I decided this summer to visit North Wales, using the Wales Rover 4 days in 8 to get from Newport to Porthmadog and back, then use the Rover to travel around on the two 'spare' days. Then a friend said he wanted to go, but by car, and did I want to join forces. I'm glad I did, when I look at the price increases. It was less expensive even than at the old prices, and of course gave flexibility.
If TfW are serious about wanting tourist business (maybe they are not), they need to be competitive on price. I ended up travelling on the Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland, Talyllyn and Vale of Rheidol steam lines, and just did one TfW service (Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno), on a new class 197 unit, which was very pleasant and treasonable value at £10.20. But a car gave the necessary flexibility for travelling between lines at a much lower cost.
