Train operators seek no frills airlines-style fare structure

Mids_Costcutter

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has just produced a paper recommending further deregulation of train fares. Apparently train operators would like a fares structure closer to that used by no frills airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet where fares are more expensive nearer the departure date and also higher for in-demand services.

Do ATOC (and the government) realise though that rail passengers don't all plan their travel 12 weeks in advance? As rail watchdog Passenger Focus highlighted in a comprehensive report last year, long-distance walk-up return fares to the principal city (London) in the UK already cost almost twice as much as the next most expensive European country. Similarly walk-up day return fares to the second city (Birmingham) are more than 1.5 times more expensive than the next most expensive country.

Bad news for those who wish to save money by travelling by train?

Mark_Hewitt

I thought they already did this? Isn't this what advance purchase and operator only fares are all about?

Mids_Costcutter

Yes, but I understand that they want more deregulation such as lifting the current price cap on off-peak walk-up fares: previously these were called saver fares. Price increases on these fares are at present restricted to inflation + 1%.

Simon11

You fail to realise that there's lots of overcrowding and no simple way to solve this issue.

The main way for train companys to ensure this doesn't happen is to use price.

Busier trains should be more expensive, while quiet trains should be cheaper.

Deregulation will result in less overcrowding and enable people to travel cheaper if they wish to travel at quieter times!

Train companys ideal world would be to have everyone purchasing advance tickets, so they reduce overcrowding and have idea of loadings

alanrowell

What hasn't been explained is why TOCs can't do this now.

Or is it a case that they want to hike the prices of the busiest services.

Mark_Hewitt

alanrowell wrote: »

What hasn't been explained is why TOCs can't do this now.

They do!

Or is it a case that they want to hike the prices of the busiest services.

This.

rev_henry

Train companies can't simply hike prices on the busiest services because these are invariably at peak times and are thus regulated fares. Or if you're Virgin then you just move the goalposts and change the definition of peak time...

Mids_Costcutter

Simon11 wrote: »

You fail to realise that there's lots of overcrowding and no simple way to solve this issue.

The main way for train companys to ensure this doesn't happen is to use price.

Busier trains should be more expensive, while quiet trains should be cheaper.

Deregulation will result in less overcrowding and enable people to travel cheaper if they wish to travel at quieter times!

Train companys ideal world would be to have everyone purchasing advance tickets, so they reduce overcrowding and have idea of loadings

Thanks for the reply. I do realise that there's overcrowding, even in the West Midlands (though obviously not on the scale of busy commuter lines into London). Is price really the main way for TOCs to reduce overcrowding? What about increasing capacity? What about people who need to travel at busier times? Should they be priced off the railways?

Running_On_Empty

Mids_Costcutter wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I do realise that there's overcrowding, even in the West Midlands (though obviously not on the scale of busy commuter lines into London). Is price really the main way for TOCs to reduce overcrowding? What about increasing capacity? What about people who need to travel at busier times? Should they be priced off the railways?

Increasing capacity is not simple. Rolling stock has to be built; platforms lengthened.

rev_henry

Running_On_Empty wrote: »

Increasing capacity is not simple. Rolling stock has to be built; platforms lengthened.

Or if you're FGW you could just hide a load of rolling stock in an old army base and pretend it doesn't exist...

Mark_Hewitt

Running_On_Empty wrote: »

Increasing capacity is not simple. Rolling stock has to be built; platforms lengthened.

The way the franchises are awarded gives no incentive for increased capacity.
IMO, the revenue they receive should be based upon the loading of a particular train, e.g. the number of seats + safe standing numbers, and if a train is loaded beyond this they get less money per passenger. Thus giving them incentive to put on more carriages and more rolling stock. Rather than just cram as many people in as possible then claim there's nothing they can do about it.