Robsignals
Member
- Joined
- 3 Aug 2012
- Messages
- 424
Edit: Sorry, my original interpretation was wrong not the fares which are just highly confusing! See #5 for a better explanation.
Hello, a complaint on Southern's fb page led me to discover incorrect fare results for St Leonards Warrior Square [[stn]SLQ[/stn]] to London Victoria [[stn]VIC[/stn]] day return. SLQ is the southeastern (SE) station before Hastings also served by Southern (SN) via Haywards Heath, using VIC effectively gives SN only trains. National Rail search for Mon-Fri out 0930 back 1730 gives a £21.20 fare named 'Super Off Peak Day Return' (SSR) out from 0957 returning on 1735. Clicking through to SE confirms the times but returning they were refused by Vic barrier staff.
Looking at SN shows that the 'Super Off Peak Day Return' via Haywards Heath (PDR) is £16 (£13.90 with SN discount) not valid 1615 - 1915. But £21.20 is the 'Super Off Peak Return' (SSR) which is valid all evening and on the faster SE route. So having paid the higher price they - parents and three under 5's - were treated as if they had the cheaper ticket and had tried to break the rules when they were following the times given and delayed nearly 2 hrs getting home.
How many other fare errors are there, can't journey planners more clearly show that changing travel time by an hour or two can give a worthwhile saving and a cheaper fare is more likely from the relevant TOC's website? There's still a long way to go in making the railway simple to use for the ordinary public.
Hello, a complaint on Southern's fb page led me to discover incorrect fare results for St Leonards Warrior Square [[stn]SLQ[/stn]] to London Victoria [[stn]VIC[/stn]] day return. SLQ is the southeastern (SE) station before Hastings also served by Southern (SN) via Haywards Heath, using VIC effectively gives SN only trains. National Rail search for Mon-Fri out 0930 back 1730 gives a £21.20 fare named 'Super Off Peak Day Return' (SSR) out from 0957 returning on 1735. Clicking through to SE confirms the times but returning they were refused by Vic barrier staff.
Looking at SN shows that the 'Super Off Peak Day Return' via Haywards Heath (PDR) is £16 (£13.90 with SN discount) not valid 1615 - 1915. But £21.20 is the 'Super Off Peak Return' (SSR) which is valid all evening and on the faster SE route. So having paid the higher price they - parents and three under 5's - were treated as if they had the cheaper ticket and had tried to break the rules when they were following the times given and delayed nearly 2 hrs getting home.
How many other fare errors are there, can't journey planners more clearly show that changing travel time by an hour or two can give a worthwhile saving and a cheaper fare is more likely from the relevant TOC's website? There's still a long way to go in making the railway simple to use for the ordinary public.
Last edited: