Too many fares?

[DJ737]

Hi there

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of different fares on offer in the UK to get from point A to point B.

One route I have used often is Lamphey to Elsenham and the fares range from £384 1st class unrestricted return, down to £16 for a oneway advance standard.

Do any of the operators ATW-GW-LUL-NEEA make anything with a £16 fare? , or do they each just get UKL4 for the trouble of issuing/accepting the ticket.

Just curious
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[yorkie]

Commission for issuing the ticket is approx 10%.

The rest is distributed through ORCATS. In the case of TOC specific tickets including Advance Purchase tickets, then it would be done differently and only go to the relevant operator (and I'm told there is a formula, possibly distance-based, for allowing 'connecting' TOCs, where applicable, to receive money as well).

As for LUL, I am told they receive an annual fee for allowing cross-London transfers rather than a share of each individual ticket, but I don't know how true that is. Unfortunately some of their staff can be rather rude toward passengers holding valid tickets that they just don't like the look of, and their training with regard to National Rail tickets is practically zero.