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Daily Telegraph said:Train rip-off: don't mention cheapest tickets, station staff told
Undercover reporter working at First Great Western is warned against offering £2 cheaper tickets for Reading to London return as it would 'cause problems'
Rail staff are being told not to offer passengers the cheapest tickets because it would "cause problems" if "everybody did it", an investigation found.
An undercover reporter working as a trainee at First Great Western, one of Britain's biggest operators, was warned against volunteering information that would help customers save money.
In the exchange, which was filmed by Channel 4 Dispatches, a trainer told new staff: "From Reading to London its cheaper to do a single in and a single back. Fact, alright?
"However, dont do it, [because] its about £2 difference, and youre just causing problems for everybody else.
"OK, because if you do it, whats the customer going to expect every day? Everybody to do it."
The undercover reporter replied: "But shouldnt we really do it, because £2 a day, thats £10 a week?"
The trainer said: "Theres a line to draw. Theres a line to draw guys and thats one we do draw because £2, yes, I understand where youre coming from, absolutely, but we draw a line." -off: don't mention cheapest tickets, station staff told
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The article is referring to the combination of an SDS Anytime Day Single Any Permitted (£22.70) and CDS Off Peak Day single Any Permitted (£18.00) vs a SDR Anytime Day Return Any Permitted (£44.30).
It has been a while since I read the TSA, but I don't think FGW are breaking any rules by not volunteering such information.