FOR vs SOR fare

[jb]

Swindon to Newport S.Wales from BRfares:

FOR = £133
SOR = £26.20

Ratio = 5.08:1.

Both Any Permitted, both set by FGW.

I was staggered by this. Am I missing anything in terms of restrictions or other factors? Are there (many) other flows for which we see such a differential?

Also, I've just looked for one stop up the line and the SOR from Didcot to Newport is £135. What's going on?

 

[LexyBoy]

The only period returns from Swindon to (most of) S. Wales is the SOR, which is perhaps one reason why it's reasonably priced. I wonder if it used to be an unrestricted SVR but became SOR at simplification?

The Didcot/Swindon gap is the source of plenty of crazy price differentials (and to a lesser extent that between Reading and Didcot).

 

[bb21]

Didcot is classed as part of the "London" region, whereas Swindon is not. Prior to "simplification", Saver Returns outside the "London" region were valid at any time, but you would require an Open Return if travelling with flow into/out of the "London" area during peak times.

I have the same suspicion that the Swindon SOR used to be the unrestricted SVR, whereas the Didcot SOR was always the SOR, hence the massive price differential.

 

[Greeby]

FOR should not be sold on Swindon - South Wales except as a PRIV. As all those flows have an FSR on 8A or 8H restriction (completely unrestricted on time, although 8H forbids break of journey on the outward).

 

[soil]

FGW have some particularly outrageous FOR fares.

E.g., Pewsey - Hungerford, a two-stop local journey taking 14 minutes is £42 FOR, or £33.90 for a 7DF

Oakham - Stevenage (valid via London), priced by EMT, is considerably cheaper as an 7DF than an FOR.

I think this might be an anomaly though, because there is no Not Via London season, but there are Not Via London return/single fares, so the seasons are probably priced on the basis of travel not via London, even though they are routed ✠ANY PERMITTED and undercut both Oakham - London via Kettering and Peterborough - London