SW Trains - Anytime Day Return Tickets More Expensive at Peak Times

igbar091

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone had noticed that South Western Railway list their Anytime Day Returns at higher prices when looking at peak times than off-peak, even though the ticket is valid for travel at any time of day?

Surely it is HIGHLY misleading and unethical (no surprise there...) to charge two prices for THE SAME ticket, depending on the time looked at, when buying the cheaper ticket would still let you travel on the peak trains just fine.

Just wondered if anyone else had noticed, and if it's worth complaining to them or someone else?

cookie365

If it's a different price it's not the same ticket. Show us an example.

At least tell us the start and end stations and the amounts.

elverson

There isn't such thing as a "peak train". The peak/off peak times depend on the origin and destination stations.

igbar091

For example:

Clapham Junction to Exeter Central on 17th November 2017, no railcard

Looking at the South Western Railway website (also happens on Trainline):

Train Out: South Western Railway, 7:17am, 3hrs 20, no changes, via Honiton: Anytime Day Return: £82.90
Train Out: South Western Railway, 10:27am, 3hrs10, no changes, via Honiton: Anytime Day Return: £72

Anytime Day Return restrictions (same on both): via Honiton

p00hsticks

igbar091 wrote: »

For example:

Clapham Junction to Exeter Central on 17th November 2017, no railcard

Looking at the South Western Railway website (also happens on Trainline):

Train Out: South Western Railway, 7:17am, 3hrs 20, no changes, via Honiton: Anytime Day Return: £82.90
Train Out: South Western Railway, 10:27am, 3hrs10, no changes, via Honiton: Anytime Day Return: £72

Anytime Day Return restrictions (same on both): via Honiton

I've just had a look at the first of these two journeys on Trainline.
Bizzarely, it lists two seperate 'Anytime Day returns' as being available for exactly the same journey - one priced at £72 and one at £82.90.

An 'off-peak day return' valid on the next train is priced at £74.50, which suggests that the £72 price might be a glitch in the database ?

Edit: Just spotted the difference between the two fares;

The £72 one has a route restriction of
Valid only for travel via (changing trains or passing through) Honiton; not valid via London Terminals.


Whilst the £82.90 one has a route restriction of

Valid only for travel via (changing trains or passing through) Honiton.


So the more expensive ticket allows travel via London Terminals. the cheaper one doesn't.

esuhl

igbar091 wrote: »

Train Out: South Western Railway, 7:17am, 3hrs 20, no changes, via Honiton: Anytime Day Return: £82.90

That shows as £72 for me. On both the SWR and National Trains websites.

esuhl

p00hsticks wrote: »

Bizzarely, it lists two seperate 'Anytime Day returns' as being available for exactly the same journey - one priced at £72 and one at £82.90.

Ah -- just seen that.

The cheaper ticket is only valid "not via London".

igbar091

Ahh, mystery solved! Thanks guys

Still very strange, as there's no reason why you would travel via London terminals to get to/from Clapham Junction - Exeter, but there we go...

elverson

There are some journeys which are (slightly) quicker via Paddington and GWR to Exeter St Davids. These need the 'via London' ticket.

cookie365

Here's the full list of tickets available on that route.

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=CLJ&dest=EXC

Click the ticket name to see the detailed restrictions

igbar091

elverson wrote: »

There are some journeys which are (slightly) quicker via Paddington and GWR to Exeter St Davids. These need the 'via London' ticket.

Would you be able to start your journey at London Paddington with a Clapham Junction to Exeter Central ticket though? As far as I can see, the Paddington trains never go via Clapham Junction...