Biggest fare increase this time ? Gobowen to Birmingham New St.

[0B00]

Whilst not sure of the exact fare, I recall the CDR from Gobowen to Birmingham New Street was around £13.40 before this last increase. I see it is now £18.50.

I am guessing this is a deliberate attempt to remove the anomaly that Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street was actually more - it now isn't.

Is this the largest increase in the UK this time ?

 

[supervalkoinen]

Whilst not sure of the exact fare, I recall the CDR from Gobowen to Birmingham New Street was around £13.40 before this last increase. I see it is now £18.50.

I am guessing this is a deliberate attempt to remove the anomaly that Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street was actually more - it now isn't.

Is this the largest increase in the UK this time ?

Am I right in thinking that the CDR, Chester-Birmingham route Shrewsbury has disappeared?

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=CTR&dest=0418

 

[0B00]

Looks that way as NRES only offering the £33.90 SSR. There is a very cheap alternative that I won't post on here for that journey though - PM me if you would like to know.

 

[supervalkoinen]

Looks that way as NRES only offering the £33.90 SSR. There is a very cheap alternative that I won't post on here for that journey though - PM me if you would like to know.

Thanks - I am aware of alternatives.

 

[kieron]

Am I right in thinking that the CDR, Chester-Birmingham route Shrewsbury has disappeared?

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=CTR&dest=0418

Yes, and so has the small group day ticket. The only regulated fares are the Any Permitted SVR and season, though.

 

[ashworth]

Am I right in thinking that the CDR, Chester-Birmingham route Shrewsbury has disappeared?

I'm glad that I discovered that cheap fare when I was staying in Chester just before Christmas. It was a great value day out to Birmingham. There will be some very disappointed people who have used it regularly. Also it will be quite a shock for them when they find out about the huge fare increase the next time they set out to do that journey!

 

[yorkie]

Is this the largest increase in the UK this time ?

Possibly but it is not unprecedented.


https://twitter.com/RailFareWatch/status/816381627064426496

The rail industry - with @transportgovuk blessing - is waging an UNfair fares war against us!

Cost of a day return, departing after 0930 and returning around 1700 - Two case studies…

[B]York - Doncaster  [/B]   
Year    Price
2001    £5.00
2007    £9.70
2012    £16.20
2016    £19.40
Fare set by: Virgin Trains East Coast    
    
[B]Leamington - Birmingham  [/B]  
Year    Price
2007    £6.50
2012    £12.50
2016    £14.00
Fare set by: Arriva CrossCountry

Fare rise endorsed by: The DfT

I am reminded of the following Red Dwarf quote:

Cat: I know this game, it's called cat and mouse. And there's only one way to win, don't be the mouse.
Lister: What are you saying?
Cat: I'm saying the mouse never wins. Not unless you believe those lying cartoons.

The best way to avoid losing the battle is to attend a fares workshop, where we can share info (yes I've had pricing managers attend some, and I do welcome that, but then we change the focus of the workshops accordingly ) and don't post any useful anomalies anywhere or mention them to anyone who may inform pricing managers

Be careful when using anomalies; don't make it blatantly obvious you are not doing the journey stated on the ticket.

For example there are valid ways to do the above journeys cheaper, and totally legitimately, but if we advertise that fact, the cheaper fares will rise. Before anyone says "but they can't increase other train companies fares", some of them have ways to deal with that too. No fair fare is safe.

I wish we would get fair fares now, but the reality is we will get fewer fair fares in future (and in the case of Gobowen to Birmingham, The Future Is Now) as certain train companies seek to thwart those of us who do not pay over the odds for their overpriced service.

 

[route:oxford]

Be careful when using anomalies; don't make it blatantly obvious you are not doing the journey stated on the ticket.

Well... It's hard when you are using a feature, such as a slightly longer distance ticket offering the option of a period return that is cheaper than two singles, when you are embarking/disembarking at a station that serves an airport with your luggage.

Is it really so bad pointing out an interesting anomaly to a VTEC conductor when purchasing a ticket that will wholly completed on a Scotrail service?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Am I right in thinking that the CDR, Chester-Birmingham route Shrewsbury has disappeared?

And to think that CDR used to be valid via Stafford...
The fares pattern Chester-Birmingham is now totally different to that Chester-Manchester, where it used to be very similar.