Times Fri 20 January report Saver Rail fares to be scrapped

wealthsaver

On Friday 20th Jan, I read in the Times the news that the Government is looking at allowing Saver rail fares to be scrapped.

See here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-2001265,00.html

What a way to encourage people to use the train instead of driving their own cars! However for many it is the only way to travel a distance. It is all very well saying that you can get cheaper tickets in advance if you book travel and specify time of outward and return but a scheduled service should cater for those who may need to make short notice trips.

exil

Rather a case of shroud-waving here. The plan is, in fact, to remove restrictions on price increases for savers, rather than "abolish" them. The government cannot "abolish" them anyway, the train operators are free to continue offering them, and even today it is up to the operators which trains savers are available on.

Savers only account for 5% of journeys. In 90% of cases, people would be able to book in advance - and without savers, train operators will be able to offer more cheap book-ahead tickets.

After all - the train operators don't want to run empty trains, and the existence of
low cost airlines means that they can't just charge whatever they want.

wealthsaver

exil wrote:

Savers only account for 5% of journeys. In 90% of cases, people would be able to book in advance - and without savers, train operators will be able to offer more cheap book-ahead tickets.

Where did you see the figures? I recently travelled by train. I bought a ticket the day before travel yet was still offered just a saver with open return despite stating I wanted to travel leaving after 10:30am and returning before 17:00. I believe at least I could have bought a day return perhaps saving pennies. Not everyone has advance notice of when they can or have to travel. It would have been cheaper and more convienient for me to travel by car but I thought I would be one less motorist on the busy motorway and one more prudent traveller by rail.

exil wrote:

After all - the train operators don't want to run empty trains, and the existence of low cost airlines means that they can't just charge whatever they want.

I have to say I have never travelled on an empty train. In some cases, I have made journeys where it was standing room only. I have however seen airplanes (eg a MD DC10) with barely 10 passengers on. Admittedly in the USA.