Illogical ticket pricing

[2scoops]

As a not so frequent traveller on the UK rail network, maybe someone can enlighten me regarding what I perceive as somewhat unintuitive ticket pricing.

OK, so next Saturday I need to get from York to a town near Wolverhampton. I can do this 2 ways: 1) York to Bham New St. then change at Bham New St. to a local small station. 2) York to Wolv.

I check on trainline.co.uk.

York 9.45 -> Bham New St. 12.08 is £27. Then I can get a cheap ticket for a few quid to go from Bham New St to the local station (not important).

I then see:

York 9.45 -> Bham New St. 12.08 -> Wolv is £17. To be clear, this is the price of the ticket York -> Wolv, which requires me to change at Bham New St.

So, a longer journey which takes the same route, on the same train from York to Bham New St. is £10 less! Can someone please explain why this is?

I also assume that, hypothetically, if I wanted to exit at Bham New St. then this would not be permitted with the York -> Wolv ticket?

 

[Deerfold]

As a not so frequent traveller on the UK rail network, maybe someone can enlighten me regarding what I perceive as somewhat unintuitive ticket pricing.

OK, so next Saturday I need to get from York to a town near Wolverhampton. I can do this 2 ways: 1) York to Bham New St. then change at Bham New St. to a local small station. 2) York to Wolv.

I check on trainline.co.uk.

York 9.45 -> Bham New St. 12.08 is £27. Then I can get a cheap ticket for a few quid to go from Bham New St to the local station (not important).

I then see:

York 9.45 -> Bham New St. 12.08 -> Wolv is £17. To be clear, this is the price of the ticket York -> Wolv, which requires me to change at Bham New St.

So, a longer journey which takes the same route, on the same train from York to Bham New St. is £10 less! Can someone please explain why this is?

I also assume that, hypothetically, if I wanted to exit at Bham New St. then this would not be permitted with the York -> Wolv ticket?

You'd have to look at what the ticket types were to see what the restrictions are. I suspect you will not be allowed to leave at Birmingham New Street as this sounds like an Advance ticket which is valid only for the exact journey at the exact times which are boooked.

I'd suggest not buying from thetrainline. They have additional fees and add no value to the process. You're usually best buying from one of the Train operator websites - my favourite is eastcoast.co.uk (though they've recently made it a little worse).

 

[John @ home]

I also assume that ... if I wanted to exit at Bham New St. then this would not be permitted with the York -> Wolv ticket?

That depends on your purpose on leaving New St station.

For example, by entering York - Wolverhampton via Jewellery Quarter I can obtain an itinerary via New St, Moor St and Smethwick Galton Bridge.

That would allow me to leave New St station in order to catch a train from another station.