VWC Advance fares query

[sushiuk]

I'm looking at travelling from Wilmslow to Weybridge and I'm curious about why some advance fares show up and others don't.
e.g.
1st October shows an advance fare for 16:20 from Wilmslow changing at Crewe onto a service which comes from Chester.
However, the 15:20 from Wilmslow, again changing at Crewe onto a service from Chester, does not show an advance fare to Weybridge. So you might think this is because all the advance tickets are sold.
However, if I select London as the destination rather than Weybridge both the 15:20 & 16:20 departures from Wilmslow offer advance fares.

Any ideas why this is happening?

 

[Paul Kelly]

It could possibly be that South West Trains are blocking availability of Virgin-priced advances on their peak-time trains out of London. The circumstantial evidence for this is as follows:

If you look at all trains from Vauxhall to Weybridge here: http://www.brtimes.com/#!board?stn=VXH&filt=WYB&date=20150916
you will see that those departing between 1600 and 1900 in the evening have a diamond symbol against them, indicating theoretically that reservations are available, but more importantly that booking engines must try to make a reservation on those trains when booking an itinerary. This would allow SWT to block Virgin advances on those trains if it wanted to. I'm not saying that it definitely is doing that, but it would seem to be possible.

 

[LexyBoy]

Indigo2's hypothesis seems plausible to me - perhaps it could be an unintended consequence of SWT's Advance reservations allocations, rather than deliberate? (I don't know how the system works mind).

Additionally, I believe more generally the following applies:

1. TOCs obsess over flows to London being the most in demand
2. More Advances, and lower-priced tiers are made available from London than from connecting stations
3. It becomes cheaper to split in London (and convenient for many using Oyster)
4. More tickets with origin/destination of London are sold
5. TOCs conclude this is where the demand is
6. Goto 1

 

[hassaanhc]

It could possibly be that South West Trains are blocking availability of Virgin-priced advances on their peak-time trains out of London. The circumstantial evidence for this is as follows:

If you look at all trains from Vauxhall to Weybridge here: http://www.brtimes.com/#!board?stn=VXH&filt=WYB&date=20150916
you will see that those departing between 1600 and 1900 in the evening have a diamond symbol against them, indicating theoretically that reservations are available, but more importantly that booking engines must try to make a reservation on those trains when booking an itinerary. This would allow SWT to block Virgin advances on those trains if it wanted to. I'm not saying that it definitely is doing that, but it would seem to be possible.

I've found that to be the case as well. In the evening peak for Hounslow only the circular services give a fare, while the Weybridge via Hounslow ones don't (and they have the diamond).

Similar if you are looking to travel between Wolverhampton/Shrewsbury and Marylebone on a CH&CONNECTIONS Advance, with only the hourly LM stopper from Shrewsbury or the half hourly stopper to Walsall generally being allowed.