Freedom Travelpass price rise

[whole diary]

[mfpa]

Hi

The price of the Freedom Travelpass has just been increased.

Does anybody know why this has been changed in late May, instead of early January when other prices were increased?

Just curious: I'm happy to have had an extra five months at the old price. (-;

[sheepbingo]

I think that rangers, rovers, special deals, etc, that are ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) controlled / regulated change in May rather than in January

This is posted by grahame, testing out facilities from my "sheep bingo" account to see how things work without admin menus ...

[ChrisB]

There are three price chamge points within each year ...the Jan1 date we all know, mid-may and mid-september.

Regulated fare rises happen on Jan1, Tocs can use either of the other two to raise unregulated fares & other associated costs (which can change st any of the three, in fact, but often don't)

[mfpa]

There are three price change points within each year ...the Jan1 date we all know, mid-may and mid-september.

Regulated fare rises happen on Jan1, Tocs can use either of the other two to raise unregulated fares & other associated costs (which can change st any of the three, in fact, but often don't)

Interesting. I didn't realise they still changed them at other times of the year apart from January.

[thetrout]

I think the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) is referring to this:

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/tickets/bus_rail/freedom.php

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/Travel-connections/Freedom-Travel-Pass

Is this a fare controlled by ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here)? I've often thought not considering it's a joint ticket between Bus and Rail Operators. Something I think needs to be expanded to wider areas. (That's a different discussion though)

Sidestepping the original question slightly. mfpa, what is your experience of being able to buy these Freedom Passes? Are drivers/conductors able to find them ok?

I recall the only occasion long ago I attempted to purchase one and what a nightmare it turned into!

[mfpa]

Sorry for the late reply. I only just saw your post.

I think the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) is referring to this:

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/tickets/bus_rail/freedom.php

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/Travel-connections/Freedom-Travel-Pass

That's right.

Sidestepping the original question slightly. mfpa, what is your experience of being able to buy these Freedom Passes? Are drivers/conductors able to find them ok?

I recall the only occasion long ago I attempted to purchase one and what a nightmare it turned into!

I usually get them at Bath Spa; enough people buy them there that most of the staff know what you are asking for and how to find it. You supposedly need a photocard with the monthly version, which they often do not check you have when selling the ticket. This can be an issue because the photocard is sometimes asked for when the ticket is checked.

I have also bought at Temple Meads occasionally, without difficulty.

A few weeks back I had a few minutes to spare before my train at Filton on an evening there was actually somebody there to sell tickets. He said he had never sold one before, and couldn't find it on his cheat sheet. But after looking at some training notes he poked around for a bit and found it on the machine.

I only tried to buy once on a bus (First), and the driver could not find it on the machine. I generally buy in advance at the railway station: as well as First drivers not working out how to sell the Freedom Travelpass, the bus I get is just as likely to be Somerbus, who accept it but don't sell it.

[trainer]

I think the trout is right on this one: it is not an ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) product, being more bus than train in effect.  The choice of date for a price rise is therefore pretty random based on when the various operators decide they need more cash.

[JayMac]

Wessex Bristol seem to think its an ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) (well, FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) product. The notices on their buses about the changes to the Freedom Travelpass fares state that it is First Great Western who have increased the price. I'll see if I can get a snap of the notice over the next few days.

[mfpa]

I think the trout is right on this one: it is not an ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) product,

Indeed. It's a First Great Western product.

being more bus than train in effect. 

Not sure I understand that; for buses only there are plenty of cheaper tickets available so there would be no point buying this one. For trains as well as buses, Freedom Travelpass is excellent value.

The choice of date for a price rise is therefore pretty random based on when the various operators decide they need more cash.

The only previous price rise in over three years of using this ticket coincided with that year's January fares hike.

And I don't think the bus operators have much input. I have an email from one saying, "We get a very small fixed sum from
First Great Western for being part of the scheme. If we were to get an excessive number of these tickets offered I might need
to reassess our participation."

[trainer]

Thanks for the clarifications.  Having only read about the product, I had only decided it wasn't ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here).  The relationship with the bus companies is interesting.