Peak rail times 'are confusing', Which? suggests

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Train companies have been accused of confusing passengers by having vastly different rules on what constitutes peak-time travel.

Which? magazine said operators were not providing a consistent message.

Some such as East Coast trains began evening peak services in the afternoon while others had no restrictions.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said most people were able to buy the right ticket and get on the right train without any problems.

The magazine said the East Coast train company and West Coast Main Line operator Virgin Trains began their evening peak in the mid-afternoon. In the case of East Coast, that means the evening peak period last four hours. But Chiltern Railways and Merseyrail had no specific evening peak times.

Which? said: "You'd be forgiven for not knowing if you're coming or going, yet Atoc claims 'four out of five passengers are happy with their journey'."

The magazine said the fact that different tickets had different restrictions was also confusing.

For example people who bought super off-peak tickets were subject to more restrictions than normal off-peak tickets.

Other restrictions vary according to destinations and the train company that is offering the service.

For example, East Coast morning peak services to London end at 10.05 unless commuters have bought a first class ticket, are travelling using an off-peak day return ticket or travel card or have a super off-peak ticket. But Merseyrail and train company Northern Rail tend to have a set morning peak time - ending at 0930.

Which? also urged commuters to think carefully about where they begin their journey as that also can affect the amount they will pay for their ticket.

BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said some train companies have recently been expanding the peak times, squeezing off-peak travellers into smaller time slots. One argument is that this manages demand by encouraging people off crowded services onto less busy trains. Of course it is also a way to make more money, he said. By redesignating trains as "peak", this allows train companies to increase fares without needing permission from the regulator.

An Atoc spokesman said: "Demand differs greatly at different times in different parts of the country, so it's not surprising that peak times vary. Millions of people travel on the railways every week and the overwhelming majority buy the right ticket and get on the right train with no problem whatsoever."

[Brucey]

I agree with this.

My suggestion is that the tickets should be redesigned to fit more information on them.  Instead of stupid things like "Validity See Restrictions" or "Validity As Advertised" which mean nothing to anyone, put something along the lines of "Valid after 9am, break of journey allowed on return only".  Walk-up tickets have an empty orange band at the top where all this information could be printed.

[JayMac]

We see again ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) trotting out the line that 'four out of five passengers are happy with their journey'.

Most businesses would be horrified if 20% of their customers were unhappy, but ATOC seem to wear it as a badge of honour!

[ChrisB]

I've no problem with the concept of Peak, off-peak and Super off-peak and Advance.

But the rules and timing restrioctions have to match country-wide. Yes, I realise London peak is generally later than elsewhere, but even here TfL^» (Transport for London - about) is 0930 while NR^» (Network Rail - home page) is generally 1000.

Agree a standard and stick to it. I understand that one timing point is already stipulated - Peak must finish at 1900.

[Tim]

Absolutely,  We need nationwide standard peaks.  Any difference that this causes in demand into different cities can be corrected by differential availability of Advances. 

[eightf48544]

Agree with Tim in general terms that if there are to be peak times they should be standard.

However, my own view, based on selling Off Peak tickets to Victoria in the 60s, from stations around Croydon  and trying to explain the restrictions.  is that they are more trouble than they are worth and that's when booking offices were manned and most station had manned barriers and staff checking tickets.

Somewhere associated with the Which report there is a pie chart showing various peaks for different cities and TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) from which I noted Aberdeen has a 30 minute peak in the evening.

I assumme it must only apply to Southbound trains as they are roughly every half hour. Trains to Inverness  are at 15:25, 17:18, 18:20, 20,07 & 21:55. There is a short working at 17:56.

[Timmer]

We see again ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) trotting out the line that 'four out of five passengers are happy with their journey'.

Most businesses would be horrified if 20% of their customers were unhappy, but ATOC seem to wear it as a badge of honour!

Yes 4 out 5 was mentioned by an ATOC spokesman this morning.

[smokey]

Absolutely,  We need nationwide standard peaks.  Any difference that this causes in demand into different cities can be corrected by differential availability of Advances. 

Agreed we need National standards of peak and off peak travel times, I suggest the OFF Peak standard set by The Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway Company, who abolished Peak Fares. 

In truth Wrexham & Shropshire abolished OFF Peak fares as there fares are valid at peak times.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Have just bought a Worcester - Fareham return for tomorrow. Travelling on the 06:45 from Shrub Hill, I qualify for an off-peak ticket. As it says in the exam questions, Discuss.

[ChrisB]

Only via 'NOT LONDON'......discuss further!

[super tm]

Have just bought a Worcester - Fareham return for tomorrow. Travelling on the 06:45 from Shrub Hill, I qualify for an off-peak ticket. As it says in the exam questions, Discuss.

Club 55 ?

[Brucey]

Only via 'NOT LONDON'......discuss further!

Or more specifically 'SALISBURY', which is valid from Shrub Hill after 0640.

[JayMac]

Indeed. VERY specifically. There is no NOT LONDON fare on that flow.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Or more specifically 'SALISBURY', which is valid from Shrub Hill after 0640.

As Brucey, so rightly says, the peak finishes at 06:40 at Shrub Hill. The connection still gets me into Bristol for 08:08, which I'd've described as being in the peak.

[ChrisB]

but does the fare prohibit break of journey there?