Rip-off Britain: why is everything so expensive? (The Guardian)

[whole diary]

[TerminalJunkie]

Scroll down for the bit where Richard Gibson* of Cross Country Trains tries to explain the fare system:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/13/rip-off-britain-everything-expensive


* There was a Richard Gibson at Wessex. Is it the same person?

[LiskeardRich]

I'd probably suggest he had a look at NRCoC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage)

RG: If you choose to buy multiple tickets for a simple journey, you may find it's considerably cheaper. But you're not getting the guarantee of the service all the way through. If your train from A to B was delayed, and you missed the train from B to C, you'd have to buy a new ticket.

[Btline]

Um... but the split tickets were on the same train, so delays are irrelevant.
XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have gone down even further in my estimations. Fancy saying some of that stuff to a journalist!

It's clear that XC don't want long distance passengers clogging up their trains + their luggage, why does he just admit it.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Not wanting to defend xc.... If you split advance tickets you would have to get off the train following the rules to the letter

[JayMac]

What are you on about relex?

Split Advance tickets do not require you to get off the train. If you think they do, then by what 'letter of the law' are you referring?

National Rail Conditions of Carriage 19(b) allows you to use multiple tickets for one journey, does not exclude Advance Purchase and does not require you to alight at your split point, you're train merely has to call at the split point.

19. Using a combination of tickets
You may use two or more tickets for one journey as long as together they cover the entire
journey and one of the following applies:
(a) they are both Zonal Tickets (unless special conditions prohibit their use);
(b) the train you are in calls at a station where you change from one
ticket to another; or
(c) one of the tickets is a Season Ticket (which for this purpose does not include
Season Tickets or travel passes issued on behalf of a passenger transport
executive or local authority) or a leisure travel pass, and the other ticket(s) is/are not.

The guidance issued to staff regarding use of a combination of Advance Purchase tickets also explains that if you are travelling on two Advance Purchase tickets that requires a change of trains then if the train from A-B is delayed, you are permitted to take the next service from B-C with the same operator of your original booking. The only condition the passenger must meet is to have allowed the minimum connection time (as defined in National Rail Timetable) at the station where they are changing trains.

From guidance issued to staff ('The Manual'):

Advance fares - Frequently Asked Questions

Q04 - Can a customer buy two Advance tickets which join together to make one journey, e.g. ticket for A-B plus ticket for B-C, to travel the throughout journey A-C?

A: Yes, provided the train calls at B

Note 1: Where a passenger buys multiple Advance tickets in this way, if they then have to change their booking, it will also cost them multiple amounts of ^10 fee.

Note 2: Where separate train companies are used for A-B and B-C with a change of train and ticket at B, it is still classed as a through rail journey in the event of delays (see also Q22 below) provided connections were booked in accordance with the advertised minimum times for stations. For example, a passenger travelling Cambridge to Leeds holding a combination of Cambridge ^ Peterborough ^XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) only^ and Peterborough ^ Leeds ^EC only^ is allowed to take the next East Coast service in the event of a delay on the CrossCountry journey causing the connection to be missed.

Q22 - Can a passenger travel on any trains other than the one on which they are reserved, without changing the booking?

A: The following principles apply.

1). Start of the Journey. It is the passenger^s responsibility to turn up at the start of the journey in time for the first train. If they miss it due to problems parking, taxi not turning up etc, they must buy a new ticket;

2). Once the journey has begun. If the passenger is delayed and the rail industry or its partners (as shown below) is at fault, which should be checked with your Control Office, change to another train of the same company is allowed to get them to their destination with the least delay. This is irrespective of combinations of rail tickets held.

It's really most concerning that someone at the top of the industry is going on record and coming out with poppycock.

It's also concerning that a member of rail staff appears to be misinformed. 

[Worcester_Passenger]

I read this piece (before seeing it here) with mounting incredulity.

Richard Gibson is quoted as saying that "I think the fare of ^147.50, at less than 50p per mile, is a fair price for the 300-mile journey".

I don't agree with him - it's ridiculously high.

I travel up to the North East from time to time. I used to go up on an early train and arrive at my customer's offices about 11:00. But now that CrossCountry have imposed such massive fares increases for travel before 09:30, it's now cheaper for me to travel up the evening before and stay in a hotel. And that's at British hotel prices (which aren't even mentioned in the article).

[ellendune]

If an official spokesman for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) is being correctly reported in the National Press as saying something that is contrary to th National Conditions of Carriage surely there should be an offical complaint.  But who to?

[EBrown]

If an official spokesman for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) is being correctly reported in the National Press as saying something that is contrary to th National Conditions of Carriage surely there should be an offical complaint.  But who to?

I'd go with XC and the newspaper itself.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here)) and / or the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about))?

[EBrown]

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here)) and / or the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about))?

Better answer!

[JayMac]

I was a little bored earlier, so I drafted letters to both CrossCountry and ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here). Sat waiting to go in a 'drafts' folder at the moment.

Just waiting to see if (and how) CrossCountry respond through their social media feeds on Monday.... 

[Ollie]

I dunno how the interview was done, but just reading them felt uncomfortable.

[Btline]

BNM, I'd send the letter anyway and contact the press. Even if XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) hastily correct themselves, it would make a good Daily Mail story!!!

Several angry commuters have already vented their rage on XC's Facebook page. Nothing as yet on Twitter. I expect the page admins will be shocked and call a crisis meeting with managers.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... it would make a good Daily Mail story!!!

Isn't that an oxymoron? 

Several angry commuters have already vented their rage on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s Facebook page. Nothing as yet on Twitter. I expect the page admins will be shocked and call a crisis meeting with managers.

Indeed: I'm even now calling a crisis meeting with my management team here. 

[devon_metro]

Several angry commuters have already vented their rage on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s Facebook page. Nothing as yet on Twitter. I expect the page admins will be shocked and call a crisis meeting with managers.

I can't actually work out if your post is serious!!