Virgin Fares Double For Railcard Holders On Peak Trains

Silverpete

Peak Birmingham to London railfares are low cost compared to travelling the London - Wales line on GWR, and you have a competitive train company to go with. Railways should be a national service and run to benefit the entire country - the only thing Corbin has right, buy the lot back using a small tax rebate from the shareholders over 20 years!

harz99

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

I never even knew this discount existed. I have a disable railcard and use Virgin Trains now and then but travel Off Peak. I think...

When exactly is "Off Peak"?

At some of the eye watering prices I have seen for fares on Virgin (who seem to now have the monopoly on long distance travel as they run East Coast too) I would prefer to drive my own car.

I looked for a ticket to Newcastle (journey time over 8 hours) from the Isle of Wight last week and it was £101 for the saver fare using my railcard (without the cost of the ferry to the mainland) yet I could a cheaper price by flying from Southampton to Newcastle on FlyBe taking only 1h 20mins plus my travel to the airports. I also of course get NO discount on FlyBe - that was their full adult fare.

Island trains website shows off peak return fares including ferry at around £184 before any railcard discount from say Shanklin to Newcastle midweek leaving around 1115 for approx. 8.5 -9 hour journey.


That fare has some flexibility unlike your cheap air fare.


Also, when looking at travel times don't forget the need to be at the airport well ahead of flight time to check in etc., and to allow extra time for travel to ensure you don't miss that flight which would turn out to be a very expensive mistake, and of course any luggage charge which would apply on the flight option.


By all means take your own car if you are happy to endure the drive and wear and tear on yourself, you may have more flexibility but I doubt that you will save much, if anything, in the long run.

cifpower

shinkyshonky wrote: »

All needs to be renationalised ...and soon , come on Corbyn

Won't happen. EU laws don't allow it.

km1971

Depending where you work in London you should consider renting in a town about 45 minutes commute from London. In Basingstoke for example you have two expresses each morning taking 45 minutes to get to Waterloo. A separate room in a flatshare in Basingstoke costs about £350 a month all in, plus the same for a monthly season ticket to Waterloo You will save on the cost of a student card. And booking in advance you can get a sat-sun trip home for about £12 single.


I am sure similar options exist if you work nearer a different mainline station. Say Stevenage to Kings Cross.

2Protons

Won't happen. EU laws don't allow it.

Nonsense all EU law would require is that we allow private players to use state infrastructure as well.

For example if a company wanted to use the railway we would have to let them have access to the rail network but we can charge them for it. For example freight companies but in practices i doubt once the subsidies to for profit enterprise goes many private player would be interested except freight (but saying that I would not be opposed to the state subsiding rail freight so we can reduce the amount of lorries on the roads).

The same applies for all the other natural monopolies which were sold off except water and sewage (where we don't need to allow private players access)

Mids_Costcutter

Exactly: to take one example Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) is a private joint-stock company 100% owned by the German government, so stated-owned. EU regulations on rail transport continue to allow and encourage competition in operating freight and passenger services.