If that is the case, what I dont understand is what LNER think their mandate is to do this, bearing in mind that LNER is a publicly owned company.
Why would people within LNER wish to breach the settled position on ‘regulated’ fares, in a manner that is blatantly a lot worse for customers, unless either they are either being told to by their paymasters or if the board of LNER personally stand to profit by increased bonus from increased revenue.
Counted places is a different thing. I can see people within LNER wanting an easier life and so wanting to stop people travelling without a booked seat. I still say the answer to that is less of the cheaper end Advance fares leaving more space for later booking higher value off peak tickets.
But LNER personnel actually promoting active and significant passenger fleecing. Why?
Train companies have wanted to remove regulated fares for years.
They say regulation is outdated, belongs in the 1990s etc.
Train companies also say fares are too complicated and difficult for passengers to understand (overlooking the fact that they have introduced much of the complications themselves)
DfT wants to reduce the cost of the railway to the passenger, no doubt under 'instruction' from The Treasury
LNER is nationalised which makes it easier to conduct 'experiments' for the DfT as different contractual arrangements with the DfT apply compared to the other franchised TOCs
Train companies/DfT/The Treasury cannot be trusted when it comes to fares simplification/reform. I've been saying
for years that simplification would result in fares increasing and here's the proof.
