in frequency and duration of journey.

I'm not doubting it's what you were told, Susan ... and indeed it's historically sorta-correct to my understanding.  Oxford was served by local trains in Network South East, which tended to be somewhat slower and a little less luxurious.  Swindon was an express 125 service - faster, and in those days there were more tables and legroom.   It can't be the current frequency or duration ... with just 2 trains a day, Melksham's  London fare is 69.50 single - about 70p per mile, and the journey is 1 hour 35 minutes - average speed 63 m.p.h.

[ellendune]

Since this thread ended up talking about fares simplification I have resurrected it, but mods feel free to move.

Welcome News from First Land North of the Border

Rail fares cut amid overhaul of pricing system

PASSENGERS will see prices on dozens of rail routes reduced by as much as 41% in a bid to iron out decades-old anomalies which meant it was cheaper to buy two tickets than pay a single fare.


The lower fares will be brought in to end more than 1500 "split ticket" inconsistencies by the end of next month.

The move will ensure that most full destination fares will be at least 50p cheaper than buying one ticket part of the way, and a second ticket to complete the journey.

More than 250,000 ScotRail journeys will be affected by the cut from May 19, around 0.3% of the 81 million journeys taken in Scotland last year.

Transport Scotland has provided ^2.28 million to help pay for the changes to be brought in.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "We have always been clear on our commitment to getting more people on Scotland's trains and a major factor in that has been ensuring affordable and easily understood fare structures.

"It became apparent that, due to historic pricing regimes in the franchise specification agreed by the previous administration in 2004, passengers had to navigate their way through a fares database to find the best deal.

"That's not what we want. We want a fares system which is quick and easy to use and which provides the cheapest fare possible. And that is what we and ScotRail are now delivering."

All the journeys affected are on routes between Scotland's main cities, with the size of the cut varying from route to route.

After May 19, a passenger travelling between Glasgow Queen Street and Dundee will pay ^10.10 less than at present, while the cost of a fare between Glasgow and Aberdeen will drop by more than ^15.

A trip between Edinburgh and Inverness will fall by more than ^6, while a journey between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be 60p cheaper.

Passenger groups have welcomed the news, saying a cheaper and more simple fares system saved travellers both time and money.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: "Hard-pressed passenger will be pleased to hear some fares are set to become simpler and cheaper. Passengers who had previously trawled through websites looking for unusual fare combinations will no longer need to do this.

"We welcome anything that leads to cheaper fares and a simpler system ^ something our research highlights is important to passengers."

The announcement is the latest attempt by ministers to keep control of rail fares. The Scottish Government said in December that peak fares in 2014 and 2015 will not go up by any more than inflation, and off-peak fares could be frozen if inflation stays below 3.5%.

However, despite the drive towards ending split-ticketing fares, ScotRail has not been able to address all inconsistencies that may result from comparing "multiple leg" journeys, because of the huge number of potential combinations.

Less common combinations of fares may prove cheaper, but these will be much rarer.

In addition, as Strathclyde had different off-peak restrictions, the Government admitted some inconsistencies would remain.

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: "This is another example of us putting the customer first, by tackling the fare inconsistencies that are most prevalent in Scotland.

"Transport Scotland's welcome support means we have accelerated our efforts in this area, providing easier access to best value rail fares."

I am surprised is cost as little as ^2.28M

[paul7575]

I am surprised is cost as little as ^2.28M

This point is probably fairly relevant: 

More than 250,000 ScotRail journeys will be affected by the cut from May 19, around 0.3% of the 81 million journeys taken in Scotland last year.

Paul

[Kim]

The higher price of period returns as compared to day returns is one issue, but what I would find to be more of a problem (were I not a season ticket holder for my route) would be that period returns aren't available at all. I travel from Melksham to Bristol Temple Meads; I believe that Trowbridge definitely has no period returns and Swindon/Chippenham/Melksham/Bath/Keynsham are probably all the same.

[Southern Stag]

Period returns aren't generally available on shorter distance journeys, there is a high potential of fraudulent use of them being the reason I've seen cited for it.