Birmingham [BHM] - Chester [CTR] Fare change?

[lm321412]

Has the fare from BHM - CTR changed?

When 1 Adult and 1 Child with FAM travelled in April, I remember the ticket around £11.00

Now the ticket is £14.60 and is not valid via Crewe no more?

according to Arriva Trains Wales anyway...



:-x:-x:roll::cry:

 

[asylumxl]

Just looked at the old Avantix and the price is no different. The Adult fare is about £11.30. Maybe this is what you're thinking of?

 

[lm321412]

Just looked at the old Avantix and the price is no different. The Adult fare is about £11.30. Maybe this is what you're thinking of?

The booking machines (East Coast and Arriva Trains Wales) seem to say different. I do not actually have the tickets or booking confirmation avaliable, but when we travelled to Chester last month we paid around £11.00 for 1 Adult and 1 Child with FAM discount (as we have done for around 2 - 3 years).

However, when coming to book today, its now quoting us £14.60 for an OFF-PEAK which is only valid VIA SHREWSBURY, with their now also being a £24.65 OFF-PEAK which is ANY PERMITTED.

This would mean an extra 40 minutes whilst travelling via Shrewsbury...

 

[asylumxl]

Ah I see. Yes there's been a change in the tickets in the latest fare change. Sorry, my mistake, accidently opened the earlier version lol

 

[nedchester]

A Birmingham to Wrexham Off peak Day return is valid via Crewe and Chester.......

 

[lm321412]

A Birmingham to Wrexham Off peak Day return is valid via Crewe and Chester.......

The barrier at Chester may not like this?

 

[asylumxl]

The barrier at Chester may not like this?

Just tell them you're going for a smoke. Works most of the time.

 

[nedchester]

The barrier at Chester may not like this?

An Off Peak Day return is valid for Break of Journey so it doesn't matter what the barriers think!

 

[Smethwickian]

Blast! This was the best way of effectively getting a cheaper day return from Birmingham to Crewe.

How dare TOCs seek to clear up anomolies and plug our lovely loopholes.

But you folks are always on the ball so, thanks very much for the tip, £14.20 to and from Wrexham General it is, then....

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is this ATW syphoning off the revenue via Shrewsbury, or VT demanding a premium on the faster route via Stafford? (the effect is to do both).

Another "network benefit" bites the dust!

 

[lm321412]

Is this ATW syphoning off the revenue via Shrewsbury, or VT demanding a premium on the faster route via Stafford? (the effect is to do both).

Another "network benefit" bites the dust!

Yes, I noticed the BHM - Shrewsbury fare has also gone up...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looking at the new Avantix fares, it seems that London Midland is to blame for the hike in Chester-Birmingham fares.

Before the change, AP fares were set by ATW and were £33.50 SVR (8A) and £17.10 CDR (B4).

After the change these ATW fares are still there, if a little dearer (£34.50 and £17.20), but are restricted to routes via Shrewsbury (ie the slow ones).

LM now set the AP fares (includes the faster route via Crewe/Stafford) which are SVR £29.00 (CS) and SOR £45.00. There is no CDR.

The CS fare is not available before 0900, whereas the old SVR (8A) was valid on any train, so the peak return has gone up from £33.50 to £45.00, a 34% increase.

LM will probably say the off-peak SVR has come down, but on a CDR/AP basis the fare has gone up from ATW's £17.10 to LM's £29.00, a massive 69% hike!

Cheap Advance fares are supposedly available from VT and XC but in my experience are very hard to come by. And what use is an "XC Only" fare on a route they don't operate?