The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways

[whole diary]

[Phil Farmer]

A quote from Todays London Evening Standard

"The first ^1,000 fare in the history of Britain's railways has sparked fresh outrage over the ^ludicrously^ high cost of train travel.

The latest round of price rises means a first-class ^walk-on^ return from Newquay in Cornwall to Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland is ^1,002. Rail experts say it is the first time since services began in 1825 that passengers have been asked to pay ^a grand^ for a trip entirely in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)."

According to the National Rail Enquiries Site a seven day first class all line Rover Ticket is only ^650

[Tim]

This is a real bug-bear of mine.  A ^1002 fare is stupid but as soon as you complain about it the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) and their appologists (and there are a few on this forum) say "the fare doesn't matter because noone will pay it because they can get an all line rover or rebook at Birmingham or whatever". 

BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.

[JayMac]

This is a real bug-bear of mine.  A ^1002 fare is stupid but as soon as you complain about it the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) and their appologists (and there are a few on this forum) say "the fare doesn't matter because noone will pay it because they can get an all line rover or rebook at Birmingham or whatever". 

BUT is does matter because it gets a negative story in the Standard and makes the railway look like a load of dodgy spivs who set high fares that those in the know will not buy but which the ignorant, or stupid might be conned into purchasing.

Well if they're ignorant or stupid they won't realise they've been conned.

[brompton rail]

Compared with Standard Off Peak at £244.10 or Anytime at £456. There is a First Class Off Peak return priced at £561 but that fare "is not available on any of the services shown", both of which are multi change journeys either involving Sleeper services Crewe to Scotland or Par to Reading. Both services also contain the note that if you wish to travel on the sleepers (seated or berth) you must contact the operator's (FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail)) website to book. Really weird!

EDIT - The £561 fare (Saver = Off Peak) is only valid after 09.30!

[brompton rail]

or ^749 via London for First Open Return (Anytime). East Coast set fare.
The ^1002 fare is set by XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))!  Say no more.

[Tim]

Well if they're ignorant or stupid they won't realise they've been conned.

So it is OK for a major industry which is highly regulated and subsidised by the tax payer to con the ignorant and stupid?

brompton's comment is spot-on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) appear to use a random number generator to price their fares.

[IndustryInsider]

Penzance to Wick - which mirrors the route from Newquay to Kyle most of the way, but is quite a bit further, comes out at well under ^900. Fare still set by XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)). Firstly, why does the railway industry delight in scoring own goals by allowing a fare nobody will ever buy to go over ^1000. They could of kept it a ^999 for years! Secondly, when is somebody going to get a grip on this silly nonsense!?

[Tim]

Had a bit of a play and it seems that all/most XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) priced fares from Newquay are significantly more expensive than those from a mainline Cornish station.  This makes no sense when a ticket for the branch costs only a few quid. 

As to when someone will get a grip on this nonsense - it has to be the day when TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) are relieved of the priveledge to set their own fares becaus ethey act with regard to teh short term only and don't seem to care about damaging teh industry as a whole.

Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here), NR^» (Network Rail - home page), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)?

[eightf48544]

Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here), NR^» (Network Rail - home page), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)?

What about Passenger Focus it would give them something to do.

[Tim]

Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here), NR^» (Network Rail - home page), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)?

What about Passenger Focus it would give them something to do.

Their involvement in the "fares simplification" mess disqualifies them in my eyes.

Andrew Adonis will be looking for a job after the election.  Perhaps he could do it single handedly?

[Tim]

News of the fares has reached the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8340561.stm

Note that the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) spokesman uses the lame excuse of "noone would buy that fare" as predicted by me above and also seems to think that "saver" is a current ticket name and that it is an AP ticket!

[signalandtelegraph]

Trouble is - who else would you give the job to - ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here), NR^» (Network Rail - home page), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)?

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) plc 

[Super Guard]

I wouldn't mind the commission on that 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Rather a shame you can't sell them from Exeter, then! 

[Phil Farmer]

This link is to an interesting BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) interactive quiz comparing rail travel with other forms of Transport as a result  the ^1,000 fare ....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8342692.stm