http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/fairfare...tm_medium=email

 

The Government's Fare Review has started. Take part today.

 

The fares review could be the biggest shake-up of our fares system for

decades, and we need to make sure that this opportunity for cheaper,

simpler, fairer fares is not wasted. Please take part and have your voice

heard.

 

The full review, where you can reply to a long list of questions, can be

found on the Department for Transport website.

 

However, you can send a message easily and quickly here by filling in our

form and we will pass it on to the Government. Or you can do both. If you

need inspiration, click here for a short list of ideas we think would

improve train fares and tickets.

 

Please spread the word by sharing this page. You can forward it to friends

and family or share on Twitter, Facebook or other social media.

 

(1) End rip-off rail fares! Bring prices down, don’t hike them up. Tickets

are under review now; have your say.

 

(2) Stop charging part-time workers full-time rail fares. Fair & flexible

tickets now! Fares are under review; have your say.

 

(3) Stop treating commuters like cash cows! No to "superpeak" tickets. Fares

are under review now; have your say.

 

Yeah, I'd be more impressed if the Govt started a "Bring Rail back into public ownership review" to be perfectly honest..... -_-

Yeah, I'd be more impressed if the Govt started a "Bring Rail back into public ownership review" to be perfectly honest..... -_-

 

This, although I thought the idea of lowering fares was unlikely enough :P

There should be lower prices and I really think that we should have a national smart card system like the oyster card and integrated with the train and bus system. That will make the whole public transport system easier to use. Integrated pricing structures would make it cheaper too.

 

You want to make more people use public transport, then make it easy and cheap. Brisbane and South-East Queensland (3m people and a substantial land area) have a fully integrated smart card system called the 'Go Card' It's AMAZING. Never found a need for a car when I was there because the public transport was just so good and so cheap. I could get a return trip to the supermarket for 35p if I timed it right! 35p!!!!

Whilst I do think it should probably be cheaper to travel by rail, I don't necessarily think that fares should be reduced.

 

1) It's only a poor and expensive service when compared to similar ones abroad. We aren't abroad, its main comparison should be to other modes of transport here, and then it's not that expensive, particularly when compared to the main alternative (cars)

2) Passenger numbers are increasing all the time

3) The majority of train companies make losses

 

So despite people constantly moaning that the service is poor and too expensive we still continue to use it more often! And if train companies are making losses whilst continue to see more people use their service, why on earth would they charge less?!

So despite people constantly moaning that the service is poor and too expensive we still continue to use it more often! And if train companies are making losses whilst continue to see more people use their service, why on earth would they charge less?!

 

The same principle as having a sale in a shop surely... reduce prices and in theory customer numbers should go up. Wouldn't necessarily work with train tickets I guess.

That's true, but passenger numbers are increasing all the time anyway despite constant rises in the price. It's already attracting more because the alternatives are already more expensive. It would surely apply to any business, if they can get more customers despite constantly increasing prices, they aren't going to lower them.

 

If you're travelling by rail all you need to do is book in advance and be as flexible as you can with your travelling time. Looking now, I can get from my current location of Nottingham to London for less than £12 on Monday morning... I couldn't do it for anything like that cheaply on any other mode of transport with such short notice.

Whilst I do think it should probably be cheaper to travel by rail, I don't necessarily think that fares should be reduced.

 

1) It's only a poor and expensive service when compared to similar ones abroad. We aren't abroad, its main comparison should be to other modes of transport here, and then it's not that expensive, particularly when compared to the main alternative (cars)

2) Passenger numbers are increasing all the time

3) The majority of train companies make losses

 

So despite people constantly moaning that the service is poor and too expensive we still continue to use it more often! And if train companies are making losses whilst continue to see more people use their service, why on earth would they charge less?!

 

Nope, I dont agree with that. I think that it is entirely reasonable to compare Rail travel here to Rail travel in Europe, and the fact is, compared to European countries which are publically owned and managed, we are getting an indescribably piss-poor service, and no just in the EU, Russia's public rail service is vastly superior to ours.. In fact Russia's entire public transport network absolutely shames us....

 

That's true, but passenger numbers are increasing all the time anyway despite constant rises in the price. It's already attracting more because the alternatives are already more expensive. It would surely apply to any business, if they can get more customers despite constantly increasing prices, they aren't going to lower them.

 

If you're travelling by rail all you need to do is book in advance and be as flexible as you can with your travelling time. Looking now, I can get from my current location of Nottingham to London for less than £12 on Monday morning... I couldn't do it for anything like that cheaply on any other mode of transport with such short notice.

It's very true that some fares are good value. However others are horrendously high. It can also be over-complicated. It can be cheaper to split your journey and get two separate tickets than getting a single ticket.

Nope, I dont agree with that. I think that it is entirely reasonable to compare Rail travel here to Rail travel in Europe, and the fact is, compared to European countries which are publically owned and managed, we are getting an indescribably piss-poor service, and no just in the EU, Russia's public rail service is vastly superior to ours.. In fact Russia's entire public transport network absolutely shames us....

 

Russia's rail network is superior because it's completely essential to their infrastructure in a way that trains in Britain simply aren't. I'd imagine a far higher percentage of government expenditure goes on trains in Russia than it would do over here were the rail network re-nationalised.

Russia's rail network is superior because it's completely essential to their infrastructure in a way that trains in Britain simply aren't. I'd imagine a far higher percentage of government expenditure goes on trains in Russia than it would do over here were the rail network re-nationalised.

 

Not just Russia though, France, Germany, Switzerland, all have vastly superior rail networks.. Travelling by rail through Continental Europe is a veritable joy compared to travelling by rail in the UK, as is the Paris Metro in comparison to London Underground..

 

Not just Russia though, France, Germany, Switzerland, all have vastly superior rail networks.. Travelling by rail through Continental Europe is a veritable joy compared to travelling by rail in the UK, as is the Paris Metro in comparison to London Underground..

Travelling long distance in continental Europe is generally a very pleasant and relaxing experience. Some of the local services are not as good.

1) It's only a poor and expensive service when compared to similar ones abroad. We aren't abroad, its main comparison should be to other modes of transport here, and then it's not that expensive, particularly when compared to the main alternative (cars)

When I go to Glasgow next weekend it's costing me £38 by rail. I would save money travelling by car and parking in Glasgow overnight even with the price of diesel being insanely high. Even taking Insurance and tax (free) into account it's still cheaper by car. Every journey is substantially cheaper by car than by train in Scotland. The services up here are also highly infrequent with some stations only getting two trains a day (On the Edinburgh - Aberdeen line!). If I rocked up to Dundee station tomorrow I wouldn't be able to get a return to Edinburgh for less than £30. I'd spend £12-15 on diesel for that same trip and then the park and ride into the city is only £3 return. That's half the price including parking.

Nope, I dont agree with that. I think that it is entirely reasonable to compare Rail travel here to Rail travel in Europe, and the fact is, compared to European countries which are publically owned and managed, we are getting an indescribably piss-poor service, and no just in the EU, Russia's public rail service is vastly superior to ours.. In fact Russia's entire public transport network absolutely shames us....

I'm not saying they shouldn't be compared, and it would be fantastic if rail were better, but it's really not that poor compared to the alternatives we actually have.

It's very true that some fares are good value. However others are horrendously high. It can also be over-complicated. It can be cheaper to split your journey and get two separate tickets than getting a single ticket.

Oh fees can be very complicated, but as someone who's travelled throughout England by rail numerous times I can honestly say I don't feel I've ever been ripped off. I've never understood why people do buy tickets on the day though, unless its spontaneous. Even booking two days in advance you can usually get it a fair bit cheaper. As I said, book in advance and be flexible with when you travel and you can usually get a decent price. I've never been to Scotland so can't really comment but I've been to most of the biggest cities in England and other smaller places and I've always been able to get a sizeable discount.

Oh fees can be very complicated, but as someone who's travelled throughout England by rail numerous times I can honestly say I don't feel I've ever been ripped off. I've never understood why people do buy tickets on the day though, unless its spontaneous. Even booking two days in advance you can usually get it a fair bit cheaper. As I said, book in advance and be flexible with when you travel and you can usually get a decent price. I've never been to Scotland so can't really comment but I've been to most of the biggest cities in England and other smaller places and I've always been able to get a sizeable discount.

You've grown up in an age when there are lots of different fares available. Some of us didn't :lol: There was a time when the fare was the same whenever you bought the ticket. The clock and the calendar only determined whether you could buy a day return.

Not just Russia though, France, Germany, Switzerland, all have vastly superior rail networks.. Travelling by rail through Continental Europe is a veritable joy compared to travelling by rail in the UK, as is the Paris Metro in comparison to London Underground..

I've been to Paris three times and each time they've been on strike for at least one day of my trip. Perhaps it was just timing but it didn't leave a good impression on me :(

I've been to Paris three times and each time they've been on strike for at least one day of my trip. Perhaps it was just timing but it didn't leave a good impression on me :(

 

Dude, it's not like London Underground dont go on strike.... :lol: :lol:

 

In fact, there could be another strike coming up soon....

Yes that's true- but they are far more willing to strike at a drop of a hat and the days lost to strikes is significantly higher in France as you can see here BBC article so whilst the service may be better it certainly isn't better if you can't use it :lol:

The Underground is at leas pretty solid value compared to Metro systems elsewhere in the country. How much is a day pass nowadays? I think it was about £6 when I was last down, which is pretty incredible given that it's the same price as a return ticket on the Manchester Metrolink which has about four lines.