Crazy Train Ticket Pricing - Why?

Victor_Delta

Can anyone please explain to me why I can buy a return ticket from Bournemouth to London (bought 7 days in advance, Apex return) for £17.40 and yet my colleague, who travels a shorter distance on the very same trains by joining/leaving them at Southampton, has to purchase a cheap day return for £25.80 or even a standard return (£48.30) - depending on the particular trains chosen. There doesn't seem to be an Apex option from Southampton even though it's all still part of South West Trains.

This seems crazy to me! So when we go to London now, I simply buy two tickets from Bournemouth and it saves us a fortune.

But why is it necessary?

PS I have asked National Rail Enquiries to explain this anomaly but, after several weeks, have never received a reply...

rdwarr

Probably because Southampton-London doesn't qualify (too short a distance for Apex and classed as a commuter route) for the massive discount you're getting on your ticket. Standard Bournemouth-London return is £69. I live under 30 miles from London and a peak one-day Travelcard is £19.80 - makes the Southampton price seem pretty good!
Be careful with the "buying two tickets" scam. I'm pretty sure I've read that the cheap SWT tickets aren't valid at intermediate stations. If caught your colleague would have to pay the full single fare which is slightly more than the cheap day return!

Victor_Delta

rdwarr wrote:

I'm pretty sure I've read that the cheap SWT tickets aren't valid at intermediate stations.

If this is correct, why not? This is what seems so crazy and illogical!

Basil_Fawlty

Victor_Delta wrote:

If this is correct, why not? This is what seems so crazy and illogical!

You wonder why the rail network isn't a viable alternative to using a car!!

rdwarr

Remember when it wasn't all about profit? If they can fill a train of commuters paying £30 for a ticket, why should they discount? It's hard to think of many full-price journeys (excluding London) where the car doesn't win all the time!
Shame really as I enjoy train travel.

Basil_Fawlty

I love train travel but I would be paying a premium to leave my car at home. And that is not on

zappomatic

https://www.megatrain.com have some cheap fares to and from Southamton.

Victor_Delta

zappomatic wrote:

https://www.megatrain.com have some cheap fares to and from Southamton.

Yes, but have you seen the timetables? Can't get to London before 11.34 and can't leave before 2139. OK perhaps for an afternoon and early evening in London.

Southampton Central 0955 1255 2055
London Waterloo ___ 1134 1434 2243

London Waterloo ___ 0839 1139 2139
Southampton Central 1014 1314 2316

zappomatic

Guess megatrain is only any use if you're staying somewhere more than a day. It's obviously a headline grabbing thing rather than something that's actually useful for a lot of people!

Spikey_2

why only to 3 destinations?

zappomatic

Have you considered using a coach instead? National Express have Funfares which are surprisingly flexible (quite a lot of coaches each day with £1 tickets etc) and Megabus too. I have found with National Express that if it says from £1, then you go to book two tickets and it charges you £12 then it's best to book the one ticket at £1, then go and book the second ticket separately which will come up at £6. A lot of airline booking sites seem to work like this as well. I had to do this for tickets to Poole, making a saving of £4.