GWR responds to concerns over rising rail fares in North Devon

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From North Devon Today

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) responds to concerns over rising rail fares in North Devon

GWR responds to fare rise concerns with plans for new trains to improve service

Great Western Railway (GWR) has provided a response following concerns raised by North Devon’s MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context), Ian Roome, regarding the recent 4.6 per cent rise in rail fares.

Roome had highlighted that an annual season ticket from Barnstaple to Exeter now costs £2,724, while passengers continue to face overcrowding and infrastructure challenges.

GWR, which operates trains to and from Barnstaple, has clarified that fare rises are determined by government policy rather than individual train operators.

A spokesperson for GWR explained that all revenue raised through fares is returned to the Treasury.

[snip]

As part of this ongoing investment, GWR is set to welcome 26 new Class 175 trains to its fleet, which will run to Barnstaple.

These new trains are expected to replace older diesel models, offering better fuel efficiency, improved environmental performance, and enhanced passenger comfort.

The Class 175 trains will help improve punctuality and reliability for commuters travelling across the network, including those in North Devon.

[Timmer]

‘New’ trains 

[grahame]

‘New’ trains 

I looked up "new" in the dictionary

I also took a look at the "new" season ticket fare and it's 15p per mile (7 day ticket, assuming 5 return journeys) which was easily accessible data.   And that compares to 33p per mile Tonbridge to London (cheaper by the slower route via Redhill and to 36p per mile Reading to London - similar distances.   All the more stark when you look at cost per minute on the train I suspect if anyone wants to do the maths!

[Mark A]

‘New’ trains 

I looked up "new" in the dictionary

I also took a look at the "new" season ticket fare and it's 15p per mile (7 day ticket, assuming 5 return journeys) which was easily accessible data.   And that compares to 33p per mile Tonbridge to London (cheaper by the slower route via Redhill and to 36p per mile Reading to London - similar distances.   All the more stark when you look at cost per minute on the train I suspect if anyone wants to do the maths!

A bit off-topic: difficult not to reflect that with a season ticket into London, depending on what it is, the cost can buy the traveller 24/7/365 access to the London rail and tube network.

Buy a season from e.g Barnstaple to Exeter, the traveller receives 24/7/365 access from the awkwardly sited station at Barnstaple to... Exeter.

Apart from that commute being capacity constrained, for the Barnstaple example, would there be something to be said, as part of the season ticket offer, for throwing in off-peak access to the rail system on the same basis as a 'Freedom of Devon' ranger ticket perhaps.

Mark

[PhilWakely]

A bit off-topic: difficult not to reflect that with a season ticket into London, depending on what it is, the cost can buy the traveller 24/7/365 access to the London rail and tube network.

Buy a season from e.g Barnstaple to Exeter, the traveller receives 24/7/365 access from the awkwardly sited station at Barnstaple to... Exeter.

Apart from that commute being capacity constrained, for the Barnstaple example, would there be something to be said, as part of the season ticket offer, for throwing in off-peak access to the rail system on the same basis as a 'Freedom of Devon' ranger ticket perhaps.

Mark

The purchase of an Annual Season Ticket from A to B within Devon and Cornwall entitles the purchaser to a free Gold Devon and Cornwall Railcard, so it does, in a way, throw in off-peak access to the Devon and Cornwall rail system.

[grahame]

A bit off-topic: difficult not to reflect that with a season ticket into London, depending on what it is, the cost can buy the traveller 24/7/365 access to the London rail and tube network.

Yes - though I quoted costs based in season tickets WITHOUT Travelcard add ons.   From Reading - yes, that gives you Paddington and Waterloo, and by changing at Clapham Junction or Waterloo it gives you Victoria, Charing Cross and London Bridge.  With a further change at London Bridge, Cannon Street, Blackfriars and I suspect City Thameslink?

[ChrisB]

Not City Thameslink as it isn't a London Terminus station - you need a specific A2B ticket or a Travelcard. Same with Farringdon

[Ralph Ayres]

Not City Thameslink as it isn't a London Terminus station - you need a specific A2B ticket or a Travelcard. Same with Farringdon

City Thameslink and Farringdon aren't the same.  London Terminals from the south does extend as far north as City Thameslink.  From the north you need a "London Thameslink" ticket to reach either of them if travelling on Thameslink, or generally a ticket to "Zone U1" on other routes though tickets showing the specific station name may occasionally pop up.  It's all logical (but admittedly not simple) if you know the background and history of the various lines, and is explained at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-in-london/ though even the compiler of that page seems to accept that it's not straightforward given the inclusion of a "The below diagrams may help with understanding" apology.

...All admittedly some way off the topic of rail fares in North Devon!

[grahame]

From Trainline

There are 18 railway stations in London classed as ‘London Terminals’:

Blackfriars
Cannon Street
Charing Cross
Euston
Fenchurch Street
Kings Cross
Liverpool Street
London Bridge
Marylebone
Moorgate
Paddington
St Pancras International
Victoria
Waterloo
City Thameslink
Vauxhall
Waterloo East
Most of these stations are actual termini. That means railway services end their journeys here (terminate) and reverse out of the station to complete the return journey.