I wonder how many people actually use or know about VT/Avanti SVH's
I wonder how many people actually use or know about VT/Avanti SVH's
Know their name and exactly how they work? Few. Go onto the website and select them because that's what the website offers, and they're the cheapest option for their needs? Many, many many.I wonder how many people actually use or know about VT/Avanti SVH's
I'd imagine a lot of people, though many of them probably unwittingly.
This is merely a symptom of the increases in the prices of Advance tickets under the later days of VT. Various companies have realised they can both be more granular in their yield management and retain 100% of the allocation, they have tried to push a greater share of sales onto Advance tickets. It also has some marketing benefits to make greater numbers available at a higher price, because it seems more honest and sets realistic expectations.Given that rail use is significantly about perception, I'm a little confused why this is a good idea for Avanti.
Take my travel to London, Off Peak Return 146.30 and I'm far enough north that it will always be off peak
If the single is now 65% then the advance has to be less than 35% of 146.30 = 46.30. At the very lowest advance price point in the system (29.00) I now get a saving of 17.30 at best. Hence I'm unlikely to use advances and now perceive that I can't buy the "cheap" tickets for the train only the "expensive" one unless I can fix my return train.
If all singles are going to the 60%70% pricing and can be bought on the day it could be good for business travel where you aren't sure about return timings. Currently if you want to travel from Euston to Manchester in the afternoon or evening you either commit to buying a SVH and leaving before 3pm or after 7pm or go for an Anytime single at silly prices. If you can now get a peak single at lower cost some will opt for that instead.Given that rail use is significantly about perception, I'm a little confused why this is a good idea for Avanti.
If all singles are going to the 60%70% pricing and can be bought on the day it could be good for business travel where you aren't sure about return timings. Currently if you want to travel from Euston to Manchester in the afternoon or evening you either commit to buying a SVH and leaving before 3pm or after 7pm or go for an Anytime single at silly prices. If you can now get a peak single at lower cost some will opt for that instead.
This does not logically follow. For example, if you're going to Manchester, you'll still be required to commit to being in time for the 1500, or wait until the 1900 (or 1857 ThFO), unless you're happy to pay £180.If all singles are going to the 60%70% pricing and can be bought on the day it could be good for business travel where you aren't sure about return timings. Currently if you want to travel from Euston to Manchester in the afternoon or evening you either commit to buying a SVH and leaving before 3pm or after 7pm or go for an Anytime single at silly prices. If you can now get a peak single at lower cost some will opt for that instead.
TPE will be introducing SVH fares from 17th May.
Genuine SVHs, only available as part of a return and only in advance.It's like FirstGroup have got two arms and one doesn't know what the other one is doing
Genuine SVHs i.e. only available online, or just reducing singles to 50% of returns?
Genuine SVHs, only available as part of a return and only in advance.
TPE will be introducing SVH fares from 17th May.
Of course they'll blame an outdated 1990s fares model, privatisation, changing passenger habits but they really should face up to the fact that they are making the fares structure more complicated.
So a journey of around ten minutes covering about eight miles has gone from having two easy to understand fares to eight fares* all with different restrictions and considerations for a potential passenger to think about (or not!) before choosing. And the industry finds itself wondering why people say fares are confusing!?
You'll be pleased to hear that Avanti are whacking all of theirs up to a shade less than the interavailable tickets. This is often £0.10.Precisely. TOC specific fares for local journeys like this are just madness and cause nothing but problems just so the odd person can save themselves 50p. There is no real scope for market differentiation like there is on a long distance service.
Agreed, the Avanti only fares would no longer make sense for me between Rugby and Birmingham. Until this change, they gave you the option of saving a few quid, with the compromise of a reduced service frequency to choose from.You'll be pleased to hear that Avanti are whacking all of theirs up to a shade less than the interavailable tickets. This is often £0.10.
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To put it another way, they will become rather expensive at best and absolutely appalling value for money at worst, which will probably see them dropping off after a while.
I believe the SVR is the regulated fare so, no, you have no redress.Checking our regular journey (when lockdown is over) from Nuneaton to Liverpool in the evening, returning early the following morning, two adults using a Two Together Railcard on the outbound, I see the total price has risen from £79.50 to £95.80.
We now have to buy an SVR instead of 2 x SVH. It's a price rise of over 20%.
Are these regulated fares? Do I have any redress?
You shouldn't have been able to buy two SVH the whole idea was that it was Advance one way SVH the other.Checking our regular journey (when lockdown is over) from Nuneaton to Liverpool in the evening, returning early the following morning, two adults using a Two Together Railcard on the outbound, I see the total price has risen from £79.50 to £95.80.
We now have to buy an SVR instead of 2 x SVH. It's a price rise of over 20%.
Are these regulated fares? Do I have any redress?
Checking our regular journey (when lockdown is over) from Nuneaton to Liverpool in the evening, returning early the following morning, two adults using a Two Together Railcard on the outbound, I see the total price has risen from £79.50 to £95.80.
We now have to buy an SVR instead of 2 x SVH. It's a price rise of over 20%.
Are these regulated fares? Do I have any redress?