Train fare landmark victory

yorkie2

As I said before, no it has not been closed (as of last night)

They will close it soon, so ensure your purchase is made while it's still shown as valid.

Go to the FCC website, go to book a ticket, and see what routes and tickets it offers for Watford North to Elstree & Borehamwood. If it offers a Travelcard with an itinerary via St Albans, then print that as evidence.

thelawnet

Still valid, but Carpenders Park is cheaper.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/CPK/ELS/tomorrow/1215/dep?via=St_Albans_Abbey

You would need Carpenders Park - London Travelcard.

portisgreg

Carpenders Park -> Watford Junction -> SAA

SAA -> SAC (walk)

SAC -> Elstree & Borehamwood

Elstree & Borehamwood -> St Pancras (covered by Travelcard)

£2416

Currently I pay £3112.00

Saving £696 annually.

I would say I'd have to get a train calling at E&B otherwise inspectors wouldn't believe it.

Hmmm... Not a bad saving just having to get up 20 mins earlier every morning.

portisgreg

Just noticed this on the FCC website:

Change of online booking system

Please be aware that our online booking service changed on November 6. If you’re new to First Capital Connect, please read our online booking guide.

Please note that tickets and Travelcards purchased online from Carpenders Park, Bushey, Watford High Street, Watford Junction, Watford North, Garston, Bricket Wood, How Wood and Park Street to London are not valid for travel via St Albans.

If you’re an existing customer, we value your custom and as such we’ve made every effort to ensure a seamless online experience by ensuring:

That your online account details such as username and password remain active and that travel preferences and transaction history are available
That, where agreed, you continue to receive information about service developments, offers and promotions
If you purchased your season ticket on this website before November 6 and your ticket is damaged or lost, you can apply for a replacement via email at fcc.websupport@firstgroup.com or by contacting Web Support on 0844 556 5638.

thelawnet

They are literally making it up as they go along.

An easement was published yesterday reading

'Customers travelling from Watford North, Garston, Bricket Wood, How Wood, Park Street and St Albans Abbey to or via London St Pancras in possession of tickets routed "Any Permitted" may not travel via St Albans. This easement applies in both directions.'

I'm not clear what the relevance of being purchased online is to their statement, but that was what was put out officially in terms of 'the rules'.

According to National Rail Enquiries, which is considered proof of validity, a Carpenders Park travelcard is valid to Elstree & Borehamwood via St Albans.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/CPK/ELS/tomorrow/1630/dep?via=Park_Street

Given that you have a travelcard, providing that the train calls at Elstree, it's unequivocally valid for the journey St Albans - London.

portisgreg

Surely this is just a case of waiting for the websites etc to be updated though?

Who issues an "easement"? Is it FCC or the rail regulator?

Has this been validated by the DFT as stated in the original article?

portisgreg

And rather than closing the route why don't they just make it a really expensive route?

thelawnet

They can't increase the price because the price is intended for London Midland trains via Watford Junction into Euston. It's not FCC's to increase, and neither could London Midland increase it because fares are regulated.

We don't know what kind of oversight there has been into this process by government/regulator. Probably none.

yorkie2

Tickets are still being issued from Watford North to Zones 1-6, with itineraries via St Albans (specifying destination: Elstree & Borehamwood), and I believe that this remains valid irrespective of "negative easements" based on the shortest route rule.

I do not seem to be able to attach a screenshot demonstrating to this (I've posted one elsewhere but the MSE forum rules don't allow me to link to it)

I suspect they will botch the booking engines & journey planners to stop offering this route shortly, though.

So if anyone wants a Season ticket, I would suggest purchasing one and obtaining this itinerary sooner rather than later.

yorkie2

This was mentioned in a brief, but interesting, piece regarding Rail Fares on You & Yours (Radio 4) yesterday, available on BBC iPlayer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b03cv477) from approximately 20min30sec to 26min20sec.

It also briefly mentions that the Routeing Guide offers a wide range of routes in some cases, and also that "splitting" may be cheaper - and the main reason this occurs is because the fares are set by different companies.

Nothing ground-breaking, but it's well worth listening to, and accessible as it was stated in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Unlike some other publications who have discussed railway fares, the piece was well-researched and accurate, containing no inaccuracies.

As for the loophole that FCC hates so much, well it still exists - you just have to know what to look for and providing your journey is to Elstree & Borehamwood, as it's the shortest route, negative easements (which are listed in the Routeing Guide) do not apply, as our right to use the shortest route is defined in the NRCoC, with no requirement to consult the Routeing Guide.