Cotswold Line 90% fare increases from 17 May 2015

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From the Worcester News:

The great rail rip off: Worcester commuters hit out at price hike

ANGRY commuters from Worcester have slammed ^rip off^ rail fares price after an impending price hike will leave them paying ^16 more per return ticket than they did before.

However, First Great Western defended the price changes which come into force on Sunday, May 17, arguing they represent a better deal for customers ^ as long as they buy newly available advanced tickets.

First Great Western manage trains on the North Cotswolds line between Worcester stations (Foregate Street and Shrub Hill) to London Paddington.

Using the First Great Western website to look at ticket prices an off peak return to London Paddington now costs ^52 for those leaving Shrub Hill at 7.32am and returning to Worcester at 5.22pm).

But if you want to complete the same journey at the same times after the price rises on May 17 a ticket will cost you ^68.50, an increase of ^16.50 or 32 per cent.

IT specialist Pyers Symon, a rail commuter from Battenhall in Worcester, said the fares increase, particularly that on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services between Worcester stations and London Paddington, was so great that it was now cheaper and quicker for him to drive to Warwick Parkway and get a Chiltern Railways service from there to London Marylebone instead.

He fears that the price hike will make rail services from Worcester unviable, provoking an ^exodus^ of rail commuters to Warwick Parkway. He urged FGW to now introduce a two year price freeze on tickets.

He said: ^m annoyed about it. If people use Warwick Parkway on a regular basis instead of Worcester stations it will hugely damage the viability of Worcester stations.

^Rail commuters are feeling grim. They are being absolutely hammered. They seem to regard us as a captive audience. The fares are not regulated. That^s the important point. They are trying to raise as much money as they can in the short term. I feel people are being absolutely ripped off.^

Iain Macbriar, a Worcester-based consultancy director, said: "At present, if you go from Worcester to London for the day by train, then the most sensible ticket is an "off-peak Return" (^52). It's not valid on the 6.30am from Shrub Hill, but it is valid on the 7.32am departure. On the way back, you can use this ticket on any train.

"But from May 17 this ticket will no longer be valid on trains back from Paddington between 16.40pm and 6.30pm. Instead you'll have to buy a ticket that costs ^68.50 (32 per cent more).

This is effectively a fares increase by stealth."

First Great Western say this introduces thousands of low-cost advance purchase fares following requests from customers and stakeholders alike.

It also introduces peak time fares for the first time, bringing the North Cotswolds in line with all other routes across the Great Western network.

First Great Western is to make 10,000 seats-a-month available from just ^10 for passengers travelling between the North Cotswolds and London.

Advance Purchase tickets for the route are to be sold for the first time, allowing passengers to take advantage of 70 per cent discounted rail fares.

Station Manager for the North Cotswolds, Alan Field said: ^As a result of these changes, from May 17, the cheapest single fare on this line will drop from ^27 to ^10.

^Advance Purchase tickets will be made available on all services - as with all other long distance journeys (beyond Didcot Parkway and Pewsey from London Paddington) on the Great Western network.^

Word reaches me that the story may also feature on regional television news in the area.

[JayMac]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) told me via twitter earlier this week that there were no plans for them to make an announcement regarding fares changes on the Cotswold Line.

From the FGW Media Centre:

10,000 seats at just ^10 for North Cotswold rail passengers

Due to an IT fault Advance Purchase fares for travel to/from the North Cotswolds from Sunday 17 May will not be available on this website for 48 hours. Cheap, Advance Purchase tickets are available to purchase from all ticket offices and our Customer Services (03457000125) in the intervening period.

First Great Western is to make 10,000 seats-a-month available from just ^10 for passengers travelling between the North Cotswolds and London.

Advance Purchase tickets for the route are to be sold for the first time, allowing passengers to take advantage of 70% discounted rail fares.

Station Manager for the North Cotswolds, Alan Field said:

^The North Cotswolds is home to some of the most picturesque destinations on the Great Western network, and I am delighted that we have been able to extend the availability of Advance Purchase.

^Recognising the value of rail to the local economy, what better way to support the communities we serve than by helping to encourage travel to and from the area.^

With a guaranteed seat reservation, Advance Purchase tickets are available up until 18.00 on the day of before you travel and allow you to save up to 70% by booking in advance. Similar to an airline booking, tickets are specific to a train time and seat number.

The sale of thousands of low-cost advance purchase fares, following requests from customers and stakeholders alike, will also introduce peak time fares for the first time - bringing the North Cotswolds in line with all other routes across the Great Western network. The price of an Anytime fare will not change, and with 25 services a day beyond Oxford falling outside peak hours.

As a result of these changes, from May 17, the cheapest single fare on this line will drop from ^27 to ^10. Advance Purchase tickets will be made available on all services - as with all other long distance journeys (beyond Didcot Parkway and Pewsey from London Paddington) on the Great Western network.

While subject to availability, tickets are available by booking online at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk; from ticket offices, or by calling our customer services on 03457 000125.

The North Cotswold line serves the route between London Paddington and Hereford, and all stations in between. The new tickets will be available from Wednesday 22 April for journeys from Sunday 17 May onwards.

No mention as to why they are introducing these Advance Purchase fares though. Difficult to put a positive spin on blatant price gouging I guess. 

[Unixman]

Two things come to mind:

 As the guy in the Worcester News said, the exodus to Warwick PW^▸ (Permanent Way) will grow and grow for people who live in Worcester and the surroundings, and, secondly, that might in itself have consequences for the development of Worcester Parkway - especially the Cotswold's line part of the station.

Frankly, it is easier, quicker and cheaper to drive to Warwick   ( even allowing for the vicissitudes of the M42) and get Chiltern for people in Mid-Worcs than to suffer the service via FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to Paddington.

[Ollie]

The peak return for Warwick Parkway to London Terminals is ^99, so not sure how that works out cheaper? The Off Peak is ^49 but not valid until the 09:02.

[Unixman]

 
To arrive in London before 10am ( which gives a fair equivalence with the example quoted in the WN), the fare from Warwick is currently ^40.  After May 17 it rises to ^50.  I was attempting to equate like with like. That is using two singles. It might be said that these are advance tickets - well yes they are but you don't even get that choice with the new FGW^▸ (First Great Western) prices

[JayMac]

The peak return for Warwick Parkway to London Terminals is ^99, so not sure how that works out cheaper? The Off Peak is ^49 but not valid until the 09:02.

"Other operators charge more, therefore so must we." 

[Ollie]

The peak return for Warwick Parkway to London Terminals is ^99, so not sure how that works out cheaper? The Off Peak is ^49 but not valid until the 09:02.

"Other operators charge more, therefore so must we." 

That's not what I said and you know it. It's a genuine question as to how Warwick Parkway works out cheaper as has been suggested.

[Ollie]

To arrive in London before 10am ( which gives a fair equivalence with the example quoted in the WN), the fare from Warwick is currently ^40.  After May 17 it rises to ^50.  I was attempting to equate like with like. That is using two singles. It might be said that these are advance tickets - well yes they are but you don't even get that choice with the new FGW^▸ (First Great Western) prices

Looking at FGW advance fares on 18th May for 07:32 from WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) and the 17:22 back from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), it comes to ^59. Admittedly, that is ^9 more than similar timings to/from Marylebone on the same date.

[ellendune]

Worcester's service is not comparable with Swindon's. There is still a two hour gap in services and it is mighty slow, averaging out at about 2hrs. 20mins for the through trip. You are not comparing like with like. In other areas of life I am sure you would accept that a low quality product should not be charged at the same level as a higher quality one.

Yes I realise the service is not as good, but how much discount is that worth?

As I said the quoted fare even after the change in restrictions was still half that from Swindon for a similar distance.  That's a pretty massive discount for having a poor service.   

[ChrisB]

To arrive in London before 10am ( which gives a fair equivalence with the example quoted in the WN), the fare from Warwick is currently ^40.  After May 17 it rises to ^50.  I was attempting to equate like with like. That is using two singles. It might be said that these are advance tickets - well yes they are but you don't even get that choice with the new FGW^▸ (First Great Western) prices

Looking at FGW advance fares on 18th May for 07:32 from WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) and the 17:22 back from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), it comes to ^59. Admittedly, that is ^9 more than similar timings to/from Marylebone on the same date.

^9 will not buy you the fuel to get to/from W/Parkway, and cover the wear & tear on your tyres. If these Advances are available generally all week, I suspect some may return to the Cotswold Line

[JayMac]

That's ^9 per person for the train tickets. Fuel costs and wear and tear would be per car. Two people in the car and you would be saving.

[JayMac]

Looking at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) advance fares on 18th May for 07:32 from WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) and the 17:22 back from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), it comes to ^59. Admittedly, that is ^9 more than similar timings to/from Marylebone on the same date.

And ^7 more than the currently valid, much more flexible and refundable Off Peak Return. With the APs having only just been released and thus presumably at their cheapest it seems highly unlikely that using them will ever match the current Off Peak Return price for the 0732 and 1722. Whichever way you cut it it's a considerable price rise.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Looking further on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website, it appears that the Off-Peak Single from Charlbury to Paddington appears to have been abolished entirely. Have I missed it or is this the case?

[CLPGMS]

Whilst not disputing the vast difference between Charlbury-London and Swindon-London fares, it is sometimes not appreciated that Swindon passengers can obtain a 34% discount using, for example, Senior Railcards, at any time of the day.  On the Cotswold Line, they are not available until the current 0831 departure from Charlbury, simply because a journey between Charlbury and London is wholly within the Network Railcard area and Swindon to London is not.

[ellendune]

Whilst not disputing the vast difference between Charlbury-London and Swindon-London fares, it is sometimes not appreciated that Swindon passengers can obtain a 34% discount using, for example, Senior Railcards, at any time of the day.  On the Cotswold Line, they are not available until the current 0831 departure from Charlbury, simply because a journey between Charlbury and London is wholly within the Network Railcard area and Swindon to London is not.

Thanks for this advice - I will bear it in mind for when I reach that age.