Off Peak (SVR) and Super Off Peak Return (SSR) fares from stations in Devon and Cornwall to/from Reading or London Paddington have increased, on average, by 3.5% in this latest fares round. With the SVS and SSS rising by a similar percentage.
Perfectly allowable, despite the near the 6% increase in January, with the SSRs being the regulated fare, because FGW have manipulated the 'fares basket' to allow for such an increase.
Here's the answer from FGW when I queried these increases, particularly in reference to the regulated fares:
Hi ****** - Regulated fares are not limited to one increase per year - we may increase them as many times as the fares round structure allows (currently three times a year). Individual fares within a basket are permitted to rise above permitted regulated levels by a further 5%, provided that the basket as a whole does not exceed the stated level.
Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets to/from Devon and Cornwall are very popular, and as such many trains are very full. The pence-per-mile rate is low compared to our other HSS routes, yet demand outside the peak periods is higher. We consider that the new prices still represent good value for money and it should be noted that a great many Advance fares are also available on this route, which represent even better value for money.
I hope that explanation is clear and thank you for your patience with this.
I'm sure the good folk of Devon and Cornwall will be glad to know that their Super/Off Peak fares were representing good pence-per-mile value and will be happy that they've increase by nearly 10% since December 2011. :roll:
How FGW have manipulated the 'fares basket' I know not, that information isn't in the public domain due, no doubt, to commercial sensitivity. They have however introduced a new flow 'via Newbury' for many SVR/SSR fares from stations in Somerset (east of Castle Cary) and Wiltshire, priced cheaper than the 'Any Permitted'. Perhaps those flows explain the 'fares basket' manipulation....