Westbury to London for the day - best price under new fares?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

For my occasional day trips into London (to work, so peak time both ways), I've been using the Any time Day Travel Card from Westbury, route via Newbury, at 80.00, as it's represented best value for my needs.  Its only downside has been some very long waits at Paddington when I've only had a short meeting / want to travel home just after lunch time.

I'm not seeing this ticket coming up for journeys in the New Year - is it still available, and if not what's the best alternative ticket?

[JayMac]

I have checked the next National Fares Manual and the Anytime Day Travelcard (ADT) from WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) via Newbury is there, but is priced at ^158.50!!!

That's a cocking great increase in price and I'm wondering the reasoning behind it. Was the ADT artificially cheap due to an anomaly when the via Newbury fares were introduced in May 2012, or is the new price an anomaly?

I'm suspecting you've been getting something of a bargain for a peak fare into and out of London, but that's difficult to gauge as there is no equivalent Anytime Day Return to Paddington. The Anytime Return (SOR) (valid up to 30 days on the return) is ^152.00

Either way grahame I'd be asking FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for an explanation of the near 100% increase in price.

Alternative tickets will depend on what services you want to catch. Splits at stations along the Berks & Hants will severly limit your choice of trains as so few from/to Westbury services call at places like Newbury.

I believe an FGW spokesperson said recently that none of their fares (both regulated and unregulated) were increasing by more than the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+1% formula. You've found one that is grahame. I think FGW should be made aware that that statement was wrong and called to account.

[EBrown]

It's there but there is a small increase to 158.50!

I'm not really sure what the best alternate is.

[EBrown]

I believe an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) spokesperson said recently that none of their fares (both regulated and unregulated) were increasing by more than the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+1% formula. You've found one that is grahame. I think FGW should be made aware that that statement was wrong and called to account.

Can you find that?

London to Plymouth CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) is rising 8.2% (^111.50)

Given no statement is available on the website; who will be brave enough to call the Duty Press Officer (Dan) [I'm not]. ***** **** **.



Edit note: I have removed the specific First Great Western mobile number quoted in this post, as it is to be used for official press purposes only. Chris.

[JayMac]

Heres an article with the quote about no fares rising beyond the Governments formula. The spokesman is clearly quoted as saying 'none' and unregulated fares are also included:

From The Herald (Plymouth) on 11th December 2012:

Protest in Plymouth as train fares rising 'three times as fast as wages'

AVERAGE train fares have risen nearly three times faster than wages since the recession began, say rail campaigners.

They were due to hold a protest at Plymouth rail station this morning as part of a nationwide day of action.

The TUC's Action for Rail campaign says a family of two adults and two children looking to travel to London on an anytime ticket from Plymouth in 2013 will have to pay more than ^481.

The huge disparity between rail and wage increases means that their fare would be equivalent to the average weekly wage.

Rail union members as well as commuters will take part in protests from 7.30am until 9.30am today to highlight the strength of feeling over further cuts.

They will hand out Christmas cards to travellers to make them aware of planned cuts to services and staff and the rising cost of rail travel.

The protests come just days after the Association of Train Operating Companies announced new inflation-busting fare rises for 2013.

A union spokesman said: "The seasonal message reminds train travellers that, as well as fare rises and staff cuts in the New Year, they can look forward to a 2013 packed full of cancelled trains, service cuts, and ticket office closures ^ all at a time when the train companies are making huge profits.

"Action for Rail campaigners will encourage commuters to use the Christmas cards to tell their local MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) of their concern over what is happening to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s railways."

According to new analysis published today, between 2008 and 2012 average rail fares increased by 26.6 per cent.

Average wages rose by just 9.6 per cent over the same period ^ well below the rate of inflation.

Train fares are set to outpace wages and inflation again in 2013 after the Association of Train Operating Companies announced a 3.9 per cent increase in average prices last week, with some fares set to rise by as much as 10 per cent from January.

Meanwhile, wages are forecast to rise by just 2.5per cent, according the Office for Budget Responsibility. The only year when average rail fare rises have been lower than wages and inflation was in 2010.

A First Great Western spokesman said: "We understand that these are tough times for many people but the money raised by Government through fares ensures investment in more trains, better stations and faster services.

"The price of season tickets is regulated by the Government, and while we have some room to manoeuvre ^ to reflect changes in demand on particular routes, for example ^ the average will stay the same.

"From January, none of our season tickets will rise by more than the Government's regulated fares formula.

"We have used the Government guidelines as the basis for all our fare changes ^ regardless of whether they are regulated or not.

"Aside from sensible rounding, none of our fares will rise by more than the formula."

Recent research by Transport for Quality of Life has shown that rail privatisation is costing taxpayers ^1.2billion a year, with train operating companies making large profits on the back of public subsidies, the TUC said.

It claimed that eliminating this wastage could result in an 18 per cent cut in rail fares across the board.

Someone has been telling porkies and should be held to account. 

[EBrown]

Daily Fail would love this! It's shocking how this has either slipped through the net or been cunningly done!

[JayMac]

London to Plymouth CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) is rising 8.2% (^111.50)

I don't know where you've got that from. There is no London to Plymouth Off Peak Day Return (CDR). All the fares on that flow priced by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are rising by 4.2% or very near that percentage. The Off Peak Return (SVR) is rising from ^107 to ^111.50.

[EBrown]

I don't know where you've got that from. There is no London to Plymouth Off Peak Day Return (CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day'))). All the fares on that flow priced by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are rising by 4.2% or very near that percentage. The Off Peak Return (SVR) is rising from ^107 to ^111.50.

Almost a direct quote from the Daily Fail who are directly quoting a Passenger Focus representative.

It sought to spin the figures by insisting the average increase from January 2 would be 3.9 per cent.

But Anthony Smith, of the watchdog Passenger Focus, said: ^Passengers going to buy their ticket on a cold January morning won^t be paying an ^average fare^ they will be paying a fare that may have gone up by more than that.

^Hard-pressed passengers ... will feel the pinch.^
He said an off-peak return between London and Plymouth on First Great Western will rise 8.3 per cent to ^111.50 while Birmingham-London on Chiltern will go up 10 per cent to ^27.50.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244164/How-annual-rail-fare-year-Rail-firms-reveal-extent-huge-increases-faced-commuters.html#ixzz2Gdbis1VS
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I did mean SVR not CDR however.

[thetrout]

Split at Newbury? Then Travelcard from there?

[devon_metro]

I'm guessing they've just fixed an old anomaly since the old ADT was ^80 to London Z1-6 whereas London Terminals was ^148!

Nice whilst it lasted!

[grahame]

I'm guessing they've just fixed an old anomaly since the old ADT was ^80 to London Z1-6 whereas London Terminals was ^148!

It depends on how you look at it - they would say "fixed an anomoly".   The customer would say "nearly doubled a fare".  Forget the talk of 4.5% and 6.2% rises - this one's a 97.5% rise .... and if the old fare was too low, that's hardly the customer's fault!

Split at Newbury? Then Travelcard from there?

Yeah ... that brings it down to 97.40 - only a rise of 21%, but excludes trains that don't call at Newbury.  In other words, if I miss the 12:18 out of Paddington, I have to wait for the 16:36 (as the 15:06 doesn't stop at Newbury!).

Probably better simply to drive to Bedwyn and get an anytime day return from there at 55.00 - cuts out the faffing around with split tickets and long waits for a train with the right stopping pattern / going the right route.   Westbury's now priced beyond what I can pass on to my London clients ...

[JayMac]

I've raised the issue with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via Facebook. Ollie tells me he is raising it with the press office and fares team. Being a holiday period I don't expect a quick response.

I predict though that FGW will say the pre- Jan 2013 fare was an error that they've now fixed. And because it was an error it shouldn't be included in the statement about fares increases. I'd like to see them publicly explain what they've done though.

Funny that they didn't fixed in at the last fares round in September. 

[EBrown]

I've raised the issue with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via Facebook. Ollie tells me he is raising it with the press office and fares team. Being a holiday period I don't expect a quick response.

I also emailed a brief statement of my concerns to customer services and Chris Brock earlier today.

[paul7575]

I'm surprised press offices don't include 'errors and omissions excepted' (E&OE) on all the relevant releases about fares.  Would saves them getting shot down months/weeks later if someone has made a schoolboy error with a fare somewhere...

Seems to be pretty standard in many retail areas, such as newspaper adverts...

Paul

[grahame]

I've raised the issue with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via Facebook. Ollie tells me he is raising it with the press office and fares team. Being a holiday period I don't expect a quick response.

If you - unexpectedly - find out tomorrow, please let me know ...