Millions of passengers face 20 per cent fare rise

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Not sure about the 'Millions of passengers face 20% fare rise' headline but the press have discovered the change in rail fares in September:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/6023760/Millions-of-passengers-face-20-per-cent-fare-rise.html

Rail passengers face a 20 per cent fare rise after a leading train operator pushed up the cost of some of its cheapest tickets. First Great Western overhauled its ticket pricing, reducing the availability of off-peak fares.

The move comes ahead of train operators being ordered to cut commuter fares at the end of the year by the Government.

It has left companies looking to maximise the money they raise from fares which are not controlled by the Department for Transport, including off-peak travel.

First Great Western, which carries 83 million passengers a year, runs trains from Paddington to South Wales and south west England.

The changes will, for example, see a passenger paying ^59 to take the 9am service from Bristol Temple Meads to London from September, rather than ^49.

What I dont understand is why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get in before the press and let passengers know about these changes instead of passengers finding out through the media which will put a very negative slant on it. Millions aren't going to be affected by this change and it can be avoided by booking well in advance or taking advantage of buying an off peak single.

[Zoe]

What I dont understand is why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get in before the press and let passengers know about these changes instead of passengers finding out through the media which will put a very negative slant on it. Millions aren't going to be affected by this change and it can be avoided by booking well in advance or taking advantage of buying an off peak single.

But as discussed in the other thread, the half priced off peak single is only going to be valid for half a return journey where the other half is booked in advance.

[Timmer]

But as discussed in the other thread, the half priced off peak single is only going to be valid for half a return journey where the other half is booked in advance.

That is not the case. You can buy an off peak/super off peak single on its own. Have just tried it on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and it went straight through. There is nothing on the ticket validity page which says you have to book an advance ticket for either the outward or return journey. Obviously if you want to make a saving on buying an off peak return you could book an advance journey one way for the leg you knew you were definately going to be travelling on and an off peak single for the journey you weren't sure about and still make a saving on buying a return.

Yes FGW have moved the goal posts a bit with the ticketing but with a few minutes of research savings can be made. As well as the half price singles, The Telegraph also failed to mention that FGW are now offering 10% off Advance fares booked on their website. However they are correct in saying that FGW have put them up in price by 10%!

[vacman]

What I dont understand is why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get in before the press and let passengers know about these changes instead of passengers finding out through the media which will put a very negative slant on it. Millions aren't going to be affected by this change and it can be avoided by booking well in advance or taking advantage of buying an off peak single.

But as discussed in the other thread, the half priced off peak single is only going to be valid for half a return journey where the other half is booked in advance.

your getting confused with the product offered by Virgin West coast,FGW are actually lowering the SVS fare

[JayMac]

I'm glad that the press has picked up on the story, perhaps my emails to them had some effect!!

The halving of the cost of Off Peak/Super Off Peak singles is a welcome addition to the available fares. It doesn't, however, negate in any way the huge increases (20% for Off Peak returns, 10-11% for Advance singles) to other fares. I'm just glad that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have not introduced a Super Off Peak Day product to also allow them to push up Off Peak Day (CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')), CDS^▸ (Off Peak Day Single [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day'))) tickets as well. I expect we'll get that in January!

The 10% off Advance singles online is all well and good (excepting that it is only a discount on the new, 10-11% dearer fares!) for those that can access it. It is not a discount available to all though. No suitable debit/credit card? No access to internet? Then no discount. The increases to Advance fares are likely to effect the less well off in society disproportionately. People who have to go to stations to buy tickets. I'm clued up when it comes to getting the best possible fare for a particular journey, but I can't get the 10% discount because I only have a Solo debit card.

The response of FGW's spokesmen to The Torygraph is also a bit disengenious - "In the current economic climate it is a challenge to balance the need to encourage more customers to use our services, with ensuring we generate enough income...." - This is a fine response from a truly private company, but FGW's revenues are currently protected by the state in the form of the 'cap and collar' agreement. Off Peak fares are also supposedly protected by the state and limited to Retail Price Index + 1% increases. But FGW have used the wizard wheeze pioneered by Stagecoach and introduced another fare (Super Off Peak) to get round the regulated fares increase rules. Shameful manipulation and an own goal so soon after being released from 'remedial measures'.
FGW fully deserve all the brick-bats coming their way on this one.

[JayMac]

A bit more detective work and I'm beginning to calm down a bit. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) it appears are just using the Franchise Agreement's regulated fares rules at their most restrictive to allow the increases to Off Peak fares.

Extract from the Franchise Agreement:-

Protected Return Fare means in respect of a Fare for a Flow:

a) for which there was a Saver Return fare in February 2003, a Return Fare for each such Flow in respect of which the Franchisee is entitled from time to time to set the Price or Child Price under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, subject to the following addition rights and restrictions:

(i) it shall be valid for no less than one month;

(ii) it shall be valid all day on a Saturday or Sunday and from no later than 1030 on any other day;

(iii) it need not be valid for any journey:

(A) beginning between 1500 and 1900 on any day other than a Saturday or Sunday;

(B) where such a journey begins from a London station or any station between London and Reading station, Watford station, Luton station or Stevenage station (inclusively); and

(C) which is in a direction away from London; or

b) for which there was no Saver Return Fare in February 2003, a Return Fare for each such Flow in respect of which the Franchisee is entitled from time to time to set the price or Child Price under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

So it appears that the 'Supers' become the new regulated fares, using the most restrictive timings the Franchise Agreement allows. 'Off Peaks' then become unregulated and can be increased by whatever FGW feel the market can take. I can hear the pips squeaking....

[devon_metro]

It shouldn't affect too many people. The people who buy the savers to london and reading can probably afford an extra ^10.

[JayMac]

It shouldn't affect too many people. The people who buy the savers to london and reading can probably afford an extra ^10.

And that's okay is it? What a broad sweeping and downright offensive statement. I sodding well can't afford an extra ^10; and remember it's not just ^10, it's ^10 every time you buy an Off Peak return.
My income increases in September by diddly squat percent.

[JayMac]

The story has been picked up by the Maidenhead Advertiser:

http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-12396-fgw-train-fare-hike-despite-government-orders/

Spot the glaring error anyone?

[devon_metro]

Spot the glaring error anyone?

The whole article? 

[Btline]

WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) instead of GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line)!

[Btline]

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) spokesman said: "...we want to encourage more customers to use services which are quieter towards the middle of the day."

If that's true, then why not adopt London Midland's/Chiltern's approach and introduce CHEAPER super off peak tickets.

People going for a day out have to travel in for about 10 am.

[old original]

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) spokesman said: "...we want to encourage more customers to use services which are quieter towards the middle of the day."

I can guarantee you that the 06.19 and 07.29 truro - london services are a darn sight quieter from Cornwall than the 10.41 yet will now cost 20% more

[JayMac]

I thought the print media was bad enough with its errors, but the story has just been covered on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West and they also made errors.
The introduction by the presenter stated that the fares increases were starting next year. And the piece finished with the reporter stating that the new timetable comes into effect in September. Um, what new timetable? New fares, yes. New timetable, no.
Oh, and does anyone else find 'Vox Pops' on local TV news annoying?

[old original]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) fully deserve all the brick-bats coming their way on this one.

The snag is, yes, the company will have to face the press which it will ignore and just highlight the half price singles and a few letters from disgruntled public, it's the poor b*&%^rs on the front line are the ones who are going to cop it in the face on a daily basis for the next few weeks, that I feel sorry for.