First Class journeys up 3% last year

[MidnightFlyer]

(Up to 1 April 2011).

ATOC has said that TOCs have 'successfully encouraged a wider range of passengers to trade up from standard class by offering affordable train tickets and better services'.

Also of note is the rise in advance fares being booked, up from 5,000,000 to 5,800,000 (a 17% rise). ATOC also stated that 120,000 Advance First Class tickets are being sold every week.

All info taken from RAIL 674 page 16.

 

[wintonian]

(Up to 1 April 2011).

ATOC has said that TOCs have 'successfully encouraged a wider range of passengers to trade up from standard class by offering affordable train tickets and better services'.

Also of note is the rise in advance fares being booked, up from 5,000,000 to 5,800,000 (a 17% rise). ATOC also stated that 120,000 Advance First Class tickets are being sold every week.

All info taken from RAIL 674 page 16.

That increase in first class ticket incudes me, but only because I like to actually sit down on train journeys longer than around half an hour.

 

[furryfeet]

(Up to 1 April 2011).
by offering affordable train tickets....

So reading between the lines, the increase is due to advance tickets , rather than people being daft enough to pay out for the extortionate walk-on fares.

Is this prognosis correct ?

 

[SS4]

So reading between the lines, the increase is due to advance tickets , rather than people being daft enough to pay out for the extortionate walk-on fares.

Is this prognosis correct ?

Pretty much although I'm sure weekend upgrades create a significant portion too.

I must admit I try and get first class advance tickets if only to use the lounge at BHM

 

[fulshaw]

Yes, people have moved from the Anytime to the Advance ticket within first class - around 0.6m - plus you have some people actually trading up from Standard class tickets - around 300k. At least that's my reading of the piece.

 

[yorksrob]

It would be interesting to know how this change has been distributed across the sectors. I'd be particularly interested in whether first class sales have held up on the Southern Region since the withdrawal of compartment stock.

 

[radamfi]

I certainly would never consider paying for a walk up First Class ticket. This is one area which is better than under BR. BR never offered any good value First Class fares, with the notable exception of Weekend First which has become somewhat less attractive these days.

First Class Advance fares can often be only a few pounds more than a Standard Advance fare, presumably generating upgrades.

 

[Flamingo]

I'd go so far as to say the vast majority of 1st class tickets I see these days are Advance or Season tickets.

The Advance ticket holders get quite upset at being charged up when on the wrong train as well. They don't seem to realise that they have had over £100 of a discount in most cases, and even to convert them to an off-peak STD class ticket will involve the exchange of considerably more than £10 in most cases.

And if they do convert it to a STD class ticket, that means that they have to move to STD class.