York to Leeds: 1/3 rail card gone up 50%

sukiduki

I recently sold my car to start travelling to Leeds from York by train. The cost is £13.50 before 9.30am or £10.50 off peak. With a 1/3 off rail card that is £9 or £8 which is cheaper than traveling by car.

Just recently the minimum ticket price has gone up 50% from £8 to £12. It costs me about £10/day to run a small car (inc repairs, mot etc) so this is now uneconomic even off peak. Especially as I have to put up with belligerent rail staff and bus drivers.

Whats the point of going by train? and doing without the convenience of the car? I'm going to look for a car again!

dieselhead

I have to admit other than the occasional one off special price ticket all the journey's I have looked into recently have been cheaper by car inc. parking. In fact quite often I have wound up flying on journeys that previously I would have gone on the train.

KeithP

From the railcard website...

Minimum fares

A 12 minimum fare applies for journeys made before 10am Monday to Friday, excluding Advance fares. This minimum fare does not apply on public holidays or throughout July and August.
If you do travel regularly before 10am then a weekly or monthly season ticket may be more appropriate (a Railcard discount will not apply). For more information ask at the ticket office.

So there is no minimum fare after 10am.
Doesn't that mean that the £8 fare isn't increased to £12?

The above quote mentions season tickets. Is that an economical option?

westv

KeithP wrote: »

The above quote mentions season tickets. Is that an economical option?

Most certainly yes.

Annual season ticket Leeds to York = £1,760 = £ 7.72 assuming 228 working days.

sukiduki

I don't think nearly 2 grand a year is that reasonable myself....

As a student with a rail card, I get 1/3 off fares before 9.30am. Leeds fare is 13.50, so thats £9 (about a quid cheaper than travelling by car, woohoo!)

I can travel just after 9.30 on off peak for £8 - thats more like it!

Except, now the minimum fare with a rail card is £12, so now I'm stuck with the standard off peak fare of 10.50 - more than the car.

To think that paying a whopping cash advance to the rail company is good value is insane, besides which I only need to use the train 3 or 4 days / wk.

KeithP

sukiduki wrote: »

I don't think nearly 2 grand a year is that reasonable myself....

Sukiduki, you are missing [STRIKE]the point[/STRIKE] several points.

Westv said...

Annual season ticket Leeds to York = £1,760 = £ 7.72 assuming 228 working days.

First point...
If £1760 is "nearly 2 grand", then I submit that £13.50 is nearly £8.
What's the problem?

Second point...
Westv has told you how you can do that return journey at £7.72 per day.
When I was at school, £7.72 was less than £8.
Now that you have told us "I only need to use the train 3 or 4 days / wk", you will be able to decide whether the fare is cheap enough.

Third point...
Did you miss this...

So there is no minimum fare after 10am.
Doesn't that mean that the £8 fare isn't increased to £12?

Where did £8 pounds come from? The 10:11 York to Leeds train will only cost you £7.25.