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Super Off Peak Day Returns on Thameslink North (weekends only)

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Edvid

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On The Transport Forum, Tom C speaks of 25% discounts on weekend tickets on the Thameslink North patch. All I could find was the introduction of Super Off Peak Day Returns (routeing FCC only or somesuch), and without Railcard discounts AFAIK...

[Example: Bedford - London Thameslink for £12 with the SOPDR (proper code is CBA I think), or £10.55(Railcard)/£16 with a CDR]
 
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Edvid

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I couldn't find any links to this on the FCC website, so then I just searched for Super Off Peak on their website and found the relevant webpage and T&Cs.

Gee, they really made an effort to advertise this product properly didn't they? :roll: I've also found out that Railcard discounts are definitely not allowed and they'll stop selling this ticket after December 21.
 

Edvid

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The (semi-)regular weekend blockades are not responsible for the temporary duration of the ticket - in fact they started well before the ticket was introduced. In any case, a rail-only ticket to London Thameslink is valid on connecting bus and tube services during the blockades.
 

dan_atki

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It is not intended as a 'normal' ticket but is a promotional fare and, in this case, looks to be promoting the first anniversary of St Pancras International hence why the ticket is only available for just over a month.

In exactly the same way NXEC have £5 promotional fares for their birthday at present they are not directly shown as doing so on their home page (and presumably not at stations either).

The fact is, TOCs run a business and try to maximise turnover. Some people have to be priced off the railways (hence the peak time fares), and so they cannot be too low (TOCs - especially FCC already have severe overcrowding issues and do not want to add to that). Too high will stop people using their services altogether and then they generate no revenue.

Having this ticket (albeit temporarily) will encourage people who might not have used the train to use it (if they are aware of the promotion) and the Super Off Peak aspect is to fill up lighter used services.

But wait - you think to yourself that then, FCC will be increasing their revenue by doing this. The problem is they want more profit so cannot afford for the whole train load to be having this sort of ticket hence the advertising about it is rather low. And then those who do get the ticket for their first journey on the train will turn up again after Christmas and then be amazed the ticket is no more (probably then to have to pay the higher fare)...
 

Edvid

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Some very good points there.

What I'd also like to find out is how much FCC make from the Off Peak Day Returns through ORCATS - I don't know how it works for FCC-only Thameslink North stations, but in the case of Saturday Bedford<->London flows (and possibly Luton(+ Airport Parkway)<->London flows), I wouldn't be at all surprised if the average revenue they make from CBAs is greater than what they make from CDRs given the more lenient routeing of the latter.

After all, the LM-only Milton Keynes Central<->London CDR is meant to be temporary but I reckon it's relative longevity (>1 year?) has been fuelled by the average revenue London Midland make from them when compared to the 'Any Permitted' CDR for the same flow. (I don't have any figures to hand though)
 
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