So what is the solution?
Remove the railcard easement.
So what is the solution?
So what is the solution?
Remove the railcard easement.
As an aside, I personally don't subscribe to the "don't criticise it if you can't do better" school of thought. It's a lot easier to spot a problem than to solve it - accepted - but that shouldn't mean that no-one points it out.
Surely this fare avoidance is subsidised by Virgin's oft-criticised Anytime prices...
No, but it's nice to hear solutions!
I am not sure yet another level of fares should be introduced. After all, isn't our fares system complicated enough?
Fare avoidance? How is it fare avoidance?
Virgin already offers super off-peak returns, or did at some point at least.
We already have Super Off Peak tickets on the ECML, GWML and WCML (LM), so it's not making it any more complicated I'd say. As long as they are relatively standardised across the board, that is.
Virgin could hardly claim that they aren't introducing an OPR because it would be too complicated, what with their SVH and Super Off Peak Travelcard (which, er, must be bought in advance).
Because they're avoiding paying the full Anytime fare?
<end of ill-informed ramblings>
It seems to me that they are in effect turning a any permitted or whatever into a TOC specific ticket, ablit only for some customers at certain times of the day, is there an argument that perhaps such a restriction ought to appear on the ticket or don't it need to being an easement?
I've just done a fares/times search on thetrainline.com and it allows the purchase of a London Euston (EUS) to Glasgow Central (GLC) railcard discounted weekday Off Peak Return pre 0905 but does not show for sale the High Wycombe (HWY) - GLC ( via London) equivalent ticket. I assume that all other train ticket sites have also adjusted their software in accordance to this new rule ? Swift work if they have.
Restrictions to the services of particular TOCs must be shown on the ticket (NRCoC), this is not a restriction, so it does not need to be shown. If you want to be picky about it, there are quite a few tickets from/via/to London which have different restrictions depending on which London Terminal is used. That would be impossible to put on a ticket if it counted as a TOC restriction.
Could Virgin rename the current SVR to an SSR and introduce a new SVR at a higher price and lower restrictions? I know the current SVR is protected, but as long as it's maintained in existence under some name, it's still there, right?
Whilst I do agree with you these are now effectively TOC specific tickets before xx: xx for railcard holders.
Yes, but you cannot just hike the price, as long-distance SVRs are regulated fares.
Yes, and that is fine, so long as you only use Virgin Trains.
But Virgin don't go all the way to Blackheath
That's not a problem, you only intend to travel as far as London Euston.
My point, if there was one, was that I presume the machine is applying the railcard easement and doesn't seem to care about the Virgin trains only rule.
I don't know if this is relevant, but I had a play with the Virgin self-service machine at Lime Street last night.
Selecting Blackheath as destination I was only offered, for travel today, Anytime tickets. I then added a railcard, and Off-peak tickets were also offered.