Lancaster-Crewe - why so expensive?

[158757]

Before I go any further I am aware of the trick to bring the cost of this journey down but I am intrigued as to why it is so expensive. The cheapest return available at all times is a £34.80 off peak, for a journey of 71m76c each way. There are no cheap day returns or anytime day returns available.

Comparatively, Lancaster-Carlisle at a similar distance each way(69m09c) is only £31.90 for an Anytime return, with an off peak day return coming in at £18.50.

Even Lancaster-Glasgow offers a day return for £27.80, despite being 171m35c each way and taking over two hours.

Why are there no day return fares available for Crewe?

 

[Intermodal]

Presumably because Virgin have decided not to set any and other operators have no decided to provide any TOC specific fares.

 

[Sammy h]

Get it via Manchester which I think is valid? Something like 16.80. I'll wait for someone to confirm though.

 

[Paul Kelly]

The £34.80 LAN-CRE SVR is valid on all trains, so is effectively an anytime return. The higher-priced SOR on that route is probably just intended as a deterrent for people to buy before they board to avoid being charged the higher price. So the £34.80 fare can be directly compared with the £31.90 LAN-CAR. The fact that it's a bit more expensive, and that there is no CDR available, could perhaps be put down to the fact that Virgin make plenty of money from the former flow and don't see the need to encourage additional traffic by having a CDR available? Just a guess.

 

[eastdyke]

It's all part of the 'simplified fare structure' that rail users asked for

FWIW a Lancashire Day Ranger plus a return from Wigan (NW) to Crewe would cost you only a few pence more.

 

[Whistler40145]

So, the price has no relevance to the fact that only Virgin's Bham services call at Crewe, whereas the Euston's are usually non-stop from Warrington.

 

[rail-britain]

I would suggest you split this ticket at at least Preston and possibly further at Warrington
I have started splitting my Glasgow - Preston - Crewe further at Warrington to take advantage of the cheaper Day Return fare

 

[158757]

I'm aware of splits and alternative tickets to bring the cost down, but it just seems daft that there is no day return fare for a destination only an hour away!

It seems that you are right though, people will pay the higher fare and the trains are already busy, so why change?

 

[Harlesden]

http://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/categorymatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable

 

[Lampshade]

Any remotely savvy traveller between Lancaster/Preston and Crewe knows which ticket to buy

 

[Deerfold]

http://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/categorymatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable

That's a session specific link...what where you trying to share?