Rail fare prices - the basis of increases (merged ongoing discussion)

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

I would like to know how they are getting away with pushing up a regulated fare by 20% though.

didnt think SVR's were regulated??

I think the problem is that the old SVR was not regulated in all parts of the country, or on all routes. London and SE TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) hardly ever offered SVRs (ie the old monthly version) and for TOCs like SWT^▸ (South West Trains) it was mainly the seasons that were regulated. This is what led to the daft situation we have now where a 7 day season is often less than the price of two Anytime Day returns.

In any event, as others have said SWT were the first to do this, well before simplification, and many people have suggested that SWT were just the trial, and as expected, here we go again. I think we can all be fairly sure that any fares regulation issues have been overcome, there are plenty of precedents for SOP^▸ (Standard Operating Instructions) now.  Funnily enough, SWT never raised the Basingstoke to London fare, something to do with it not being able to rise too far in comparison to the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 'via Reading' fare - perhaps that will change now?

Paul

[Zoe]

So the equivalent of the old Super Saver will now cost the same as a Saver would have done.  Can we be sure they won't try the same trick in a few years time?  First simplify the fares by scrapping the Super Off Peak and forcing everyone to pay the higher Off Peak fare and then reintroduce the Super Off Peak at the same rate as Off Peak and push the Off Peak fares up by 20 percent.

[old original]

So the equivalent of the old Super Saver will now cost the same as a Saver would have done.  Can we be sure they won't try the same trick in a few years time?  First simplify the fares by scrapping the Super Off Peak and forcing everyone to pay the higher Off Peak fare and then reintroduce the Super Off Peak at the same rate as Off Peak and push the fares up by 20 percent.

Got it in one

[devon_metro]

did someone say on here that the first "super off-peak" was the 1029 from Redruth? (1000 from Pnz), which is the busiest train of the day!!!

Not in the middle of winter. But yeh, I can see summer being hell. But then again, nobody will travel if its going to cost ^100. How bloody cheeky of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)!

[Zoe]

Not in the middle of winter. But yeh, I can see summer being hell. But then again, nobody will travel if its going to cost ^100. How bloody cheeky of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)!

That train won't cost ^100 though.  The issue is that it will be the first train of the day that won't cost that.

[old original]

NEW INFO....

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) super off peak will not have a day restriction i.e. they will be valid on Fridays but the time restrictions as previously posted, will apply

[JayMac]

NEW INFO....

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) super off peak will not have a day restriction i.e. they will be valid on Fridays but the time restrictions as previously posted, will apply

what about the Off Peak fares following the introduction of the Super Off Peaks? Still no announcements of any increases, still no changes on NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service) or TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) ticket buying sites. Supers are showing as the same price as Off Peak Returns (With the small bonus of Supers being available as a single at half the return price).

I'm suspecting that the Super Off Peaks are being introduced in September to allow fare changes in January 2010. Drop the Super fares a little to draw attention away from increases to Off Peaks....although I'm still not sure how increases to Off Peaks can go beyond RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+1%.

[devon_metro]

NFM04 is published on Monday

[old original]

...although I'm still not sure how increases to Off Peaks can go beyond RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context))+1%.

Apparently, as long as they have an off peak type fare, that counts. All seems a bit sneaky to me.

[Timmer]

After congratulaing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for introducing half price off peak single fares the other week, it is disappointing but not surprising to see them going down the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) route of introducing a new band of off peak ticket to raise fares. It also makes a mockery of simplifying the fares structure. The crazy thing about it is that it wasn't long ago that FGW scapped the old super saver fare only for it to make a come back in September.

The only way round these increases is book in advance or travel off peak when you can.

I shall be interested to see what the fare differences are when as D_M says NFM04 is released tomorrow.

[Zoe]

Apparently, as long as they have an off peak type fare, that counts. All seems a bit sneaky to me.

Is there anything to stop them withdrawing the Super Off Peak fares in a few years time though leaving us with fares that are 20% higher.  They scrapped the Super Saver back in 2006.

[JayMac]

  They've done it!!!! The money grabbing b******s. Off Peak return Redruth to London 7th September is now showing as ^100 online. I really want to hurl some abuse at Mark Hopwood, Moir Lockhead et al, but the risk of libel for the Mods is to great. What a deeply cynical, shameful piece of fare manipulation. Yet again we see a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that is not interested in passengers one iota. Lets ensure our profits (and therefore shareholder dividend) doesn't drop. Never mind that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are already receiving 'cap and collar' revenue support from the taxpayer. They've decided to screw the public twice.
One very, very small benefit though. As well as Super Off Peak Singles, Off Peak Singles at half the return fare (SVH,  ^50) are being offered.
I'm sure the reply to my e-mail will highlight the greater flexibility these new fares offer and will totally gloss over the massive increases to Off Peak fares.
Once again, shame on you FGW, you've rebuilt trust with the passengers after the disasterous period following the winning of the 'Greater Western' franchise, which led to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s remedial notice. Now you go and shoot yourselves in the foot. Frontline staff - you are great. Management in your Swindon ivory tower - bunch of muppets, and I'll tell that to your faces when I see you travelling in Coach F.
Just a little angry - rant over.

[JayMac]

I've done some checking on Advance fares as well. BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) currently has 5 standard class Advance fares under ^25. These are ^10, ^13.50, ^17.50, ^21.00, ^24.50.
After the introduction of Super Off Peaks the ^24.50 Advance is removed and the others all increase except the ^10. The middle three Advance fares are  ^15, ^19.45, ^23.35.

So with the introduction of Super Off Peaks we also see an increase in Advance fares. There are other Advance fares beyond the prices of the new Super and Off Peak single fares, and it appears these have increased as well. I can't do a direct comparison as I do not have NFM^▸ (National Fares Manual) 04.

[devon_metro]

They've done it!!!! The money grabbing b******s. Off Peak return Redruth to London 7th September is now showing as ^100 online. I really want to hurl some abuse at Mark Hopwood, Moir Lockhead et al, but the risk of libel for the Mods is to great. What a deeply cynical, shameful piece of fare manipulation. Yet again we see a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that is not interested in passengers one iota. Lets ensure our profits (and therefore shareholder dividend) doesn't drop. Never mind that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are already receiving 'cap and collar' revenue support from the taxpayer. They've decided to screw the public twice.
One very, very small benefit though. As well as Super Off Peak Singles, Off Peak Singles at half the return fare (SVH,  ^50) are being offered.
I'm sure the reply to my e-mail will highlight the greater flexibility these new fares offer and will totally gloss over the massive increases to Off Peak fares.
Once again, shame on you FGW, you've rebuilt trust with the passengers after the disasterous period following the winning of the 'Greater Western' franchise, which led to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s remedial notice. Now you go and shoot yourselves in the foot. Frontline staff - you are great. Management in your Swindon ivory tower - bunch of muppets, and I'll tell that to your faces when I see you travelling in Coach F.
Just a little angry - rant over.

Most of them sit in G or H now... 

Perhaps you should kindly ask them to sit in standard, which I where I believe they are entitled to travel

[Phil]

Travelling through Swindon on a weekly basis, usually in 1st Class, and often changing there, I have come to recognise a lot of the aforementioned "bunch of muppets".

It was fascinating watching how, a couple of weeks ago when there were signalling problems between Swindon and Chippenham during the evening rush hour, resulting in cancelled trains and several hundred people waiting on Platform 4 (including up at the London, ie First Class end, where I was - and where the "muppets" usually pile on) everyone working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) suddenly "lost" their name badges. 

I recognised one regular and tasked him about it. He had the decency to blush.

"Oh, um, we're supposed to remove our badges when we're out of work..."

Yeah, right....