People pointing out flaws in your assertions is a long way from making veiled threats. If Yorkie is wrong, then, if your argument is sound, point out what's wrong.
First of all, please don't take my comments out of context by misquoting them. I did not say Yorkie threatened me, I said I felt he made veiled insults in using the term "People like you". Yorkie to my knowledge has never met me so cannot possibly know who I am and so I felt that this comment was intended to look down on me a little bit, or at least treat me with some contempt.
You will note that despite asking several times now, no-one has said they have approached Northern on this matter and frankly that for me is very telling. I suspect some members prefer to use situations like this to further slate Northern rather than seek resolution. But that is just my opinion.
Why is having a choice of many routes a farce? Much of it is due to alternative routes built by different rail companies. If one route suits someone, removing it does not make their life simpler. It doesn't make life simpler for someone who would never use it because it's not the fastest route.
My experience is that people on this board have been very keen to help me find the best fare - I have some knowledge,but am not an expert, but I've had good advice and have not been talked down to. I suspect this forum is one of the main sources of people finding out about unusual tickets - the TOCs certainly aren't going out of their way to promote them.
We have a very complicated fares system, but the only ways I can see to make it much simpler, remove flexibility and/or leave some people with huge fare rises (assuming the whole exercise is revenue neutral). If you can see another way, explain it and it can be examined. I suspect most on this forum would welcome that (but they will also point out if it doesn't meet these criteria).
First of all I don't doubt that some of the members here are knowledgeable on these matters, some may have direct experience others have just spent some time studying the rules, routing options etc. But that doesn't make them immune to mistakes or indeed having their views challenged, this is the very nature of forums, people do challenge other people's views on matters. In this instance the general feeling seems to be that the Leeds-Halifax via Brighouse route should be permitted, I don't because there is only one train in one direction each day. All other alternatives require using another service that is better suited for the stations it actually calls at and not for passengers requiring a change when a quicker and direct route is far more favourable. And just because the systems in place to handle situations like the 4th March aren't up to scratch is no reason to change this, the software handling the data clearly needs work. As a developer I know that this should be a fairly straightforward change, but because as with so many things in this country changes become convoluted and expensive, or a myth emerges that it cannot be done. So I say, in this instance that it is not the fault of Northern but the crappy engines not being able to cope. The £7.50 fares should simply not be available or visible to any search, and passengers ought allowed to use either the bus or the diverted services on the day (which in reality is probably what will happen). There is no need to make the route permissible otherwise. That is my point of view on this matter.
As you say we do have a very complicated fares structure, and for the vast majority of passengers it simply doesn't work. It is really a more exclusive group as highlight on this sub-forum that get an advantage that that most other passengers will never see. I would like to see a simpler system, where the standard price for a ticket is advertised, and this be available right up until a few minutes before departure, and any discounts for advances be advertised alongside. So say a fare is costed at £100, at 12 weeks before departure TOCs could advertise the £100 fare less 50% discount, at six weeks less 25% and so on. Fares would be based on the best available routes based on time and capacity, set by DfT, and if passengers wanted to use alternative routes then they would have to plan a split journey rather than hunting for loopholes. In the case of disruption TOCs would then be required to offer and advertise the alternative routes as appropriate. Booking would be controlled by a single portal, although TOCs would be free to use their own engines to query this. Cost wise for Standard pricing there would be a maximum price that TOCs could charge per mile, again set by DfT as part of the franchise agreements and these would be publicly known, and would be set at a rate so as not to price people out.
All this of course would leave a gap in revenue, as I'm sure anyone reading this were about to point out. But I for one am not adverse to government subsidies for transport, it is a key key facet in out nation's infrastructure and so as tax payers we really should not be so adverse towards some of our taxes being used. However I would encourage industry experts into central government to set subsidies, check contracts for value, advise on best practices etc. These people could give a desperately needed level of expertise to ensure that subsides are properly used and offer the best value for money whilst allowing private operators to make profits. I would also encourage a more airline style pricing policies for additional extras, whilst things like free WiFi are nice they are not a pre-requisite for most passengers. So allow charging for additional services, onboard meals for longer journeys, maybe even consider on longer formations splitting out First Class into a Business & Premium Class, offering varying levels of service. Having used a number of different airlines in the last for years for both short, medium and long haul flights it seems to be a business model that not only is popular with some passengers but helps drive down the basic cost per seat per mile. Its either that or privatisation.....
