FGW 25% off

[Goatboy]

FGW have been publicising this since Friday but I can't see any explanation of how you buy tickets with these discounts? Even today all tickets I've checked through the affected area are priced and sold at full price on the FGW website.

Any ideas?

 

[bnm]

Discounte fares for journeys affected by the sea walll collapse are currently only available from staffed stations. If you can't purchase the discounted fares from your origin station then a normal priced ticket should be purchased, retained, then submitted to FGW for a partial refund.

 

[sonic2009]

Wasn't the discount available at stations?

 

[hangus78]

This discount is now also available through the FGW website

 

[bb21]

Only on FGW-priced flows it seems.

 

[Goatboy]

Thats very misleading then, given a lot of the fares passing through the disruption are priced by Cross Country even though they might entirely use FGW services.

For example Penzance to Cheltenham very much passes through the heart of the disruption yet zero discount available. Meanwhile Penzance to Bristol, discount offered, presumably as its an FGW flow.

 

[bb21]

I doubt it, as they don't have any power to dictate to XC what to do, and I seriously doubt that XC have any inclination to reduce fares judging by their financial state.

Not really that surprising I must say, as that is what normally happens when a TOC decides to run promotions on fares - they can only control those flows they are in charge of.

 

[Goatboy]

I doubt it, as they don't have any power to dictate to XC what to do, and I seriously doubt that XC have any inclination to reduce fares judging by their financial state.

Then the advertising very much needs to be updated to reflect this. Many of these flows might find customers using only FGW services - for example several itneries to stations like Cheltenham or Worcester might involve an FGW via Bristol Paddington service and then onto an FGW stopper.

The advertising clearly states:

A 25 per cent discount will apply to all walk-up fares - including Any time, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and weekly season tickets - for journeys that pass through the affected area, and will remain in place until the line reopens.

It doesn't say 'Unless XC own the flow even though you might be using FGW trains'

 

[bb21]

Then the advertising very much needs to be updated to reflect this. Many of these flows might find customers using only FGW services - for example several itneries to stations like Cheltenham or Worcester might involve an FGW via Bristol Paddington service and then onto an FGW stopper.

I think you may need to raise a complaint with FGW.

 

[Goatboy]

It's bizarre really, why didn't XC simply go along with this promotion rather than coming up with their own more confusing 'If you want to go west of Exeter you only need an XC Advance as far as Exeter' idea?

 

[andrewkeith5]

It's bizarre really, why didn't XC simply go along with this promotion rather than coming up with their own more confusing 'If you want to go west of Exeter you only need an XC Advance as far as Exeter' idea?

What about if you don't want an advance ticket??? Seems unfair...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

After Hatfield (2000), Virgin Trains offered 50% off all their ticket prices (if I rightly recall) but only the flows that they were responsible for, had great fun at King's Cross trying to convince the booking clerk that tickets were available at half-price from London to certain Scottish destinations and were still available/valid for use on East Coast (GNER) train services.

 

[Goatboy]

FGW continue to advertise this generous offer heavily. Stations all have signs on the ticket machines informing you that all journeys through the affected area have a 25% discount and you should buy at the ticket office...


... where you find it's not true at all, many of the flows are priced by XC and therefore zero discount is offered.

This really should be far more clearly advertised, it's currently very misleading. Basically, SOME of the walkup fares passing through Dawlish are discounted but the majority are not

Quite how your average customer is supposed to understand this and why it's an issue I've no idea. To most people, a ticket is a ticket and telling them that if they wish to travel from Newton Abbot to Hereford they can have 25% off but if they wish to travel from Newton Abbot to Worcester they cannot is downright confusing. XC are not offering Advance fares on many services so the 'offer' of only buying a ticket to/from Exeter is of no value. You are left with no choice but to pay full fare for a journey thats conducted mostly on a bus.

Even reasonable splits are out of the window as the buses are direct and do not call at intermediate points, therefore for some the cost of travel with XC during the disruption has actually gone UP.