gimmea50anyday
Established Member
It seems as tho a prkce war has started between the 3 main ECML north operators and is just becoming silly. The trouble is this is not the first time this has happened and led to not only the general public being ripped off, but also led to staff assaults, arrests and public disorder.
XC about 3 years ago ontroduxed their own anytime valid XC only tickets. These were made available on the ticket machines but it wasnt made clear enough these tickets had restrictions - indeed the anytime name added to the confusion. These being cheaper tham the CDR people bought them only to find they were having to buy new tickets when travelling on EC or TPE services. Eventually amid growing pressure from passenger focus groups and TOC management these tickets were withdrawn.
December and TPE introduce a SVR YRK-NCL at £25 route TPE only. In retaliation VTEC introduce a cheaper CDR for £20 VTEC only. So TPE drop the TPE SVR to £18.50.
Then VTEC only and TPE only tickets were inyroduced on NTR flows to YRK, DHM and NCL. Not to be deterred by this XC then introduce their own tickets so now at YRK, DAR, DHM and NCL you can now buy SVR and CDR tickets for all 3 operators.
Great news for prices and cheaper fares. Bad news for service.
You see, if you use a station ticket machine and ask for a ticket from A to B the new machines highlight the train times and a big yellow box highlights the cheapest fare. But in very small writing it states restricted validity, click here for details. Only when you indeed click here - and the "button" and associated text is no bigger than a 10p does it state operator only. If the layperson doesnt click here and proceeds straight to the pay screen nothing tells the buyer about the restrictions until they are on board the train and being made to buy a new ticket.
This is unfair to both the punter and the traincrew dealing with the fallout.
You would have thought the industry would have learnt from the last time round but instead all operators have apparently gone ORCATS mad as they now locket not onlt the operator specific ticket, but also the portion of the any permitted ticket sold on board in lieu.
What are your thoughts on this?
XC about 3 years ago ontroduxed their own anytime valid XC only tickets. These were made available on the ticket machines but it wasnt made clear enough these tickets had restrictions - indeed the anytime name added to the confusion. These being cheaper tham the CDR people bought them only to find they were having to buy new tickets when travelling on EC or TPE services. Eventually amid growing pressure from passenger focus groups and TOC management these tickets were withdrawn.
December and TPE introduce a SVR YRK-NCL at £25 route TPE only. In retaliation VTEC introduce a cheaper CDR for £20 VTEC only. So TPE drop the TPE SVR to £18.50.
Then VTEC only and TPE only tickets were inyroduced on NTR flows to YRK, DHM and NCL. Not to be deterred by this XC then introduce their own tickets so now at YRK, DAR, DHM and NCL you can now buy SVR and CDR tickets for all 3 operators.
Great news for prices and cheaper fares. Bad news for service.
You see, if you use a station ticket machine and ask for a ticket from A to B the new machines highlight the train times and a big yellow box highlights the cheapest fare. But in very small writing it states restricted validity, click here for details. Only when you indeed click here - and the "button" and associated text is no bigger than a 10p does it state operator only. If the layperson doesnt click here and proceeds straight to the pay screen nothing tells the buyer about the restrictions until they are on board the train and being made to buy a new ticket.
This is unfair to both the punter and the traincrew dealing with the fallout.
You would have thought the industry would have learnt from the last time round but instead all operators have apparently gone ORCATS mad as they now locket not onlt the operator specific ticket, but also the portion of the any permitted ticket sold on board in lieu.
What are your thoughts on this?