Day and open returns on most flows

[wilbers]

Following on from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/non-availability-of-open-returns.241185/ would it be feasible to add day returns/open returns to many flows where currently only one of those options exist? Excluding very long distance where its impractical to do a return journey in a day, and the very short distances (say about 20 minutes each way)?

 

[jfollows]

I'm sure it would be feasible, but several thoughts spring to mind:

1. Short distance open returns were deliberately removed to circumvent the problem of their repeated re-use, on the return leg at least.
2. Long distance day returns were deliberately removed to compel the use of alternative tickets, then "saver" returns and now "off peak" returns. More recently advance tickets. Leading to split ticketing with a pair of day returns by some of us now, eg Wilmslow-Tutbury-Derby because there's no day return Wilmslow-Derby. I certainly once had a day return Macclesfield-Weymouth which certainly wouldn't be possible easily today, however a combination of advance tickets could be cheaper in real terms today than it was in the 1970s.
3. The people involved in fare setting would be using their time better by looking at a wholesale re-vamp of the ticket and pricing structures, all of which have grown up over time but need a radical re-think now if there are to be significant changes.
4. Occasional anomalies can be fixed, of course.

I note your caveats, but still my feeling is that this is not a problem looking for a solution today, in the light of more important issues that need to be fixed with ticket pricing.