Walk-up fares query

[izvor]

Does a fare from A to B have to be the same as B to A (via the same routeing and same time conditions etc.)?

There are odd examples I have come across where this is not the case, which I suspect to be an error. Both directions set by the same TOC.

 

[yorkie]

Does a fare from A to B have to be the same as B to A (via the same routeing and same time conditions etc.)?

Nope. Not all fares are reversible.

Where fares are fully reversible (including the same restriction code, this is denoted on BRfares.com by the diamond symbol).

A different routeing constitutes a different 'flow' and that's a different matter entirely; I've never heard of a flow existing only in one direction.

There are odd examples I have come across where this is not the case, which I suspect to be an error. Both directions set by the same TOC.

It's not usually an error.

 

[izvor]

Many thanks.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Very common for the Anytime Return from [Commuter Station] -> London to be considerably more expensive than the London -> [Commuter Station], despite both having no time restrictions.
This is because the commuter flow is very much in one direction and trains are almost empty the other.

Some people have tried to use the Outward and Return portions in the wrong order, and got caught out by revenue inspections!

 

[blimmo]

If these are returns where the return portion is valid for more than one day you can always buy two returns in opposite directions and use only the outbound portions on the first day then only buy the cheaper directions from then on. Which has always made the whole system seem a bit pointless to me.

 

[yorkie]

If these are returns where the return portion is valid for more than one day you can always buy two returns in opposite directions and use only the outbound portions on the first day then only buy the cheaper directions from then on. Which has always made the whole system seem a bit pointless to me.

This is called "nesting" and I believe it's more common for air travel than rail travel; frequent flyers (of the same route) regularly take advantage of this.

It's not "pointless" because only regulars can take advantage of it; it's a part of yield management and market based pricing, which doesn't mean everyone pays the exact same fare, but means that the system tries to extract as much money from people as possible, and this does go some way to achieving that.