Stansted Airport

[PTF62]

I while ago I wrote about how all the services from (not to) Stansted Airport were "peak", and that there were no "off-peak" services.

They have now introduced "off-peak" fares, but only if you can prove that you live local to the station. http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes....46.Stansted__Discount_train_fares_for_locals/

 

[BOBmcbob]

I tried this the other day at Stasnted (as I live nearby) but could not use my YP card, so effectively It made no difference to me whatsoever!

The ticket inspector at the station told me that next time i should buy a rtn to bishops stortford then buy a travel card from there or buy it starting from audley end as it would be cheaper than buying from the airport.


I tried to get a reason as to why this situation exists at Stansted and was told that the services from Stansted are 'express' therefore they can charge more! I couldn't help but laugh...
So I asked if i got on the slow train to Stratford could I then get a off-peak ticket then? Again the answer was no.

So why doesn't National Express have signs at the station saying you don't sell these types of tickets - afterall they make it more than clear the times when these tickets are not valid in the evening... It's as if they are trying to confuse people in order to increase revenue. I also notice they have very cheeky signs saying only 35 mins to london, which is technically correct if Tottenham is your destination!

Next time I'll drive the 10 miles to Stortford and go from there

 

[harz99]

SSD exists and operates to serve the airport, not to service any local community need. It may well be that a few non airport users in the area find it useful as well, but that is not the station's function.

The airport has no real peak or off peak, and the rail connection offers by far the quickest and most convenient way to Central London, hence the ability to charge a premium fare without the need to encourage off peak travel by lower fares.

As you have alluded to, splitting your tickets and/or breaking the journey down are ways of getting round the high fare, just make sure the train your on actually stops at the station you have "split" at.

 

[jon0844]

Tonight, I just checked to see the status of the trains to Stansted (mainly to see the stopping pattern) and notice that most trains this evening have been cancelled due to an obstruction on the line/level crossing problem.

Now, any idea why the website says everything is 'running normally'? Way to go National Express!

 

[harz99]

Now, any idea why the website says everything is 'running normally'? Way to go National Express!

A question for natex then, not us.

Surely, most people would look at the National Rail website for current running info. What does that say about current delays?

 

[jon0844]

The NatEx website and all the others said there were major delays. The Stansted Express one says it's fine - so I guess that doesn't automatically update and needs manual input (which is pretty pathetic, especially for a premium service).

The Stansted Express website is presumably the one that given to passengers who may then think they're being smart by checking before travel!

 

[BOBmcbob]

SSD exists and operates to serve the airport, not to service any local community need. It may well be that a few non airport users in the area find it useful as well, but that is not the station's function.

The airport has no real peak or off peak, and the rail connection offers by far the quickest and most convenient way to Central London, hence the ability to charge a premium fare without the need to encourage off peak travel by lower fares.

As you have alluded to, splitting your tickets and/or breaking the journey down are ways of getting round the high fare, just make sure the train your on actually stops at the station you have "split" at.

I don't doubt your arguement but the question remains if this is the case,why were these tickets only made unavailable as of May this year?

The station's been around since 1991; does it take 18 years for them to work this out?

A more cynical person would say this is merely an excuse to make more revenue, a good example of this is having to buy peak tickets for the stopping service which is clearly not an express by any stretch of the imagination!

 

[harz99]

A more cynical person would say this is merely an excuse to make more revenue, a good example of this is having to buy peak tickets for the stopping service which is clearly not an express by any stretch of the imagination!

Quite; a business decision taken to maximise revenue. Like it or no, that is the way of the world.

And it seems that Natex has listened to local people and introduced a discounted ticket for locals to use - your gripe is that you cannot discount it further still with a YP Railcard, despite what the press article indicated.

That is something you need to take up with Natex Customer Relations - not the station or other staff as they don't have the power to change anything anyway.

 

[John @ home]

I tried this the other day at Stansted (as I live nearby) but could not use my YP card, so effectively It made no difference to me whatsoever!

What word(s) are printed under "Ticket Type" on this ticket? The £19 local residents fare does not appear in the NFM 04 Fares Manual. It seems to me that the question of whether the TOC are compelled to offer railcard discounts to passengers using the statutory railcards will depend on the ticket type.

John

 

[jopsuk]

Stansted Express is a bit odd in many ways- in operational and fare terms it is much more like Heathrow Connect than Heathrow or Gatwick Express, operating as a "local" express service for Bishop Strotford and Harlow to and from London as well as airport service. it's even often a faster option if travelling NXEA from Cambridge (or stations between Cambridge and Stortford) to change onto the Express- essentially, the "premium" for it being an aiport service only really applies from the Airport junction onwards, and applies equally to "local" services.

At least, that's how I understand it.