MP tackles Virgin over the Lancaster/Preston fare structure

[Hellfire]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-38571417

An MP has vowed to fight a rail firm's "barmy" price structure which has seen people charged more than three times as much to travel a shorter route.
Mark Menzies claims Virgin Trains is "stinging" passengers between Preston and London by charging more than those leaving Lancaster on the same trains.
Preston tickets cost up to £145 for a standard single in peak hours, while the longer journey can cost £42.50.
Virgin said the costs reflect the high number of Preston business travellers.
The company said for "many years" it had "relaxed" pricing structures on some of its longer distance routes, which serve more "leisure travellers".
But Fylde MP Mr Menzies claimed the company was "exploiting" business travellers "simply because they can get away with it".
Preston is about 230 miles from London Euston while Lancaster is about 25 miles further away on the same line.

 

[Lrd]

Without looking at the fares, am i right in assuming he is comparing an open ticket with an Advance ticket?

 

[Hellfire]

Without looking at the fares, am i right in assuming he is comparing an open ticket with an Advance ticket?

I think he has noticed that the 0657 and other early trains to Euston is classed as off-peak at Lancaster then becomes peak at Preston. He also refers to a passenger who bought a ticket EUS-Lancaster, got off at Preston and was told to get back on again.

 

[AlterEgo]

Under discussion already here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139815&page=8