Loophole tickets and fares freeze

[cjohnson]

(Names of the stations kept anonymous for obvious reasons). On a line I use regularly there are consecutive stations A-B-C. The Anytime Day Single for A-C is c.20% cheaper than the Anytime Day Single for A-B, thus giving an easy opportunity to save money on journeys A-B by stopping short. I believe both fares are 'regulated' and thus subject to the current fares freeze.

If this 'loophole' came to the attention of TOC pricing managers, would they actually be able to amend those fares given the freeze? Or is there a provision somewhere in those fares freeze rules that allows such fares to be amended in case of obvious error etc.?

 

[Watershed]

Anytime Day Singles aren't regulated. For short distance journeys it is generally only Anytime Day Returns and season tickets that are regulated.

The concept of a 'regulated' fare doesn't have much meaning anyway when the TOCs are all under government control. I doubt that the DfT would withhold permission for a perceived anomalous fare to be fixed.

 

[MrJeeves]

If this 'loophole' came to the attention of TOC pricing managers, would they actually be able to amend those fares given the freeze? Or is there a provision somewhere in those fares freeze rules that allows such fares to be amended in case of obvious error etc.?

I have seen communications between TOC pricing managers and DfT where they have had to request permission to correct anomalies (mistakes) due to the fares freeze.

I also doubt the DfT would refuse to permit a TOC to correct a clear error, or closing an obvious loophole.

 

[MikeWh]

I think it has to be a big error to be allowed to be changed mid freeze. I'm aware of some odd pre-Oval fares/caps which aren't allowed to be touched. However, the Oval fares for via Windsor which allowed ridiculously cheap travel via Paddington/Waterloo did get fixed.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Fares can be changed at any time - even if they are protected or regulated, however, in some cases, it requires DfT (or some other local body, e.g. TfW, Merseytravel etc) consent, (which is not always given or is conditional).

However, changing fares outside a fares setting round, whether permission is required or not, (i.e. immediately implement rather than wait until the next fares round) can become expensive both in terms of actual cost and administrative effort. If the fare is regulated, it may take as long as the next fares round for the DfT consent to be received anyway.

Unless a fare is bleeding revenue -or has a likelihood of going viral - most operators will simply make the revision and set it to apply from the next round, rather than immediately.

Same applies to changing restriction codes etc.

You can neuter some anomalous fares by leaving the £ value alone and adjusting the routeing permissions instead, which is far faster and less laborious but can make things perversely worse.

Rangers/Rovers are priced differently and are not regulated and follow a different process - in theory they can be done quite quickly and fairly easily, if it's just a price adjustment.

 

[lowe1409]

(Names of the stations kept anonymous for obvious reasons). On a line I use regularly there are consecutive stations A-B-C. The Anytime Day Single for A-C is c.20% cheaper than the Anytime Day Single for A-B, thus giving an easy opportunity to save money on journeys A-B by stopping short. I believe both fares are 'regulated' and thus subject to the current fares freeze.

If this 'loophole' came to the attention of TOC pricing managers, would they actually be able to amend those fares given the freeze? Or is there a provision somewhere in those fares freeze rules that allows such fares to be amended in case of obvious error etc.?

I know a situation similar near me. I'm inclined to think, especially given the journey, a premium is being charged from A-B, aimed at tourists/leisure travellers who'd be less inclined to realise. especially given any destination beyond B is in fact cheaper as long as you don't leave the county.