National Express - changes to fare system?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From my mailbox, from a Melksham resident who knows our daily 402 National Express bus to London very well indeed.

For the past few weeks National Express have put a new system in place, they say it is in response to the journeys and availability. But in reality all it is doing is increasing the fares for anybody trying to book ahead.

Our 402 bus is badly hit. Day return fares have increased by over 100%, from £18.20 to £48, while from Corsham it's only £26.20. They reason given is that we only have one bus a day, while the 403 from Bath via Corsham and Chippenham has around 10 a day. They then compound the insult by offering day return tickets to London for £5 on the bus [from Corsham?]. They have also removed the option of open jaw tickets and demand that 2 singles be bought.

Can anyone here fill me in on this / help me provide comment?    Thanks!

[LiskeardRich]

Can't speak for your route, but prices on cornwall to London have fallen presumably to compete with the increased megabus presence.
I'm quite happy with the residents of melksham subsidising the cornish! 

[anthony215]

From my mailbox, from a Melksham resident who knows our daily 402 National Express bus to London very well indeed.

For the past few weeks National Express have put a new system in place, they say it is in response to the journeys and availability. But in reality all it is doing is increasing the fares for anybody trying to book ahead.

Our 402 bus is badly hit. Day return fares have increased by over 100%, from £18.20 to £48, while from Corsham it's only £26.20. They reason given is that we only have one bus a day, while the 403 from Bath via Corsham and Chippenham has around 10 a day. They then compound the insult by offering day return tickets to London for £5 on the bus [from Corsham?]. They have also removed the option of open jaw tickets and demand that 2 singles be bought.

Can anyone here fill me in on this / help me provide comment?    Thanks!

I will try and  see if I can do some snooping around  over the next few days when I am in work. On a separate note  will be on the 216 Cardiff - Bristol airport evening services all this week.

[Chris from Nailsea]

On a separate note  will be on the 216 Cardiff - Bristol airport evening services all this week.

I'll give you a wave, if I happen to see you, out on the roads!