SWT local journey, same distance, different fare!

[travellinglight]

I received an email today that is very strange!!


"Dear ************

Thank you for your email.

Having looked at your journey I can advise you the ticket machine at Bookham is correct. Please find below the explanation.

Travelling from Bookham to Leatherhead (towards London) Off Peak Day Return is £ 3.00
Travelling from Leatherhead to Bookham (Away from London)Off Peak Day Return is £2.50

Fares travelling toward London are more expensive than a journey Travelling away from London.

We do have a ticket called Super Off Peak Day Return from Bookham to
Leatherhead which cost £2.50. The Super Off Peak fare is valid on trains due to arrive in London after 1200. The first train from Bookham to Leatherhead this fare is valid on is the 1119.

I hope this helps.

Regards
Jenni Collins
Customer Service Advisor"

This is my original message on the SWT contact form (slightly edited)
---Original Message ---------

Departure date: 12/11/08
Departure time: 09:49
Departure station: Bookham
Arrival station: Leatherhead
Ticket type: Return
Comments: The ticket machine at Bookham gives the price of a
Bookham/Leatherhead return ticket as 3.00 pounds (and has done since May
2008 - my records show that I bought a return ticket on 28 May) but at the Leatherhead ticket machine, and on the National Rail website, the price is 2.50 [...]

 

[glynn80]

---Original Message ---------

Departure date: 12/11/08
Departure time: 09:49
Departure station: Bookham
Arrival station: Leatherhead
Ticket type: Return
Comments: The ticket machine at Bookham gives the price of a
Bookham/Leatherhead return ticket as 3.00 pounds (and has done since May
2008 - my records show that I bought a return ticket on 28 May) but at the Leatherhead ticket machine, and on the National Rail website, the price is 2.50 [...]

This unfortunately is business. The majority of demand is returns in the London direction and thus to exploit the higher demand SWT have decided to price tickets in the London direction higher than the same ticket in the opposite direction. It is quite commonplace in rail fares in the UK.

 

[paul1609]

In all fairness its nothing to do with SWT is been the practise in the South East since well before privitisation.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In all fairness its nothing to do with SWT it's been the practise in the South East since well before privitisation. On Southern it also applies on some fares towards as opposed to Brighton. I wouldnt complain too much about a 50 p difference An anytime return from Littlehampton to London is £39.30 wheras the same ticket in the other direction is £21.70.