CheshireCrusty
Member
- Joined
- 6 Feb 2014
- Messages
- 88
pt-mad: "Price seems to be more a factor than it was though from my experiences. Some customers may have been willing to pay more to travel flash, fast and to be seen to be on a Virgin Train."
I believe the incredible brand loyalty to Virgin is partly because of the price competitive Advance tickets sold by Virgin even for shoulder and peak travel provided you book your seat in advance using their booking systems. In my case my Manchester to London tickets never cost me more than half the equivalent "national" fare (Anytime or Offpeak tickets).
I particularly fear the introduction of a national "Oyster" form of ticketing will significantly increase my ticket costs and also discourage seat booking in advance and thereby lead to significantly more overcrowding on popular services. At least with the Virgin system you know that if Advance tickets are not offered for a particular train or are more than or close to the national fares - that train will be full and standing and their system gives you the tools to consider an alternative. This more than compensates for any inconvenience of having a set travel time (perhaps the rebooking fee for changing an advance ticket to another train could be lower). I do not find it a hardship to book an earlier or a later train if that will make my journey more comfortable and cheaper.
I also like the ability to choose/change your particular seat at the time of booking on their online system.
If I don't feel I am getting value and equivalent service from any new franchise holder, I will return to the car for my trips to London (perhaps stopping short of Central London and completing my journey by Tube or Overground) as I did before my conversion to Virgin Trains.
I believe the incredible brand loyalty to Virgin is partly because of the price competitive Advance tickets sold by Virgin even for shoulder and peak travel provided you book your seat in advance using their booking systems. In my case my Manchester to London tickets never cost me more than half the equivalent "national" fare (Anytime or Offpeak tickets).
I particularly fear the introduction of a national "Oyster" form of ticketing will significantly increase my ticket costs and also discourage seat booking in advance and thereby lead to significantly more overcrowding on popular services. At least with the Virgin system you know that if Advance tickets are not offered for a particular train or are more than or close to the national fares - that train will be full and standing and their system gives you the tools to consider an alternative. This more than compensates for any inconvenience of having a set travel time (perhaps the rebooking fee for changing an advance ticket to another train could be lower). I do not find it a hardship to book an earlier or a later train if that will make my journey more comfortable and cheaper.
I also like the ability to choose/change your particular seat at the time of booking on their online system.
If I don't feel I am getting value and equivalent service from any new franchise holder, I will return to the car for my trips to London (perhaps stopping short of Central London and completing my journey by Tube or Overground) as I did before my conversion to Virgin Trains.