That article is absolutely rubbish.
But at the same time, the price of journeys just outside the rush hour are set to rise following a sweeping review of fare structure to be announced by Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary.
Is this true? or an assumption?
I doubt we will see a change to the structure, that would require a change in legislation, surely?
The changes will be triggered by a report into the rail industry by Sir Roy McNulty, the former head of the Civil Aviation Authority, which is due to be published tomorrow.
What changes "will" be triggered?
Sir Roy is expected to be fiercely critical of the current complex existing ticketing arrangements, which he believes fail to manage demand properly – especially on the fringes of the rush hour.
This is silly because
1) We have more Advance fares than ever, and this actually helps TOCs to manage demand
2) Many TOCs are managing "fringe" peak demand by having Super Off Peak, Off Peak and Anytime, and nothing stops more TOCs doing this!
3) Many TOCs have to offer cheap AP fares on peak fares because the Anytimes are so expensive (e.g. East Coast trains between 1820 and 1850) that the "peak" trains would have spare capacity otherwise!
Currently radically different fares charged can be charged for trains only five minutes apart.
can be, but don't have to be.
This is because of ticketing rules, dating back to the 1970s, which mean that peak hour travel is two and a half times dearer than those just outside the rush hour.
Gibber. Bull. Rubbish. Use whatever words you want. This is simply not true. The multiplier will vary depending on the TOC, and guess what? The TOC that sets the fare can choose! This guy clearly has a lot to learn about ticketing.
As a result the first and last “peak trains” have seats to spare, while the preceding and following services are bursting at the seams.
This can be true on certain routes, but some TOCs mitigate against this by offering cheap AP fares on trains that are near the end of the peak period. They can also have Off Peak and Super Off Peak so there isn't a huge gulf in fares.
“Rather than having fares rise or fall dramatically, we think the movements should be more subtle,” said a Whitehall source.
“This would discourage the situation where you can have an evening train packed to the rafters five minutes after another service had scores of empty seats.”
Ah, so you'll have more layers of Off Peak? What will they be called? Semi-Off Peak? Slightly Off Peak? Almost Anytime?
The proposed changes are intended to be “revenue neutral” with the amount raised from higher off peak fares being balanced by the reductions in the price of some rush hour tickets.
Really? I thought Government's plan was to increase the proportion paid for by fare payers. If they are denying that they are planning increases then either they have changed policy (unlikely) or are liars.
These changes are most likely to apply to fares charged to passengers who make occasional trips to and between major cities.
In other words not affecting Season ticket holders. Hardly surprising given that many of these are protected.
Other initiatives are being considered for commuters including the introduction of “smart season tickets” which, like the Oyster Card in London, would offer discounts for travelling outside the rush hour.
Some TOCs do this already (e.g. TPE Earlybird). They can't force other TOCs to do this, but it may be sensible to encourage them (how?)
Unlike current season tickets, passengers would not be charged for days in which they do not travel.
Eh? What do they mean by that? Season tickets are priced assuming passengers do not travel at weekends and if they do it's a bonus. If people get individual tickets they are already "not be charged for days in which they do not travel", so what do they propose that charges people who travel less frequently, less money, yet charge people who travel only "occasionally" more money?
Perhaps any old rubbish is being written to 'pad out' the article?
The review will also aim to simplify the current fare arrangements, which have left passengers baffled.
How? So it will be simpler, but with gradual increases (ie, more fare levels!) in fares at peak times? How on earth are the two statements compatible with each other?
Sir Roy, who found that the rail industry is up to 40 per cent more expensive to run than its continental counterparts, has called on train operators to find other sources of income to boost their revenue.
He should concentrate on getting NR to reduce it's costs!
He will call for the building of 10,000 new car parking spaces at stations which, Sir Roy estimates, could raise £38 million over the next five years.
That is about the only potentially sensible proposal I have read so far.
No worries..!
