First ScotRail Annual

[MadCommuter]

I currently buy monthly season tickets between HNW and GLC, but in an effort to avoid, or at least delay, the 2011 fares increase, I'm considering buying an annual season ticket late December this year. Presumably this would be at 2010 prices?

 

[wintonian]

Yes as long as bought before the 2nd? January.

 

[MadCommuter]

Brilliant, thanks for the confirmation. Let's hope for some negative RPI at the crucial month next year

 

[wintonian]

I think some Revenue Protection Inspectors are like that all the time.

 

[Track Basher]

Also needs to start before 02 Jan 11

 

[yorkie]

I currently buy monthly season tickets between HNW and GLC, but in an effort to avoid, or at least delay, the 2011 fares increase, I'm considering buying an annual season ticket late December this year. Presumably this would be at 2010 prices?

Yes, this year it is well worth doing that.

Depending on the amount of annual leave you get, and when you take it, monthly (+ a few days) tickets can be cheaper than annuals, but I doubt it this year.

Careful planning of monthlies to last typically 5 weeks, sometimes more to make them expire the day before a Bank Holiday weekend (especially important over Easter and also the end of April/start of May this year!) and the day before going on annual leave, can provide savings as large as an annual season (sometimes larger, depending on annual leave etc).

However given the opportunity to get 2011 travel at 2010 prices, at a time when poor anti-rail decisions have been made regarding unfair fare increases, an annual seems the best bet this year (and probably for the next few years).

 

[MikeWh]

Careful planning of monthlies to last typically 5 weeks, sometimes more to make them expire the day before a Bank Holiday weekend (especially important over Easter and also the end of April/start of May this year!) and the day before going on annual leave, can provide savings as large as an annual season (sometimes larger, depending on annual leave etc).

With a late Easter in 2011 it may well be beneficial to end a season on Maundy Thursday and use dailies for the 3 days between Easter and the Wedding (or get in quick with the annual leave request), starting the next monthly+abit on the Tuesday after the first May bank holiday.

 

[yorkie]

With a late Easter in 2011 it may well be beneficial to end a season on Maundy Thursday and use dailies for the 3 days between Easter and the Wedding (or get in quick with the annual leave request), starting the next monthly+abit on the Tuesday after the first May bank holiday.

Yes, that's true. (I would add be very quick with the annual leave request ) although for some longer journeys a weekly season can be cheaper than 3 daily tickets.

In the OP's case it's £3.60 cheaper to get 3 x SDS rather than 1 x 7 Day Season, but if a journey to Glasgow is done for leisure on any other day within a 7 day period the 7 day season is better value. In contrast, for a journey like Crewe to London, it is cheaper to get a 7 day season than TWO daily returns, let alone three!

 

[MadCommuter]

Thanks for all your replies.

The add-on days is something I read about on here a few weeks ago and I would have used this over the last few years, had I been aware of it. I'm sure the vast majority of season ticket holders know nothing of this facility.

However, once I get onto my annual, then its something I won't need to bother about. My only concern is losing the annual, but I've never lost a monthly (famous last words...) and I've heard that FSR issue up to one replacement per year, for an admin charge.

 

[yorkie]

The add-on days is something I read about on here a few weeks ago and I would have used this over the last few years, had I been aware of it. I'm sure the vast majority of season ticket holders know nothing of this facility.

You mean you weren't made aware that a season ticket can be issued for ANY period from 1 month to 12 months? If so, that's really poor customer service from FSR.

 

[MadCommuter]

You mean you weren't made aware that a season ticket can be issued for ANY period from 1 month to 12 months? If so, that's really poor customer service from FSR.

This again is news to me. I just thought the options were 7 days, a month or a year. That's certainly how their website reads.

 

[me123]

You mean you weren't made aware that a season ticket can be issued for ANY period from 1 month to 12 months? If so, that's really poor customer service from FSR.

I was once refused to buy a ticket for 2 months and 14 days (or something like that) because the guy only thought that you could buy tickets for a month or 3 months Went to the station down the road (thankfully , not too far away in my case) and bought one with no problem. He possibly made the same mistake that MadCommuter made, but there's really no excuse for such a minor error on such a significant commuter line.

The Scotrail staff in the old SPT area are hit and miss. Most of them know all they need to know, and a bit more to boot; but a lot seem to only know how to issue "a return to Glasgow".

MadCommuter, the season ticket calculator is a handy tool.

Having a longer period season ticket is excellent. Even if it's not necessarily providing a fantastic saving for your purposes, having an annual ticket is extremely handy in that you only have to buy a ticket once a year and can pop in and out of Glasgow as often as you like for leisure purposes (in addition to your commuting), effectively for free. It's a huge initial cost (in your case, £744 pa)and I don't think Scotrail have a Direct Debit option at the moment, like some TOCs do. I think that puts a lot of people off.

 

[CarterUSM]

Interestingly, advance tickets and reservations are only supposed to be availiable from ScotRail manned stations with a Station grade "C" member of staff due to some historic terms and conditions of their job role. It was always ignored by grade "B" staff but is becoming less so. I've heard of passengers going to their local station to book advance tickets and being told to go to Central or Motherwell and the like. I know it is a little off topic but thought it may be of interest to some on here. It might also partly explain the "return to Glasgow" brigade!

 

[MadCommuter]

I was once refused to buy a ticket for 2 months and 14 days (or something like that) because the guy only thought that you could buy tickets for a month or 3 months Went to the station down the road (thankfully , not too far away in my case) and bought one with no problem. He possibly made the same mistake that MadCommuter made, but there's really no excuse for such a minor error on such a significant commuter line.

The Scotrail staff in the old SPT area are hit and miss. Most of them know all they need to know, and a bit more to boot; but a lot seem to only know how to issue "a return to Glasgow".

MadCommuter, the season ticket calculator is a handy tool.

Having a longer period season ticket is excellent. Even if it's not necessarily providing a fantastic saving for your purposes, having an annual ticket is extremely handy in that you only have to buy a ticket once a year and can pop in and out of Glasgow as often as you like for leisure purposes (in addition to your commuting), effectively for free. It's a huge initial cost (in your case, £744 pa)and I don't think Scotrail have a Direct Debit option at the moment, like some TOCs do. I think that puts a lot of people off.

Thanks for the calculator link, I'll have a play with that at lunchtime. Just to be crystal, I haven't been refused a season ticket of non-standard length, I just didn't know it was an option.

Yes, the benefits of an annual are far reaching, and I have recently applied for a 0% credit card for 12 months, allowing me to spread the cost of it. On top of that I got £45 cashback, just for applying for it too. Quids in...

 

[MadCommuter]

I purchased my yearly last week, but 2 days afterwards, I noticed on the scotrail website that they are giving season ticket holders an extra 6 days due to the weather disruption. As I now have my ticket and have not benefited from the gesture, where do I stand, I feel as though I have been penalised.

 

[CarterUSM]

Speak to customer services , i'd be surprised if they wouldn't do anything for you.

 

[MadCommuter]

Speak to customer services , i'd be surprised if they wouldn't do anything for you.

I had a good result on this. £5 rail voucher to compensate for the length of time taken to reply plus a £42.50 rail voucher. I take all my moans back, ScotRail!

 

[me123]

Result!

In the future, I know some people save up the money once a month (ie, via a savings account or even just a piggy-bank) to make sure that they're got the money when it needs renewed and they're only putting a small amount aside each month (in your case, £62 not including any rises next year). It's a shame that Scotrail haven't yet got a direct debit option set up, as this would be a fantastic boost. I'm sure it would get more people buying annual season tickets than is currently the case. Indeed, Passenger Focus research shows that 14% of commuters "haven't got the money" to buy a ticket in advance.[1]

[1]http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=2027

 

[MadCommuter]

Result!

In the future, I know some people save up the money once a month (ie, via a savings account or even just a piggy-bank) to make sure that they're got the money when it needs renewed and they're only putting a small amount aside each month (in your case, £62 not including any rises next year). It's a shame that Scotrail haven't yet got a direct debit option set up, as this would be a fantastic boost. I'm sure it would get more people buying annual season tickets than is currently the case. Indeed, Passenger Focus research shows that 14% of commuters "haven't got the money" to buy a ticket in advance.[1]

[1]http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=2027

Yes, I'd agree with that. I planned ahead and got a 0% credit card for 12 months so I am saving the money, earning some interest on it, and will clear the balance when the rate goes up. Obv I'm paying my minimum payments too. I know that this isn't an otion for everyone though.

 

[CarterUSM]

I had a good result on this. £5 rail voucher to compensate for the length of time taken to reply plus a £42.50 rail voucher. I take all my moans back, ScotRail!

Good stuff, it took a while, but satisfactory all the same.

 

[me123]

Yes, I'd agree with that. I planned ahead and got a 0% credit card for 12 months so I am saving the money, earning some interest on it, and will clear the balance when the rate goes up. Obv I'm paying my minimum payments too. I know that this isn't an otion for everyone though.

You're lucky enough to get one. But some people may not qualify for one. And, of course, at the end of the year it won't be 0% interest so unless you can get another 0% credit card that option's exhausted.

Allowing payment by DD should be a clause for the next franchise. It brings down the cost of travel to commuters, and means that people aren't feeling "forced" to use a credit card (and deal with all the hassle that comes along with that if you don't/can't keep up with your monthly payments). Indeed, I would say that this should apply throughout the network.

 

[MadCommuter]

Yes, I agree with you. A DD otion would be much better, but how does this work if the DD is cancelled. How do the TOCs get their money?

 

[me123]

Lots of other firms who deal with DDs run the same risk. At the end of the day, it's up to you to ensure that you continue paying Scotrail, and of course they'll have some details and can track you down if you cancel the Direct Debit.

It's worth noting that some TOCs already do this, and seem to be successful.

 

[route:oxford]

Which TOCs offer the DD facility?

Any reason why someone couldn't buy a Scottish season ticket when passing through (say) London using DD?

 

[button_boxer]

Which TOCs offer the DD facility?

Any reason why someone couldn't buy a Scottish season ticket when passing through (say) London using DD?

Trouble is if they then needed to get the ticket reissued or changed for any reason (lost/stolen, stopped working the barriers at Edinburgh, whatever) then they'd need to go back to the issuing station to do so...

 

[MadCommuter]

An employer's salary sacrifice scheme would be even better.

 

[CarterUSM]

An employer's salary sacrifice scheme would be even better.

Yes, that is what I was thinking. It is inexpensive to the employer and you don't really miss it at source. A note to the staff suggestion scheme perhaps?

 

[me123]

Which TOCs offer the DD facility?

National Rail Enquiries are being deliberately vague about it, and merely tell us that "some companies" do.

Some train companies may also allow you to spread the cost of the season ticket by paying with Direct Debit – please ask when purchasing for more information.

I presume it's more likely to be some in the South East of England (where fares are higher and there's therefore more likely to be a demand for such a service).

 

[MadCommuter]

Yes, that is what I was thinking. It is inexpensive to the employer and you don't really miss it at source. A note to the staff suggestion scheme perhaps?

'Currently being considered' is all I get! In other words, dream on...!