Pointless fares.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

I'm sans automobile for a few days so I've been looking at rail travel from my nearest station. I thought I'd go into Taunton by bus to Axminster and then train, just for a bit of rail mileage. The direct bus from Chard is obviously the most sensible option, but I've not been on the rails for a while.

So, looking at fares from Axminster to Taunton:

Off Peak Day Return <via Exeter> (valid after 0929) £17.60
Off Peak Return <via Exeter> (valid after 0833) £17.40

Both have no evening restrictions. What point is there in having the Off Peak Day Return when the less restrictive Off Peak Return is cheaper? I can catch the 0905 from Axminster with the latter. With the former I'd have to wait until 1005.

Bonkers. And I wonder what I'd be sold if I asked at Axminster for the cheapest ticket to Taunton, coming back the same day. I might just do that tomorrow!

Any other examples of pointless fares forumites are aware of?

[lordgoata]

Given the punctuality, reliability, availability and consistency these day, most of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) fares are pointless

[Worcester_Passenger]

Some time ago I came across Newquay - Ealing Broadway, route Not London, with prices for seven-day seasons, both First and Standard.

Needless to say the timetable was such that it was impossible to do the round trip within the day.

[johnneyw]

Bustitution^▸ (the practice of replacing trains with buses) where a bus fare is the cheaper and no less speedy alternative. Bristol to Bath springs to mind. Bus fares certainly were cheaper and maybe still are.

[grahame]

For £29.20 you can buy yourself a 7 day season from Pilning to Bristol Temple Meads 

[grahame]

Anytime Day Return, Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads - £8.80
Off Peak Day Return, Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads - £8.80

[froome]

For £29.20 you can buy yourself a 7 day season from Pilning to Bristol Temple Meads 

And what would happen if someone purchased one (for instance online)? Is the onus on the passenger to ascertain first whether services exist, or assume that a ticket being sold means they do. I would have thought the latter, and that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) would face a lot of adverse publicity.

[JayMac]

For £29.20 you can buy yourself a 7 day season from Pilning to Bristol Temple Meads 

Local easement allows tickets from Pilning to also be valid at Severn Beach. SVB-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) 7 day season is £9.00.

So for the extra £20.20 you can use the two trains that call Pilning on Saturdays. Oh and you can double back via Severn Tunnel Junction or Newport if travelling from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Pilning.

Bargain! 

[WelshBluebird]

Won't that kind of thing be down to one fare being regulated and the other not? So the more restrictive ticket was probably at one point a fair bit cheaper.

[IndustryInsider]

Some time ago I came across Newquay - Ealing Broadway, route Not London, with prices for seven-day seasons, both First and Standard.

Needless to say the timetable was such that it was impossible to do the round trip within the day.

Might that not have proven to be the best value fare if, in the unlikely event, you were doing six single trips over six consecutive days, first train in the morning, between the two?  Cheaper than a 7-day rover.  Just.

Having suggested that, I doubt anyone has ever bought one.   

[JayMac]

Won't that kind of thing be down to one fare being regulated and the other not? So the more restrictive ticket was probably at one point a fair bit cheaper.

In which case, the operator should get rid of the pointless fare, rather than potentially overcharge customers.

[ChrisB]

Quite possibly is unaware its out there, especially if it's been there for years.

[Fourbee]

Won't that kind of thing be down to one fare being regulated and the other not? So the more restrictive ticket was probably at one point a fair bit cheaper.

In which case, the operator should get rid of the pointless fare, rather than potentially overcharge customers.

What you mean like...a fares simplification?

...oh I forgot the last one was an exercise in renaming

[JayMac]

I've asked GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) via Twitter why the pointless fare.

Query referred to Fares Team. Let's see whether they try to justify, or instead, agree its pointless and reduce the price or remove.

I made the query at Axminster station this morning. Asked for cheapest fare to Taunton after 1000 returning the same day. Was offered the Off Peak Day Return. No surprise there. I showed the clerk the error of their ways! They went above and beyond taking notes to feedback to SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) bosses. Who in turn, I hope, will feed back to GWR who set the fares.

It is only 20p I know. But I'd rather such errors were in favour of the passenger rather than the big bad corperation. 

[martyjon]

... I'd rather such errors were in favour of the passenger rather than the big bad corperation.

But you bet your bottom dollar (20p) that it'll be the other way.