First day back ...

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Interesting debate territory ...

Peak Single, 7.50
Off Peak Single, 7.30

Peak Return, 8.50
Off peak return, 7.40

As most season ticket holders will go one way in the peak, the better comparison may be with the 8.50 fare (4.25 each journey).

Interest note on the new fares that sites like http://www.brfares.com aren't able to display them ...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A major fares revision (National Fares Manual issue 23) came into force on 2 January 2016. Unfortunately, as neither the NFM23 edition of Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) Traveller nor the corresponding open data fares "feed" have yet been publicly released by ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies see - here), we are unable to display these fares and the site will continue to show the NFM22 fares (dating from September 2015) until further notice.

It strikes me as interesting that the rail industry's operator association isn't providing a price list at the moment - at a time of potentially the highest number of enquiries ...

[brompton rail]

Interesting debate territory ...

Peak Single, 7.50
Off Peak Single, 7.30

Peak Return, 8.50
Off peak return, 7.40

As most season ticket holders will go one way in the peak, the better comparison may be with the 8.50 fare (4.25 each journey).


Interest note on the new fares that sites like http://www.brfares.com aren't able to display them ...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A major fares revision (National Fares Manual issue 23) came into force on 2 January 2016. Unfortunately, as neither the NFM23 edition of Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) Traveller nor the corresponding open data fares "feed" have yet been publicly released by ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies see - here), we are unable to display these fares and the site will continue to show the NFM22 fares (dating from September 2015) until further notice.

It strikes me as interesting that the rail industry's operator association isn't providing a price list at the moment - at a time of potentially the highest number of enquiries ...

Just checked, and BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Fares now have 2nd January 2016 fares listed. Avantix fares data is available too, I gather (no use to me as I'm on a Mac, but OK for Windows users). ATOC website and needs you to register and sign in.

[grahame]

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A major fares revision (National Fares Manual issue 23) came into force on 2 January 2016. Unfortunately, as neither the NFM23 edition of Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) Traveller nor the corresponding open data fares "feed" have yet been publicly released by ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies see - here), we are unable to display these fares and the site will continue to show the NFM22 fares (dating from September 2015) until further notice.

It strikes me as interesting that the rail industry's operator association isn't providing a price list at the moment - at a time of potentially the highest number of enquiries ...

Just checked, and BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Fares now have 2nd January 2016 fares listed. Avantix fares data is available too, I gather (no use to me as I'm on a Mac, but OK for Windows users). ATOC website and needs you to register and sign in.

I've taken a further look - the banner I quoted was from the top page of the site, but, yes, individual pages say that they're 2nd Jan 2016 prices.   I guess something's cached or just being put in ... I know what it's like scrambling in a new data feed when the data arrives late!

[ChrisB]

I completely understand that it costs more to provide a more intense service.   What I don't understand (though you tell me it's obvious, I think) why it costs more per journey made ... if the trains were as heavily loaded (and, goodness, the TV^▸ (Thames Valley) pictures of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) show heavily loaded trains) then why should doubling the service cost more than twice as much?

There's hire of extra stock, plus staff wages, of course (now, comparison of staff wages across the EU^» (European Union - about), did anyone do that comparison? I'd strongly suggest that the UKs wages are higher...but whether the UKs standard of living is higher is a very moot point, which might suggest our staff are overpaid in comparison, discuss), plus extrainfrastructure to get 3-minute headways. I'm sure I've missed other costs too, like running Network Rail & the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)

[ellendune]

I think you'll find that most organisations give a pretty hefty discount to those customers who are willing buy a year's supply of their product in advance!

Not disagreeing with you but the ^3.23 is per journey, that's ^6.46 per day, not a lot different from ^7.40

If you look at Swindon the discount would be around 75% (on the anytime fare) - I am not sure many organisations offer that sort of discount even for paying a year up front!  They would be accused of overcharging their ordinary customers!