1970s ticket confusion

[nlogax]

A fine segment from Thames TV's Money Go Round in 1976 demonstrating the confusion of BR's ticketing policy.

Amazing window into the past - so much has obviously changed, yet so much hasn't!

 

[SWTCommuter]

That looks pretty straightforward compared to today. I'm sure a ticketing expert could do a better job of this, but here are some of those fares adjusted for inflation to 2018 prices using the BoE inflation calulator. The current fares for the roughly equivalent 2019 tickets are in brackets

1st single £22 = £155.55 [£252]
1st return £42 = £296.67 [£504]

2nd single £15 = £106.06 [£186.50]
2nd return £28 = £197.98 [£373]

2nd economy return £15 = £106.06 [£147]

Reduced awayday £9 = £63.64

 

[AY1975]

The BR marketing manager in that programme says BR doesn't want people to buy two Awayday returns, one for each leg of the journey, and throw away the return half, but I'd have thought it would be difficult or impossible to stop people from doing that.

In fact, I think my gran did just that in 1980 when I was 5 and my mum and I went with her from London to Edinburgh to visit a distant relative who she hadn't seen since she was 17.

In those days (and I think up until rail privatisation) BR used to offer senior citizens special cheap fares every November. I seem to recall that my gran made use of that offer and bought two £5 Awayday returns (one for each leg of the journey).

There's also one person on that clip who is using a Kellogg's special offer ticket - I think they were still around in the early '80s. Persil did a similar offer around that time, I think.

 

[WesternLancer]

A fine segment from Thames TV's Money Go Round in 1976 demonstrating the confusion of BR's ticketing policy.

Amazing window into the past - so much has obviously changed, yet so much hasn't!

great find - that feature needs posting every time we get a 'confusing fares / privatisation story'

 

[nlogax]

great find - that feature needs posting every time we get a 'confusing fares / privatisation story'

I've watched it a couple of times..I was about 2 years old when this originally aired so it's fascinating to look back at a time of BR's history when their passenger numbers were approaching an all-time low. This sort of confusion could hardly have helped its situation.

Also as with watching any 1970s tv on YouTube I get itchy just thinking about the square hectares of polyester on display.

 

[WesternLancer]

I've watched it a couple of times..I was about 2 years old when this originally aired so it's fascinating to look back at a time of BR's history when their passenger numbers were approaching an all-time low. This sort of confusion could hardly have helped its situation.

Also as with watching any 1970s tv on YouTube I get itchy just thinking about the square hectares of polyester on display.

Yes, polyester fire risks were big in the 70s...

but yes, of course it's a pre computer demand management technique just like today really - what's odd is to wonder why people don't expect more of that and why the it has become accepted on airlines. I suppose it's a bit like the idea that if you buy a shirt at a shop it's the same price whatever day you go to buy it (apart from in a sale of course), or some such logic.

maybe also because no history of road price tolling in UK again no reason to charge different prices to use roads at different times - instead we have what someone once described as a 'soviet' system - ie you pay flat rate charges (tax, petrol, insurance, car purchase etc) and just queue up to use the road whenever you like<>maybe it is this that makes people think public transport fares should be all flat rate?
Maybe they should - but that brings with it a wealth of other issues....

 

[nlogax]

maybe also because no history of road price tolling in UK again no reason to charge different prices to use roads at different times - instead we have what someone once described as a 'soviet' system - ie you pay flat rate charges (tax, petrol, insurance, car purchase etc) and just queue up to use the road whenever you like

There are tiny examples dotted around - Dartford river crossing being one..if you really need to get across the Thames for free then drive between 10pm and 6am. Though I'm sure no-one is really doing that, Blackwall is free and just 30 mins up the river after all.

It does feel like a long-assed journey from the 1970s and the BR examples above, to now where the RDG / TOCs are still confusing passengers with a variety of fares. Flat rates obviously don't work for the railways and nor should they but it feels like the industry still has a considerable way to go and will require government legislation to make it happen.

Anyway, I'm straying dangerously into a Fares Advice & Policy rant. So.. how about all that polyester and that shiny Mk2 stock?!

 

[WesternLancer]

There are tiny examples dotted around - Dartford river crossing being one..if you really need to get across the Thames for free then drive between 10pm and 6am. Though I'm sure no-one is really doing that, Blackwall is free and just 30 mins up the river after all.

It does feel like a long-assed journey from the 1970s and the BR examples above, to now where the RDG / TOCs are still confusing passengers with a variety of fares. Flat rates obviously don't work for the railways and nor should they but it feels like the industry still has a considerable way to go and will require government legislation to make it happen.

Anyway, I'm straying dangerously into a Fares Advice & Policy rant. So.. how about all that polyester and that shiny Mk2 stock?!

was it MK2? I guess most was, but I thought an interior might have been Mk3 - tho probably too early for that.

I took a wrong turn once after exiting M25 to avoid bridge congestion and ended up taking the Woolwich ferry - which was enjoyable. Never realised it was a key link in the north / south circular route till I looked at the map - access rationed by queue for boat!!!

 

[Sprinter107]

Youre correct. It is mark 3 stock.

was it MK2? I guess most was, but I thought an interior might have been Mk3 - tho probably too early for that.

I took a wrong turn once after exiting M25 to avoid bridge congestion and ended up taking the Woolwich ferry - which was enjoyable. Never realised it was a key link in the north / south circular route till I looked at the map - access rationed by queue for boat!!!

 

[nlogax]

Interiors were Mk3 but initial shots of rake leaving Euston definitely had three Mk2s towards the rear.