Macclesfield-Manchester Virgin Ticket

[Stuwhu]

When did Virgin stop the off peak Virgin only single from Macclesfield to Manchester, I was quite shocked yesterday when the cheapest ticket was the Virgin anytime single at £7.70, it used to be about £4 till a few months ago.

 

[yorkie]

According to Farehistory.info it was in existence in NFM14, so it must have been fairly recently.

You can save 40p by purchasing a CDR and throwing away the return portion after you've completed your journey.

As for being shocked at those fares, that's nothing! Try visiting other places and you get even more of a shock, e.g. York to Garforth is about the same distance and is £12.90 for an off peak single.

 

[Stuwhu]

My shock wasn't so much at the price of £7.70, more than the cheap fare had vanished, it was a great way to get into Manchester cheaply if you weren't coming back that day

 

[Lddex]

It annoyed me when they changed their price structure. I was told by several members of their staff that Virgin have no control over the price set. I thought with Virgin only they did?? Also both staff at Picc and Macc are puzzled by the way a single is more expensive than the off peak return. But as Yorkie says buy a off peak return Virgin only and it is cheaper. Not by much - I don't mind paying the £2 extra now to give me an option of two other services... before the Virgin only price made me not mind you were restricted to that one train an hour but now the price difference and choice of services - you're better off buying an any train

 

[yorkie]

It annoyed me when they changed their price structure. I was told by several members of their staff that Virgin have no control over the price set. I thought with Virgin only they did??

Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course they do!

Also both staff at Picc and Macc are puzzled by the way a single is more expensive than the off peak return. But as Yorkie says buy a off peak return Virgin only and it is cheaper. Not by much - I don't mind paying the £2 extra now to give me an option of two other services... before the Virgin only price made me not mind you were restricted to that one train an hour but now the price difference and choice of services - you're better off buying an any train

You could write to them (or perhaps tweet them; you could link to this thread).

However it's unclear if they will increase the cost of the return, or re-introduce an Off Peak Single at around 10p less than the return.

 

[Lddex]

Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course they do!

Knew it. They told me its the Govt that sets the cost. I did inform them that, that was for the standard anytime fare that Northern controls. (wasn't sure if I was correct)

As for writing to their CS dept - I have done this on several occasions. Not sure if they read the letters as got the standard 'Thanks for contacting us were too busy to deal with the complaint but it will be looked at by a manager in the mean time have some vouchers" I got vouchers for asking them why a single was more than a return - but also in the months before the price hike - why it was more to buy a single form (or to) Stockport from Macc than it was to Manchester.

What i love is the Virgin Rail staff on the ticket officer puzzled by it and have also left feed back.

 

[tomoufc]

Knew it. They told me its the Govt that sets the cost. I did inform them that, that was for the standard anytime fare that Northern controls. (wasn't sure if I was correct)

As for writing to their CS dept - I have done this on several occasions. Not sure if they read the letters as got the standard 'Thanks for contacting us were too busy to deal with the complaint but it will be looked at by a manager in the mean time have some vouchers" I got vouchers for asking them why a single was more than a return - but also in the months before the price hike - why it was more to buy a single form (or to) Stockport from Macc than it was to Manchester.

What i love is the Virgin Rail staff on the ticket officer puzzled by it and have also left feed back.

Perhaps it's better to say nothing in case they increase all the other fares?