Definition of "Standard Fare"

[mbreckers]

Hi folks,

Just looking for a quick bit of advice.

When the term "standard fare" is used, what does that mean exactly, does that specifically mean the Anytime cost or does off-peak still apply?

 

[yorkie]

What's the context?

The NRCoC does not use the term "standard fare", this is not a recognised term as far as I know.

The "full fare" means the Anytime / Anytime Day Single or Return, with no Railcard discount.

The "appropriate fare" means the lowest priced ticket valid for travel at that time, with Railcard discount if applicable.

In railway ticketing terms, "standard" means standard class, and is not used to indicate any particular ticket type.

However the bus industry tends to use the term "standard fare" (a misnomer if ever there was one) for their equivalent of a Penalty Fare.

 

[mbreckers]

Travelling from Prestwick Town to Glasgow Central off-peak return.

I have a Scottish Concession Card, this one: http://www.spt.co.uk/travelcards/concessions/

I've always been charged £4.90, which is half the £9.80 Off-Peak Return fare, but today I was charged £7.15.

ScotRail's twitter and Glasgow Central High Level say £4.90 is the correct price for this card, ScotRail's CS and Glasgow Central Low Level say £7.15 is the correct price.
---------------------------
UPDATE: ScotRail Twitter now say:

" I've looked in to this further, Martyn. Some councils will offer 50% on off-peak fare, but with Strathclyde regions it's based on Anytime fares. £7.15 would be correct fare. Sorry for the confusion"

 

[Bletchleyite]

However the bus industry tends to use the term "standard fare" (a misnomer if ever there was one) for their equivalent of a Penalty Fare.

A deliberate misnomer to avoid the need for Penalty Fares related legislation, or similarly to avoid being accused of imposing an illegal fine; the principle is that the bus fare is £10 (say), but by buying it before making your journey it is discounted to whatever is normally charged. As the bus fare can be whatever a bus company wants it to be (it then being up to the passenger if it constitutes good value or not), that strikes me as legal.

I don't know how often (if at all) this is ever actually charged, Edinburgh trams aside (where the "on-board fare" is £10, but this isn't, AIUI, considered fare-dodging, nor would it result in prosecution etc, it is simply the price you pay for a ticket on board if you don't buy before boarding; if in a real hurry you may actually consider this good value).

(Edinburgh trams are an odd one - they all have conductors but these are only allowed to sell the £10 fare. If you have them, I don't see why you wouldn't simply have them sell all tickets and save the cost of the platform machines - or indeed not have them and have proper revenue squads etc)

 

[greatkingrat]

As there is a £1.30 fare for journeys less than 10 miles, you could do the journey for £5.20. You would need to take a slow train though.

GLASGOW CENTRAL - JOHNSTONE £1.30
JOHNSTONE - GLENGARNOCK £1.30
GLENGARNOCK - IRVINE £1.30
IRVINE - PRESTWICK TOWN £1.30

 

[Paul Kelly]

I've always been charged £4.90, which is half the £9.80 Off-Peak Return fare, but today I was charged £7.15.

When you get the £4.90 fare, what is printed on the ticket as the status discount code (left-hand side, above the "From" station)? BR Fares suggests that £7.15 is the correct fare and that the status code should be "STRAH".

 

[mbreckers]

when you get the £4.90 fare, what is printed on the ticket as the status discount code (left-hand side, above the "from" station)? br fares suggests that £7.15 is the correct fare and that the status code should be "strah".

scr concess rtn

 

[Tetchytyke]

As there is a £1.30 fare for journeys less than 10 miles, you could do the journey for £5.20. You would need to take a slow train though.

Be careful, the rules say this:

A valid ticket must be purchased which covers the entire journey length for the trip which is being made i.e. origin station to final destination station.

I think it's meaning you have to buy a ticket, but it could (not saying it should) be interpreted as not allowing you to rebook at each intermediate station.