This morning at 09:29 I went to buy a CDR from Shipley to Morley. The only option available was the Anytime Day Return at £5.50. I naturally waited a minute and bought an Off-Peak one for £3.70.
Had I not known that in a few seconds the machine would sell me a ticket costing £1.80 less, I may very well have bought the more expensive ticket. The previous train from Shipley to Leeds had been at 09:14, so for 16 minutes the machine was charging too much to anyone travelling to Leeds or beyond on the 09:39. I also noticed that after 09:30 the machine continued to offer the Anytime ticket, even though there would be no further periods during that day when the off-peak ticket could not be used.
Would it not be possible for the machine to stop offering Anytime tickets as soon as the last train on which they need to be used? Is it not some form of fraud for Northern to fail to offer this through its machines? At best it is dishonesty. Also, why would the Anytime ticket continue to be offered at times when the Off-peak version is valid, unless there is a hope that some confused passengers may mistakenly buy the wrong one?
Had I not known that in a few seconds the machine would sell me a ticket costing £1.80 less, I may very well have bought the more expensive ticket. The previous train from Shipley to Leeds had been at 09:14, so for 16 minutes the machine was charging too much to anyone travelling to Leeds or beyond on the 09:39. I also noticed that after 09:30 the machine continued to offer the Anytime ticket, even though there would be no further periods during that day when the off-peak ticket could not be used.
Would it not be possible for the machine to stop offering Anytime tickets as soon as the last train on which they need to be used? Is it not some form of fraud for Northern to fail to offer this through its machines? At best it is dishonesty. Also, why would the Anytime ticket continue to be offered at times when the Off-peak version is valid, unless there is a hope that some confused passengers may mistakenly buy the wrong one?