Off Peak Return more than twice price of Off Peak Day Return

[Bill57p9]

I have come across a few quirks of the ticketing system but must admit this was a new one on me.

The price of an Off Peak Day return from Dumfries to Carlisle is £7.60, however the price of an Off Peak return is £19.00 substantially more than double the off peak day return price.
In other words it is (substantially) cheaper to purchase 2 day returns than a "month" return.

Are there other examples of this?

Top marks to the forum ticket site for offering me this option (for outbound Saturday, return Monday) too.

 

[Kite159]

And shows how sometimes buying a return ticket can be cheaper than a single ticket (assuming you are not travelling before 8am) as the single is £14.60

 

[Adam Williams]

And shows how sometimes buying a return ticket can be cheaper than a single ticket (assuming you are not travelling before 8am) as the single is £14.60

My favourite edge-cases are indeed the flows/circumstances where it's cheaper to sell a return than a single ticket for a one-way journey. It sometimes causes some confusion (why do I have a coupon I don't need?) and is slightly controversial to do automatically, but the vast majority of customers appreciate the fares engine checking this, and it can save quite a bit.

 

[Hadders]

It's probably best not to post specific examples in this thread. This is because train companies monitor this section of the forum and any discrepancies could well get fixed.

Taking the example of Dumfries to Carlisle which is priced by Scotrail do you think they're likely to fix something like this by increasing the price of the Off Peak Day Return or by reducing the price of the Off Peak?

Be very careful what you wish for.....

 

[Jan Mayen]

Perhaps it's best to treat everyone fairly, rather than just those who use a website that can spot anomalies?

 

[Adam Williams]

Perhaps it's best to treat everyone fairly, rather than just those who use a website that can spot anomalies?

There's nothing stopping other TIS suppliers from implementing support for finding customers better value fares.

 

[Jan Mayen]

There's nothing stopping other TIS suppliers from implementing support for finding customers better value fares.

I accept that. But why not just make the fares fair in the first place?

 

[crablab]

But why not just make the fares fair in the first place?

Be careful what you wish for... The LNER fares trials are, we're told, "simpler" and "fairer"

See https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/abolishing-peak-and-off-peak-fares.280404/ for more discussion about the challenges of rationalising the existing fares system in a way that makes the Treasury happy.

(Hint: it's the opposite to what makes passengers happy!)

 

[Hadders]

Perhaps it's best to treat everyone fairly, rather than just those who use a website that can spot anomalies?

Feel free to start a separate thread on how you would reform the fares system that is fair to everyone, removes anomalies and is revenue neutral for the rail industry.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Feel free to start a separate thread on how you would reform the fares system that is fair to everyone, removes anomalies and is revenue neutral for the rail industry.

Thank you for your kind offer, but I take the view that is the job of the rail industry. (Althogh, if its any help, I concede that some people, including myself, may well end up paying more. Just because I know that splitting tickets somewhere saves money doesn't make it right that the railway makes more money out if people who don't).

 

[Haywain]

Just because I know that splitting tickets somewhere saves money doesn't make it right that the railway makes more money out if people who don't).

The railway's objective will be to make more money from those who do, not reduce the amount made from those who don't.

 

[778]

It's probably best not to post specific examples in this thread. This is because train companies monitor this section of the forum and any discrepancies could well get fixed.

Taking the example of Dumfries to Carlisle which is priced by Scotrail do you think they're likely to fix something like this by increasing the price of the Off Peak Day Return or by reducing the price of the Off Peak?

Be very careful what you wish for.....

I think the Train Companies should concentrate on increasing ticket checks and making sure gatelines are not open half the time instead of monitoring internet forums.

 

[Hadders]

I think the Train Companies should concentrate on increasing ticket checks and making sure gatelines are not open half the time instead of monitoring internet forums.

We regularly discuss the frequency (or not) of onboard ticket checks in this section of the forum so I really don't think we need to start another discussion about then in this thread.