Abolition of season tickets for short journeys

[Pumperkin]

I have noticed recently two threads where people buy a season ticket between two close stations whilst using it for a much longer journey (Birmingham Moor Street to Snow Hill - journey of 0.5 miles by foot.

It occurred to me that these surely must almost only be used by those travelling further. I can't imagine it would be the easiest way of travelling (surely bus would make more sense for such a short journey).

The abolition of any season ticket for a journey under 1 mile I think would be helpful for cutting down on fraudulent use.

I know there's something regarding Gold Card use, but this just seems to be a loophole to access a discount.

Thoughts?

 

[Pumperkin]

Just re-read the post. It appears it is single tickets that are bought rather than season tickets. Not sure how to discourage this as singles still have to be available I think :/

 

[yorkie]

Sorry but this idea defies all logic.

If you barred the sale of Moor Street to Snow Hill, people would need to buy tickets to Jewellery Quarter, at the same price.

 

[Pumperkin]

Sorry but this idea defies all logic.

If you barred the sale of Moor Street to Snow Hill, people would need to buy tickets to Jewellery Quarter, at the same price.

Ahh. Hadn't realised it's the same price. I think as well BMO - JEQ would be a "sensible" journey so couldn't really justify getting rid of that.

 

[HSTEd]

It is hard to tell what journeys are reasonable or not.

Indeed my father, in possession of a blue status pass for Eastern Region, has historically purchased tickets for somewhat strange stubs of journeys.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sorry but this idea defies all logic.

If you barred the sale of Moor Street to Snow Hill, people would need to buy tickets to Jewellery Quarter, at the same price.

I would be of the opinion (as you might expect) that tickets within cities should be zonal in some form, so rather than there being a Moor St to Snow Hill ticket there would be a Birmingham Zone 1 single (using the same zone set as the seasons currently do). But I see no sense in barring short journeys, some people may wish to make them. As I held a pass, I used to do one stop on the bus from Manchester Uni Union to the Computer Science building when I had a very tight changeover from one lecture to the other, for one example. And when I held a CountyCard I used to go by train from Piccadilly to Oxford Road or vice versa quite a lot.

I did also once purchase a single from Liverpool James St to Liverpool Central, costing a princely £0.15! (This was about 2000 ish)

 

[Ianno87]

I have noticed recently two threads where people buy a season ticket between two close stations whilst using it for a much longer journey (Birmingham Moor Street to Snow Hill - journey of 0.5 miles by foot.

It occurred to me that these surely must almost only be used by those travelling further. I can't imagine it would be the easiest way of travelling (surely bus would make more sense for such a short journey).

The abolition of any season ticket for a journey under 1 mile I think would be helpful for cutting down on fraudulent use.

I know there's something regarding Gold Card use, but this just seems to be a loophole to access a discount.

Thoughts?

Snow Hill to Moor Street doesn't have any easy direct buses, and the walk is *just* long enough to be awkward, with roads etc to cross.

Train (with ~7 trains per hour) is fairly sensible.

Still not sure who would buy that season ticket though. Unless your bus drops off at Moor Street but you work by Snow Hill, and seperate tickets work out cheaper than a Zonal ticket or something.

 

[Pumperkin]

I did also once purchase a single from Liverpool James St to Liverpool Central, costing a princely £0.15! (This was about 2000 ish)

I remember once getting on at Great Malvern (ticket office closed, pre TVM days) and the conductor came between there and Malvern Link (you can see one station from the other platform). Cost around £1.50 IIRC... still, quicker than walking!

 

[Bedpan]

Don't or didn't some people buy annual seasons between two stations that were very close to then qualify for an Annual Gold Card?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Don't or didn't some people buy annual seasons between two stations that were very close to then qualify for an Annual Gold Card?

Yes. Ryde St John's Road to Ryde Esplanade was one, as was Hatton to Lapworth, as was Lichfield City to Lichfield TV. I don't know what the current cheapest one is, though.

 

[Hadders]

Don't or didn't some people buy annual seasons between two stations that were very close to then qualify for an Annual Gold Card?

I have a Lapworth to Hatton annual season ticket for this very purpose!

 

[Ianno87]

Wonder if Snow Hill-Moor Street is somebody buying it for Gold Card purooses...just for a journey thry make often enough to justify the extra cost over a Hatton-Lapworth season.

 

[paul1609]

I have a Lapworth to Hatton annual season ticket for this very purpose!

Ive had a Ryde annual before but have concluded that unless you make a lot of very short (under the £13 min) journeys midweek or in the margin area covered by the Gold Card its become of very marginal benefit over the standard Network Card.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ive had a Ryde annual before but have concluded that unless you make a lot of very short (under the £13 min) journeys midweek or in the margin area covered by the Gold Card its become of very marginal benefit over the standard Network Card.

And it has disadvantages, such as no validity on LNER or Avanti. Though it does cover a larger area.

 

[Ianno87]

I have a Lapworth to Hatton annual season ticket for this very purpose!

Cambridge-Cambridge North now appears to be cheaper.

 

[train in vain]

Cambridge-Cambridge North now appears to be cheaper.

Am I missing a trick Cambridge to Cambridge North appears to be £520 and the Hatton Lapworth £172?