Singles half the price of returns - just a short promotion?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Split from "Cotswold Redoubling" and moved here - of generfal interest for all routes!

From the Worcester News:

It^s going to cost you more to use the train

The price of an off-peak single between Worcester Foregate Street and London Paddington will increase by ^4 from ^25.50 to ^29.50. But it is not all bad news. The price of an off-peak return ticket from Worcester to London has dropped by 30p from ^43 to ^42.70.

First Great Western were keen to stress the sharp increase on its single tickets was the result of an adjustment of a special offer on off-peak tickets, which it started in September 2009.

^Our average price rise is 2.47 per cent and the vast majority of our customers actually will see a decrease,^ said Dan Panes, a spokesman for the train company. ^The 15 per cent price rise is not a completely accurate representation. The rise is on promotional tickets.^

If I read the quotes accurately from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) spokesman in that story then he appears to be saying that the 'half the return price' off peak singles introduced in September were in fact special offers and a promotion.

Funny that. They never called them a special offer or a promtion at the time. Bit of revisionist history there. Shame on you FGW.

The changes made in September replaced a pricing structure on off peak singles that was manifestly unfair, with one that was fair.   And we heaped great praise on FGW for making this step.   At no point did I see any indication that this was to be a special promotional offer, or that is was for three months only. Did anyone know is September that the single off peak fares would be going up again, disproportionately, in January?

But before I agree with you, Bignosemac, in you comment "Shame on you, FGW", can I ask if anyone here was aware / knew in September that it was just a three month special?  Can youi point us to an old link that says so?

[grahame]

I've just moved this comment from ChrisB from the thread on the Cotswold Board ...

And it's only singles that have risen that much....

But 'Promotional' fares - my foot! I shall have words.....

Thanks, Chris ... it's not just me and Bignosemac that thought they were regular fares not limited time specials then?

[grahame]

^Our average price rise is 2.47 per cent and the vast majority of our customers actually will see a decrease,^ said Dan Panes, a spokesman for the train company. ^The 15 per cent price rise is not a completely accurate representation. The rise is on promotional tickets.^

Just doing a few more sums on this as I tidy up the thread 

The rise from 25.50 to 29.50 quoted is a rise in actual terms of 15.68%, so in real terms (cost of living index gone down by 1.4%) it's a rise on this particular fare of 17.08%.

I also note that an average price rise of 2.47% in actual terms is a rise of 3.87% in real terms, when the rises in real terms is being (!) supposedly kept down to 1%.

If the "vast majority" of customers are seeing a decrease, then was it really worth putting such a huge increase on to the fares bought by what must be a very small minority and scoring what looks a bit like a publicity own goal?

[Btline]

What I find amazing about this is that when FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s new fares started, in September, almost everyone on this board was praising them - esp the new singles! Now take a look.

I think what FGW have done, with the raising of Off Peak Returns by 20%, Advances by 10% and now Off Peak Singles by 15% is a disgrace.

I am glad the papers are picking up on the story, FGW deserve as much bad press as possible. They should be ashamed of themselves. I though Off Peak Cardiff trains were running empty. In the middle of a recession, I can't see how raising Off Peak and Advance fares will get more bums on seats.

[JayMac]

I have sent an email to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Service asking them to clear up what appears to be contradictory information coming from FGW if the 'spokesman' in the Worcester News story was quoted accurately. I also asked for a fuller expanation of the single fares price rise if there is no evidence that the fares introduced in September were a special offer or promotion.

I'll post the reply when I get it.

[devon_metro]

What I find amazing about this is that when FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s new fares started, in September, almost everyone on this board was praising them - esp the new singles! Now take a look.

I think what FGW have done, with the raising of Off Peak Returns by 20%, Advances by 10% and now Off Peak Singles by 15% is a disgrace.

I am glad the papers are picking up on the story, FGW deserve as much bad press as possible. They should be ashamed of themselves. I though Off Peak Cardiff trains were running empty. In the middle of a recession, I can't see how raising Off Peak and Advance fares will get more bums on seats.

Goodness me. Its hardly the end of the world.

If I want to travel to Paddington and never return its still going to cost me far less than it did 12 months ago!

[JayMac]

But it won't cost you less than it did 3 months ago, and that is, I believe, the main issue.

[Timmer]

But it won't cost you less than it did 3 months ago, and that is, I believe, the main issue.

It is the main issue IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion). IF FGW^▸ (First Great Western) made a mistake by under pricing these fares, I feel its a bit unfair to punish those who are using these tickests by putting them up by 15%. Fine put them up but do it in stages rather than such a large increase all in one go. Can we be sure they won't go up by a futher 15% in the next round of fares rises?

[JayMac]

I have sent an email to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Service asking them to clear up what appears to be contradictory information coming from FGW if the 'spokesman' in the Worcester News story was quoted accurately. I also asked for a fuller expanation of the single fares price rise if there is no evidence that the fares introduced in September were a special offer or promotion.

I'll post the reply when I get it.

Reply just in. (Only 19 days after the initial e-mail was sent. Thanking me for my e-mail of 7th Jan when I sent it on the 4th. No 'initial response' within 5 working days either)

Dear Mr ******
 
Thank you for your email of 7 January. You are right to note that we have made further changes to the cost of Off Peak and Super Off Peak Single fares.

Traditionally, single fares have always been around 50p to ^1 cheaper than the equivalent return ticket. In September we halved the price of these fares to encourage customers to mix and match between Off Peak and Super Off Peak tickets, so they buy the cheapest possible ticket for their journey. For example, before September, a customer wanting to get into London at 0900 (peak) but returning early afternoon (off-peak) would have to buy a peak ticket for the whole of his journey. Our September changes made it much more cost effective for customers to buy two single tickets - a peak ticket for the morning outward journey and an off peak for the return - and make significant savings.
 
We were the first Train Operating Company to do so. The changes were'nt promotional fares, but they were a trial designed to make our quieter services during the day more attractive to custoemrs than busier peak services.
 
It is unfortunate that the article in the Worcester News did not make this distinction. It was not our intention to misled indeed we are always very careful to be as honest as we can. The article should therefore have stressed that the reduce fare was a trial and not a promotion.
 
The tickets did prove to be uneconomic and the fares needed to rise. We kept them as low as possible and not only do they remain 42% lower than their equivalent pre-September 2009 prices, they are also 42% cheaper than similar fares on all other train operating companies. We remain the only Train Operating Company to reduce the price of the Off Peak and Super Off Peak Singles. Even with the recent increase they do therefore remain excellent value for money.

Generally we have kept all our fare changes to a minimum with a 0.97% average increase. This is the smallest rise since the start of our franchise and many fares such as Standard Class season tickets actually fell in price. I understand that this is cold comfort given the increase in the Off Peak and Super Off Peak singles fares but I set it out to demonstrate that we balanced out the changes.
 
It is also worth bearing in mind that we offer 500,000 seats at vastly reduced prices as Advanced Purchase tickets on quieter trains. We are now introducing a number of new products and promotions designed to encourage more customers to use these services and you may find that you can reduce the price of your journey if you use these fares.

Tickets can be purchased through our website on www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk and full details of fares available on specific services is shown there. Our customer services team on 08457 000 125 will also be happy to discuss ticket options with you.
 
Thank you again for contacting us.
 
Yours sincerely
 
**** *****
Customer Services

[Timmer]

Thanks for posting your reply from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bignosemac which I thought was a good response from FGW explaining that the fares were on a trial basis. Why can't they just be upfront with passengers about these things in the first place rather than letting us and the media speculate as to why the fares went up by as much as they did. 

[JayMac]

I did note in my response to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s response (!?) that they were wrong to highlight their being the first TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to offer 'half the return price' Off-Peak singles. Virgin have offered 'half savers' (SVH) since well before Sept '09.

[Zoe]

I did note in my response to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s response (!?) that they were wrong to highlight their being the first TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to offer 'half the return price' Off-Peak singles. Virgin have offered 'half savers' (SVH) since well before Sept '09.

However from reading other posts in this forum I believe the above ticket was not valid separately but only as part of a return journey where the other half was booked in advance.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.  Well, at least FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are still offering Advance single tickets at half the price of Advance return tickets, even if they're not offering the 10% discount for buying them online any more.  

From the FGW website:

The benefits of Advance tickets include:

- Discounts of between 15% and 60%. Every month our maximum discount of 60% is offered on at least 90,000 seats!
- The booking deadline for all Advance tickets is 18.00 on the day before travel.
- If you only need a one way ticket you pay half the price of the return fare.
- You can ^mix and match^ Standard and First Class tickets for each direction of travel so you select the price you want and travel exactly when you want.
- The tickets come with an automatic seat reservation.

Please note: As of 2 January 2010 there is no longer an additional 10% discount on First Great Western Advance tickets when bought online.

[Mookiemoo]

I note though that anytime returns still have the out valid for five days - which is a good thing

I had thought it would disappear this Jan but its still there - mean I CAN buy my ticket for tomorrow the night before and then if I decide to work from home the ticket is still valid the next day - at least once in five days I will travel!

[super tm]

I did note in my response to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s response (!?) that they were wrong to highlight their being the first TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to offer 'half the return price' Off-Peak singles. Virgin have offered 'half savers' (SVH) since well before Sept '09.

Yes but theirs have to be purchased as part of a return journey and can only be bought on line