Alnmouth - Durham First Single (historical)

[Mark_re]

Hi all, just reminiscing,

Many moons ago (1997 - 2003ish), I used to regularly do Durham to Alnmouth. I was a child back then and used to enjoy travelling in First for a tiny amount more (it used to be 5p premium over standard), which also entitled me to use the GNER First Class lounge in Newcastle! One of the ticket staff at Durham used to sell me those tickets with glee.

On the way back, Alnmouth ticket office could never repeat the same fare. They held on to one of those massive 'tabletop' ticket issuing machines longer than anywhere else I remember. They used to sell me the most bizarre thing - a First Class Single to Darlington with a Y-P discount applied [sic!], which used to be about £2 more than the Standard single to Durham. Any idea what was going on there?! And do such child 1st class anomalies still exist?

 

[First class]

Well:

A child first class single costs £9.05 (£1.05 more than standard)

No First Class return fare is available, however, I'm sure Durham would have no problem issuing this First Day Sgl ticket these days!

 

[bb21]

Well:

A child first class single costs £9.05 (£1.05 more than standard)

No First Class return fare is available, however, I'm sure Durham would have no problem issuing this First Day Sgl ticket these days!

I think he meant back in those days, ie. 2003, and the situation is likely to be different now.

On the way back, Alnmouth ticket office could never repeat the same fare. They held on to one of those massive 'tabletop' ticket issuing machines longer than anywhere else I remember. They used to sell me the most bizarre thing - a First Class Single to Darlington with a Y-P discount applied [sic!], which used to be about £2 more than the Standard single to Durham. Any idea what was going on there?! And do such child 1st class anomalies still exist?

What I don't get is that if you could get a Y-P discounted fare, wouldn't a child rate fare for the same ticket be even cheaper?

 

[John @ home]

What I don't get is that if you could get a Y-P discounted fare, wouldn't a child rate fare for the same ticket be even cheaper?

Over the years, there have been a number of discounted First Class fares which did not attract an additional Child 50% discount.

 

[bb21]

Over the years, there have been a number of discounted First Class fares which did not attract an additional Child 50% discount.

I was under the impression that no First Class fares were Y-P discountable before the 'simplification'.

OK it might have been different with special promotions. However I'm still surprised that a Child discount is not allowed where Y-P is. It would have made more sense if neither were allowed.

 

[Mark_re]

I thought it might be a function of the old ticket machine not having an Alnmouth - Durham Y-P 1st single programmed in...?