National Fares Strategy

[deltic]

Earlier this year Ireland published a National Fares Strategy - its a short document which can be found here https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp...30109_National-Fare-Strategy-Summary_v3.1.pdf.

The situation in Ireland is the same as in GB as it states

The evolution of both bus and rail fares over a long period of time has created complexity, discrepancies and anomalies that result in similar journeys having very different prices based on distance, service quality or other historical factors.

It highlights some examples of large differences in fares per km using crow fly distances rather than length of route actually travelled. For example it compares Fermoy-Cork €0.20 per km to Newtown Mount Kennedy to Dublin which is €0.09 per km both around 30km apart. It proposes fares should be based on a boarding charge + distance based charge with the latter being the crow fly distance not route actually travelled. The aim being no matter where you travelled in the country if the crow fly distance between 2 points is the same as any other 2 points you would be charged the same. Advance rail fares which could be cheaper would continue to be offered and tapering may also be applied for longer journeys.

Intrigued what would be the impact of such a fare strategy would be on our national rail network. At present fares per km tend to be higher in London and the South East compared to the rest of the country so a common rate would have major implications with some fares going up or down by considerable amounts. The most intriguing element would be how pricing on crow fly distance which could only work if break of journey was scrapped. A Scarborough - Whitby ticket which presumably nobody presently buys as its £69.20 would fall in price dramatically and could be used for journeys from Scarborough to Middlesborough etc offering a substantial saving.

 

[Haywain]

It highlights some examples of large differences in fares per km using crow fly distances rather than length of route actually travelled. For example it compares Fermoy-Cork €0.20 per km to Newtown Mount Kennedy to Dublin which is €0.09 per km both around 30km apart. It proposes fares should be based on a boarding charge + distance based charge with the latter being the crow fly distance not route actually travelled. The aim being no matter where you travelled in the country if the crow fly distance between 2 points is the same as any other 2 points you would be charged the same. Advance rail fares which could be cheaper would continue to be offered and tapering may also be applied for longer journeys.

Interesting. How much would it cost to go by train from Rosslare to Waterford, compared to either of those to Dublin? And thus we see how such ideas are flawed.

 

[Hadders]

At first glance these sort of proposals look sensible, but a small degree of thought soon renders them flawed.

We'd see some routes (eg London to Reading) far too cheap or a rural branch line hideously priced.
That's before we start getting to indirect routes etc etc.....

 

[Haywain]

At first glance these sort of proposals look sensible, but a small degree of thought soon renders them flawed.

We'd see some routes (eg London to Reading) far too cheap or a rural branch line hideously priced.
That's before we start getting to indirect routes etc etc.....

Indeed, similar to the example above let's ask how much we would pay for Luton to Hitchin. As the crow flies about 9 miles but around 60 by train.

 

[Hadders]

Indeed, similar to the example above let's ask how much we would pay for Luton to Hitchin. As the crow flies about 9 miles but around 60 by train.

Or more to the point, could I break my journey at St Pancras using this ticket

 

[infobleep]

Or more to the point, could I break my journey at St Pancras using this ticket

They could say no break lf journey allowed and you could say fine as you walk to St Pancras but accidentally get lost and end up in Soho before get there.