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Mischarged?

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Ladder23

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Hi all,

Just left Luton with x2 Charing Cross returns, asking for the cheapest way possible, I was charged almost £60 for two travelcards which are a total waste as it’s such a small journey..

Absolutely shocked at the rail prices I very rarely travel during the week,

Is this right!?
 
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island

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What time were you planning on travelling back to Luton? And can you confirm the exact amount you were charged per ticket please?
 

Ladder23

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Maybe 5, I thought to drive but being pretty central I didn’t fancy the agro,

Peak time return unfortunately?
 

island

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In that case, you appear to have been sold the cheapest through fare a National Rail ticket office can sell.

Cheaper fares including an off-peak day return from Luton to Zones U12* Londn (£21.90) or a super off peak day Travelcard from Luton to London Zones 1-6 (£23.60) carry a 16:30-19:01 block on the return leg.

An off-peak day return from Luton to London Thameslink £21.50 combined with Oyster or Contactless from St. Pancras (or wherever) to Charing Cross at £2.40 each way would have come to a marginally cheaper £26.30, but ticket offices aren’t obliged to proactively offer journeys requiring multiple tickets.
 

Ladder23

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Thanks for confirming, I can vouch for people’s frustration now over prices is disgusting. Glad I don’t need rail for work!
 

Haywain

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ticket offices aren’t obliged to proactively offer journeys requiring multiple tickets.
It would be rather surprising if questions weren’t asked to establish which ticket was appropriate and whether a cheaper option was available.
 

island

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It would be rather surprising if questions weren’t asked to establish which ticket was appropriate and whether a cheaper option was available.
I would expect the ticket office clerk to have asked whether the passenger needed to return during the evening peak period, and in case of a negative answer, to have asked if any further journeys in London were necessary. These could establish whether either of the two cheaper tickets I mentioned earlier might have been suitable. As the OP wanted to travel back during a time at which they were barred, the off-peak day Travelcards sold were appropriate.
 

Ladder23

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cheers for all responses guys, I tried to get some more of my moneys worth by riding along the bakerloo line for a bit! ha
 

Haywain

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I would expect the ticket office clerk to have asked whether the passenger needed to return during the evening peak period, and in case of a negative answer, to have asked if any further journeys in London were necessary. These could establish whether either of the two cheaper tickets I mentioned earlier might have been suitable. As the OP wanted to travel back during a time at which they were barred, the off-peak day Travelcards sold were appropriate.
If it had been me selling the ticket I would have been pushing the benefits of a railcard.
 

Ladder23

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If it had been me selling the ticket I would have been pushing the benefits of a railcard.

typical I was looking not so long ago! I would of really saved myself a fortune if I look back over the last few months.
 

Haywain

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typical I was looking not so long ago! I would of really saved myself a fortune if I look back over the last few months.
Buying a railcard today would have cost you an extra £10 and given you 365 days to make back the rest of the £30 cost in savings. So one more trip to London would have made it worthwhile.
 

BluePenguin

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It might be better value for you to buy a ticket to London Terminals and then use Oyster. £2.40 is not much for a zone 1 single and after a few journeys you benefit from capping. Far better value than the travelcard!
 

Batthews

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1A72E379-0778-4122-B4E6-0B7F3E56A329.png I have a sort of related question. I travel sometimes between Preston and Lancaster, but when I look on the National Rail app there are different prices quoted dependent on which train I catch. However when I buy a ticket at the station, I always seem to end up paying the higher price.
 

alistairlees

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View attachment 72631 I have a sort of related question. I travel sometimes between Preston and Lancaster, but when I look on the National Rail app there are different prices quoted dependent on which train I catch. However when I buy a ticket at the station, I always seem to end up paying the higher price.
There are three Off-Peak single fares on that route
£8.00, valid on any train (does not matter if Northern, Avanti West Coast or TPE)
£7.00, valid on Avanti West Coast only
£6.30, valid on TPE only

You should be asked what train you are getting, or what flexibility you would like, and sold the correct one.
 

Batthews

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They never ask - although quite often there is a woman standing there with a card machine (think she works for Virgin) and maybe therein lies the problem.
 

Joe Paxton

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An off-peak day return from Luton to London Thameslink £21.50 combined with Oyster or Contactless from St. Pancras (or wherever) to Charing Cross at £2.40 each way would have come to a marginally cheaper £26.30, but ticket offices aren’t obliged to proactively offer journeys requiring multiple tickets.

Cheaper still, the above ticket to Blackfriars and then a short walk of just over a mile.
 

Bungle965

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They never ask - although quite often there is a woman standing there with a card machine (think she works for Virgin) and maybe therein lies the problem.
They should ask which service you are travelling on, as for the person standing there with a card machine, if it's what I'm thinking of then it will be a floorwalker who has an Avocet and is able to sell tickets mobile. It's irrelevant whether she works for Avanti or not.
Sam
 
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