Reply to: Train tickets

[centurian]

This is nothing new and has been going on for yonks.

Basically the company wants to charge as much as it feels it can get away with and the prices for each of the areas reflect what customers are prepared to pay for that particular journey.

Seemingly no-one wants to go from Leicester --> Market H, hence fares between those stations are cheap. But loads want to do the Leicester --> London, so they jack up that price.

The ticket office is legally obliged to sell you with what you ask for - even if it's a dozen tickets for a single train journey. However, they are under no obligation to point out to you that there is a cheaper alternative (in fact they would probably be sacked if they did).

The only caveat is the train that you take must stop at Market H in both directions. If it doesn't, you can be done for travelling without a ticket between the stops than span Market H. If all trains stop at Market H, you can't lose.

There are all sorts of other quirks that train companies don't want people to know about.

[Sysman]

Possibly.

Some might say that it depends on the carbon footprint though.

I don't know enough data to make a definitive judgement however.

Would they give you some sort of carbon credit in return for the £601 extra?

Nope, didn't think so.

There's also the question of billable hours. How long does the train take?

[Board Game Geek]

Cliphead wrote : Aberdeen to Exeter by air (Flybe) £145 return including taxes.

No contest

Possibly.

Some might say that it depends on the carbon footprint though.

I don't know enough data to make a definitive judgement however.

[Cliphead]

Out of interest, I checked the Aberdeen > Exeter return 1st class price, and it comes in at £746, which seems a little on the high side.

(Second class at £230 is a lot more reasonable however)

Aberdeen to Exeter by air (Flybe) £145 return including taxes.

No contest

[Board Game Geek]

Out of interest, I checked the Aberdeen > Exeter return 1st class price, and it comes in at £746, which seems a little on the high side.

(Second class at £230 is a lot more reasonable however)

[Sysman]

Used to be that the 7am train from Kings Cross to Newcastle was more expensive than going to Edinburgh on the same train. But if you were caught getting of the train at Newcastle, with an Edinburgh ticket, they'd do you for evasion.

Strange country.

Strange indeed. In my student days you could break your journey wherever you wanted to, which was extremely handy for doing some sightseeing on the way.

I suppose the new system is a post-privatisation thing.

Mind you, back in the 1990s when I was travelling to Croydon, you could get a half price ticket for the 5 am train from Leeds*, returning on Friday on the Pullman service (with a seat reservation included) from Kings Cross, as long as you bought the ticket before 2 pm on a Sunday.

Ask at the Croydon end and all you got was a blank stare.

* the offer was only valid for the 5 am train.

[RichardCranium]

Again, no. My position is that you pay to be allowed to get off the bus.

Try that in London and it'll cost you a £10 fine.

The payment is for the 'right to travel' IIRC.

[thunderlizard]

On that basis, could I therefore get on at Point A, and do a complete circuit and get off at point A again and not pay anything ?

Since the get off point is the same, would there be any cost ?

Again, no. My position is that you pay to be allowed to get off the bus.
If you don't get on the bus, there's no charge because you don't have to get off it.
If you get on at A, then it goes all through town, then you get off at A again, then you should have to pay.
Likewise if you get on at A, then the bus shuts the doors and remains stationary for 10 minutes, then opens them again and you get off, you should also have to pay.

[RichardCranium]

hear

Very wrong!

Damn! You spotted that just before I did.

Well, it answers my question. I was wrong!

[oracleslave]

If a man says something in the forest, and there's no woman there to here him, is he still wrong?

hear

Very wrong!

[NotAllThere]

Used to be that the 7am train from Kings Cross to Newcastle was more expensive than going to Edinburgh on the same train. But if you were caught getting of the train at Newcastle, with an Edinburgh ticket, they'd do you for evasion.

Strange country.

[Pogle]

If a man says something in the forest, and there's no woman there to here him, is he still wrong?

HELL yes!

[DiscoStu]

If a man says something in the forest, and there's no woman there to here him, is he still wrong?

Undoubtedly, yes.

[RichardCranium]

If a tree falls in the woods does anyone hear it scream?

If a man says something in the forest, and there's no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?

[tino]

Do you book in advance, and get two single tickets?
I always do and it can be considerably cheaper than getting an open 1st class return.

I structure my working week so I get in late on Monday and leave at 12 on Friday, that way I'm only paying for one peak time journey. I usually get my return travel from Manchester to London 1st class for around £197

I am now a member of the Virgin Traveller club which entitles me to first class travel for myself and a friend every weekend. So every weekend they pay for me to go home to Manchester and return to London on the Monday - for nought

£200 on a bloody train??