Most of the intercity TOC websites will allow you to create a return journey and choose either a return ticket or 2 singles, whichever suits you most. A risk of the approach outlined in the speech is that the return leg (which is now flexible within 30 days for a standard off-peak ticket) may become "must travel on this day" - like to outward leg - lets hope not
Return journeys being what 99% of people make…..
As others have said, it may not become more expensive. But 99% of journeys are definitely not returns. There have been several occasions, and I'm sure for others, where I've only needed a single. And it was marginally cheaper than a return. bit of a rip off innit?
Are people really stupid enough believe that they’ll half the price of Single tickets and touch nothing else? Get real.
Perhaps but many of us travel on 2 single tickets now.
It’s a rip off because you get a deal if you are making a return journey? Most people when they travel somewhere need to get back……..
We’ve already had, and rightly dispensed with that on some TOC’s.
I think you’re reading a bit too much into things there
My view is that Project Oval should consider the morning peak threshold being moved to 0530, rather than 0630, outside Zone 6 because as you go further from London, the morning peak starts earlier.
You can ask a TVM too…
There’s a whole world beyond London…
Yep, thats certainly possible. Demand models work better that way. But I really hope not and there has been a huge amount of pushback to this in the past so I am not expecting it to happen here.
Not all of them for sure.
Is Burton's still going? If not can we nominate an alternative high street chain?
Interesting. My guess was that he was having a pop at the rail unions and saying that we need to bring down costs - both operations and projects
Precisely. It’s exactly the same as what’s always happened, just applied more intelligently, sensibly and fairly. The uproar is entirely unjustified.
To move people away from the "peak" train service I'd say, but other than that I agree.
Agreed, more companies are offering flexible working hours now so spreading people out would be better. Also helps deal with the first off peak train often being busier than the last peak.
Mine offers this flexible option and loads of people take advantage of it - it works really well for us.
That's exactly what happens now. I have never ever seen a GWR ticket at the advertised "from £x" except on trains at bizarre hours, like going to London at 830pm from Somerset.
The current situation would disprove that. Anytime’s are often absurdly priced, but undercut by advances which are more commonly used. The Anytime fare is then used in Newspaper articles to make the point that it’s cheaper to fly via another country than get the train domestically, despite the fact that barely anyone actually pays the full Anytime fare…
Agreed - In fact I would expect train companies to follow Ryanair's example and push their lowest advance fees as much as possible. Eurostar already does.
But that's my point! It doesn't matter if no actual passengers are paying them, headline-grabbing high fares drive potential passengers away from the railway.
