Local routes with only day returns

Comstock

Hi, I'm not sure if there is much I can do about this, but here goes.

Every weekend I travel from Derby to Burton on trent on Saturday, with the reverse journey on a Sunday. A day return would be £5.40, however there is no period return so I have to pay for two singles at £5.20 a pop.

This doesn't seem very fair (which of course life isn't sometimes )


Two questions

1) Is there any kind of loophole I could take advantage of to get a period return?

2) Is it worth complaining anywhere about this? Obviously it would be a waste of time contacting CrossCountry, as I'd just get the standard brushoff email.

Whilst not the most pressing issue in the world, when you look at it annually I'm paying £250 over the odds, hence my search for a solution.....


(I can't take the bus as I have a bike with me)

neilmcl

Is the bus any cheaper?

Comstock

neilmcl wrote: »

Is the bus any cheaper?

Yes, but I can't take my bike on that!

dzug1

If there was a period return it would cost £10.40, or getting on for it, so it wouldn't help in the least.

Comstock

dzug1 wrote: »

If there was a period return it would cost £10.40, or getting on for it, so it wouldn't help in the least.

I wonder why there is such a big difference. Surely someone who day returns is taking up just the same number of seats as someone who comes back the next day?!

dzug1

Well there is an argument that since most short journeys are day returns then someone who returns next day is actually 'using' 4 seats - the two he uses, and the two he doesn't use, but still need to be provided. Not the most convincing of arguments, but there is a grain of truth in it.

The reason for no period returns on short journeys is to do with fare dodging - if issued there is a greater risk than on longer journeys that the return half will be used multiple times.

glider3560

You could see if any longer journeys (which pass through Burton) have a period return for less than £10.40. If they do, you can use the "You may start, break and resume or terminate your journey at any intermediate station" part of the NRCoC.

wealdroam

glider3560 wrote: »

You could see if any longer journeys (which pass through Burton) have a period return for less than £10.40. If they do, you can use the "You may start, break and resume or terminate your journey at any intermediate station" part of the NRCoC.

This was my thought too. :beer:

To save the OP looking, I have already checked that. There are none.

Altarf

Comstock wrote: »

(I can't take the bus as I have a bike with me)

How about using the bike to cycle? Its not far.

agrinnall

Buy a second bike, leave it in Burton and take the bus.

Owain_Moneysaver

I've checked the price of East Midlands Rover tickets and they don't help.

First Scotrail offer Flexipasses on certain routes (a batch of 10 single tickets valid in a month at a discount) - if East Midlands offered something similar on this route it might be ideal for you. You could ask at the train station, or email EMT and ask if they'd introduce such a thing.