All that needs to happen here is a tweak to the NRCoC to permit what is clearly the intention and remove the loophole. Provided it is made clear to passengers when they purchase what restriction is in place, and there's no way clearer than writing it on the ticket, what's the problem in passengers accepting a restriction in return for a lower fare?
There is no provision for this in the current framework.
Surely, it is already possible to do this by changing the restrictions of the Southern only cheap day returns, to specifically bar every single GatEx service. See:
"12. Restrictions on when you can travel
Restrictions apply to the use of some tickets (including those bought with a Railcard) in
addition to/other than those in Condition 10 above such as the dates, days, and times
when you can use them, and the trains in which they can be used. These restrictions will
be made clear to you by the seller when you buy your ticket. If a restriction applies and the
ticket you are using is not valid for the train you are travelling in, then:
(a) you will be liable to pay an excess fare (the difference between the price paid for
the ticket you hold and the price of the lowest priced ticket available for
immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel in that train for the journey
shown on the ticket); or
(b) in the case of some types of discounted tickets (as indicated in the notices and
publications) Condition 2 or 4 will apply.
10
If you purchase an Advance ticket, you must use that ticket in the train specified when you
book your ticket. However, if you miss this service because a previous connecting train
service was delayed you will be able to travel on the next service provided by the Train
Company with whom you were booked to travel without penalty.
If you have an Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak ticket and board a train on which your ticket is
not valid, you will only be charged the difference between the fare you have paid and the
cheapest valid Anytime or Off-Peak fare for the service concerned. The same principle
will apply if you wish to transfer to first class accommodation. This rule does not apply in
designated Penalty Fares areas, where you may be required to pay a Penalty Fare. "
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf
Of course, to do this would require permission from the DfT in the case of regulated fares, and it would clearly not be possible with anytime fares. Southern have chosen not to make this simple change.
I would add that, in my view, the tickets routed 'Not Gatwick Express' have such a time restriction on them, albeit shown in a very much unconventional way on the ticket.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
While my view is that GatEx should not be a premium service because air passengers with luggage are better on it (indeed I'd force them onto it by judicious use of "u" and "s" in the timetable, and make the fare the same as the regular one), that's a separate question of policy, and a policy that does not apply at the present time.
I don't think that would work as you would then end up accidentally removing the direct service between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria.
You just do as you say, charge the same fare, and make the signage so that it encourages people onto the Express. Booking clerks could advise passengers to boards the relevant train. Or you could just do away with the thing, and have 4 extra longer distance paths. Either way, I agree something should be done.
