Pricing for Leeds went up (including removal of cheap weekend parking) when Trinity opened, presumably to discourage shoppers from parking there to the detriment of rail users.
No, people in this thread where implying that the prices have been decidedly perfectly to maximise revenue (for the railway ) , but since the companies who set the parking prices and the TOCs , the parking companies aren't going to care how many people take the train , only their own bottom line, theirs not any joint up thinking between say Qpark and Avanti
Likewise isn't parking at most of the Manchester metrolink P&R sites free to encourage usage.
Understand that to be correct, albeit it's usually with no overnight parking allowed after the Metrolink trams have stopped running for the night (possible exception being on Friday / Saturday nights when at certain locations, you have until 12 noon the next day to move your car).
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What maximises their own revenue isn't the same as what maximises the TOCs revenue, and then you have to also price in the externalities of the extra driving high car park prices create
Or just encourage them to drive the whole way
It is completely pie-in-the-sky to think that the TOCs have no input at all into how car parks are priced. A lot are simply managed by an external company (such as APCOA) with them taking a management fee or % of income.
I could see them doing the journey to Tonbridge car to save £7.40 though
Most likely business people whom claim the £50 a day for parking back on expenses, as it's probably cheaper than paying for an Anytime return on the trains.
Parking is free at all Merseyrail stations except Southport, Hooton and Chester. It is also free at City Line stations within Merseyside where such facilities exist. Some people do leave their cars overnight at stations at their own risk.
My opinion is that railway parking should come free or for a very discounted price when used with a season ticket. Then you'll have more people using the railway, it's a + on both sides, more passengers and more season ticket revenue.
But why should the person who drives get free parking while the person who takes the bus pays a bus fare? Why not give free bus travel to the station as well?
Of course, the ideal way would be to integrate all modes in that
This the same thinking HS2 opponents use when they think cancelling HS2 will get their pet branch line rebuilt. One method of mode intergration will not prevent others. One is just easier because TOCs own the car parks but don't own the bus companies
In particular, NSE made many car parks free at weekends, I used Petersfield station car park frequently as a result. In the week it was full when I wanted to use it anyway.
Unfortunately I disagree, most people see car ownership and usage as essential so would cut expenditure elsewhere such as going out to bars, restaurants, cinema, theatre and other leisure based pursuits.
I agree here, a group of 4 travelling from Llandudno to Chester would cost about £100.00 where as driving means fuel costs about £15.00 , car wear and tare a couple of quid at most and parking another few quid on top. The railway with its unreliability and poor timetabling will price itself out of the game soon if prices continue to rise at such a rate.
