New "simpler" fare structure DOUBLES cheapest tickets. Does this affect you?

digitaltoast

The Association of Train Operating Companies have announced a "simplification" of the fares.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/simple_fares.html

Rail fares 'set to be simplified'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7364127.stm

Basically, despite the nonsense from AOTOC and Passenger Focus "welcoming" this move, it has meant BIG increases, in some cases DOUBLE the cheapest fare.

Examples:

SINGLE JOURNEY from Oxford (OXF) to Aberystwyth (AYW)
Currently: £10 After 18th May: £20.50

SINGLE JOURNEY from Reading (RDG) to Shrewsbury (SHR)
Currently: £10 After 18th May: £18.00

It doesn't appear to apply to ALL fares, for example, Reading to Castle Cary seems unaffected.

I would be interested to know if YOUR journey will be affected:
Using the fares finder, you can check what the CHEAPEST available price wil be BEFORE the 18th of May.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/fo1

If you add the option to select 5 days, you could try, say:
12th May, 16th May, 26th May, 21st June, 21st July
If you see the cheapest prices available only BEFORE the 18th of May, you will know you're probably onto a loser.
So, next step is to pick a date WAY into the future, say a mid-day in June, and find the cheapest fare (using the "show all fares" button)
And that is your new fare.

If you are affected, please add your journey and by how much the increase will be, to this thread.

I've just spent a couple of hours of my afternoon off on the phone to AOTOC and Passenger focus and left a message for my MP as well as contacting the media. Passenger focus said their interest was on simplifying the structure, not the resulting higher fares. AOTOC haven't got back to me. I've sent letters to both, as well as Crosscountry Trains, as a random operator, in case they can shed light on it. Is there anyone else to be contacting?

How did I find this and how did I know I'm not just making a mistake and getting unlucky on the dates?
I spent a large part of Sunday trying to book several advance trips, and NONE of the expected cheap tickets were available. The phone number was useless, so as I passed through Reading earlier I asked the booking office why I couldn't find these cheap fares, and they explained about the 18th of May, and that many of the cheapest tickets had been merged into a higher price. And the thing that really got me was that a ticket supervisor made me feel almost like I should have been grateful to have got the lower price - "not everyone can get these cheap tickets you get - it just makes it fairer on everyone". Oh, right, so everyone who bothers to plan in advance is penalised (on certain journeys, it seems).

Finally, as if a doubling of the fares themselves wasn't enough...from

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/04/25/rail-shake-up-could-hit-travellers-in-pocket-91466-20817424/
"...among the changes being introduced are a ban on refunds for cancelled pre-booked business and first class tickets.

First Great Western – along with other UK operators Virgin, East Midlands Trains and TransPennine Express – currently offer refunds on their standard and first class pre-booked business tickets but will no longer do so under the new no-refund policy.

There is also likely to be an increase in the cost of changing journey times for return tickets bought in advance with some UK operators, with many routes doubling from £10 to £20"

digitaltoast

I'm REALLY surprised people aren't more up-in-arms about a DOUBLING of their fares.
I've been in full investigative mode! Exposing the lies and cheats and spin behind this ticket price rip-off:
http://www.digitaltoast.co.uk/simplified-train-fares-ripoff-scam-price-rises

You really should be worried about this if your journey involves a Crosscountry train journey

moonrakerz

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=10437305#post10437305

Keep it all together ?

digitaltoast

Thanks - I looked for a thread and couldn't find one, so well spotted!