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Sneaky 25% Fare Increase on Great Northern (42% this year)
Ever since I can remember (that's at least 30 years) the rule for off-peak travel from stations on my line into London (King's Cross) has been:
Leave after 9:30 or
Leave after 10:00 with a railcard
Come back when you like.
In January there was a massive rise in the cost of a One-Day Travelcard. For example, the Stevenage fare went up from £13.80 to £15.70, that's 13.8%.
In April the Franchise was taken over by First Capital Connect (was WAGN).
This week the rules on coming back have changed. Off-peak tickets may no longer be used to return between 16:30 and 19:00. In effect this means 16:22 to 19:23 taking into account when the trains run.
So to return from London at a sensible time now requires a Peak Travelcard costing £19.60. That's a 24.8% rise this week and an alarming 42% rise this year!
The reason given is that it will make the trains less crowded for those buying full-price tickets but, to be honest, the trains are never too bad, even in school holidays (it's not Thameslink). To me it looks like a massive hike in fares without having to go through the Regulator.
Leave after 9:30 or
Leave after 10:00 with a railcard
Come back when you like.
In January there was a massive rise in the cost of a One-Day Travelcard. For example, the Stevenage fare went up from £13.80 to £15.70, that's 13.8%.
In April the Franchise was taken over by First Capital Connect (was WAGN).
This week the rules on coming back have changed. Off-peak tickets may no longer be used to return between 16:30 and 19:00. In effect this means 16:22 to 19:23 taking into account when the trains run.
So to return from London at a sensible time now requires a Peak Travelcard costing £19.60. That's a 24.8% rise this week and an alarming 42% rise this year!
The reason given is that it will make the trains less crowded for those buying full-price tickets but, to be honest, the trains are never too bad, even in school holidays (it's not Thameslink). To me it looks like a massive hike in fares without having to go through the Regulator.
Can I help?
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Comments
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The peak time return restrictions appear to apply from Kings Cross but not from Finsbury Park, so you could either use the travelcard to get to Finsbury Park by bus or tube, then the train home, inconvenient I know but a way around the price hike.0
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No, unfortunately Finsbury Park (and all stations as far south as East Croydon) are included in the dreaded "Area B". See the leaflet for full details on this.
It would be possible to get back via a stop in North London but the journey time would be an hour instead of 20 minutes.
It's annoying for a part-time commuter but disastrous for families with the holidays coming up.Can I help?0 -
Sorry, just read the leaflet and see what you mean. If you type in Stevnage to London on the GNER site it ofers you an off peak travel card but shows its not available at the times you quote, if you type in Stevenage to Finsbury Park it shows no restrictions but guess the "leaflet" times will apply. Who dreams up these rules,
Southern have similar rules out of Victoria and Clapham Junction but East Croydon is ok
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