Today's papers carried stories on the amount of money 'unclaimed' by passengers for delays they had suffered. The press releases on which these stories are based can be found on the two protagonists sites: TSSA and ATOC (interestingly, neither the ORR nor Network Rail have yet released their version of the story...)
Whatever the rights or wrongs over the industry, it has to be said that the three TOCs I cover stand up well to scrutiny in my opinion.
Leading the way is LondonMidland who regularly tweet about 'delay repay', and whose App has a specific delay repay module. The web site gives details of how up-to-date the fulfilment of claims is.. see http://www.londonmidland.com/contact/contact-us/
Virgin Trains also tweet regularly about claiming compensation if there has been a delay but the App doesn't match that of LondonMidland for direct help. Virgin has put the ATOC code of practice on its web site http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/?id=2 and has its own passenger charter http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/assets/pdf/global/passengers-charter.pdf
Chiltern Railways tweets about delay payments and is quick to hand out refund claim forms if asked... The App doesn't match that of LondonMidland, and I'm afraid that the website is the least informative... see http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/help
Friday, 11 May 2012
Tickety Split - the App from MoneySavingExpert.com
MoneySavingExpert.com has finally produced the first version of a tool which should shake up the railway ticketing industry. Tickety Split is an App for the iPhone (also available in a mobile web version) which allows the user to identify where to split a journey in fare stages in order to save money on the quoted through fare. Even better, it is free!
The App works by asking for the departure and arrival stations, and the time of travel. It returns train times, the quoted through fare, and the saving to be made by splitting. Thus, this morning, for Chiltern journeys, it identified Bicester North or High Wycombe as being split points on sample peak hour journeys whilst for Virgin, it identified Coventry, Rugby, or Milton Keynes as being the points at which to split the fare on sample journeys.
The limitations of the App are numerous of course as this is very much a work in progress. Currently, it works only for Walk-on SINGLE standard fares and only for journeys on the day (ie you can't check ahead today for Monday). It seems to be susceptible to returning errors if each train on a list is queried and, of course, cannot be used to book the discovered fares...
Nevertheless it is a huge step forward for those of us who believe that for too long the railway ticketing system has not been fully transparent.
I took the spportunity of the launch of the App to ask RedSpottedHanky as an example train ticket provider with no TOC backing (yes, I know it is owned by Atos but it does put itself forward as passenger friendly) why its site couldn't provide similar information. The first reply was...
"The Money Saving Expert app currently only looks at standard fare tickets and not advanced tickets. It is normally cheaper to buy advance tickets rather than split standard fare tickets. At the moment we don’t have software which is capable of comparing advanced tickets to split standard fare tickets. We are currently looking at how Redspottedhanky may be able to do this but at the moment don’t believe it is of a great benefit to consumers because of the difference between ticket types."
When I challenged this reply, RSH came back with the following...
"Our licence for selling tickets did originally prevent us from marketing split tickets, however, the recent changes to the licence allow us in certain ways to advise on split ticketing within the restrictions placed upon us.
We are currently building a software solution for this to help customers. However, the routes on which it applies are varied and, advice to customers to check split routes would be unhelpful and misleading if customers do not know calling points for their route and the possible split points.
To remain consistent and deliver a consistent message, it is important we have the ability to show split routes in a meaningful way to customers before advising to do it, especially where it might create the impression it's cheaper when an advance ticket may be the best way.
It would also be unhelpful to split tickets if the on-train staff then insisted they alight at the split point and cause them a number of issues.
We are actively looking to introduce this service to the site, but do require a software solution to be confident in achieving beneficial results for customers."
So there is hope. Keep up the pressure by downloading the App and insisting that ticket offices and ticketing web sites sell the split fare when appropriate! Well done, MSE
Finally, don't forget to make your views on the ticketing system known through the DoT 'consultation': http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-09/
The App works by asking for the departure and arrival stations, and the time of travel. It returns train times, the quoted through fare, and the saving to be made by splitting. Thus, this morning, for Chiltern journeys, it identified Bicester North or High Wycombe as being split points on sample peak hour journeys whilst for Virgin, it identified Coventry, Rugby, or Milton Keynes as being the points at which to split the fare on sample journeys.
The limitations of the App are numerous of course as this is very much a work in progress. Currently, it works only for Walk-on SINGLE standard fares and only for journeys on the day (ie you can't check ahead today for Monday). It seems to be susceptible to returning errors if each train on a list is queried and, of course, cannot be used to book the discovered fares...
Nevertheless it is a huge step forward for those of us who believe that for too long the railway ticketing system has not been fully transparent.
I took the spportunity of the launch of the App to ask RedSpottedHanky as an example train ticket provider with no TOC backing (yes, I know it is owned by Atos but it does put itself forward as passenger friendly) why its site couldn't provide similar information. The first reply was...
"The Money Saving Expert app currently only looks at standard fare tickets and not advanced tickets. It is normally cheaper to buy advance tickets rather than split standard fare tickets. At the moment we don’t have software which is capable of comparing advanced tickets to split standard fare tickets. We are currently looking at how Redspottedhanky may be able to do this but at the moment don’t believe it is of a great benefit to consumers because of the difference between ticket types."
When I challenged this reply, RSH came back with the following...
"Our licence for selling tickets did originally prevent us from marketing split tickets, however, the recent changes to the licence allow us in certain ways to advise on split ticketing within the restrictions placed upon us.
We are currently building a software solution for this to help customers. However, the routes on which it applies are varied and, advice to customers to check split routes would be unhelpful and misleading if customers do not know calling points for their route and the possible split points.
To remain consistent and deliver a consistent message, it is important we have the ability to show split routes in a meaningful way to customers before advising to do it, especially where it might create the impression it's cheaper when an advance ticket may be the best way.
It would also be unhelpful to split tickets if the on-train staff then insisted they alight at the split point and cause them a number of issues.
We are actively looking to introduce this service to the site, but do require a software solution to be confident in achieving beneficial results for customers."
So there is hope. Keep up the pressure by downloading the App and insisting that ticket offices and ticketing web sites sell the split fare when appropriate! Well done, MSE
Finally, don't forget to make your views on the ticketing system known through the DoT 'consultation': http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-09/
Chiltern Railways updates from Monday 14th May
Chiltern start the new timetable from Monday though as I have blogged there are no significant changes to Mainline train times. HOWEVER, it is confirmed that Super Off-peak ticket restrictions will be eased out of London Marylebone from Monday: the new start time will be 1841...
The effect of this easement is that the new 1844 service to Stratford-upon-Avon will be available to Super Off-peak passengers to Bicester North, Banbury and Leamington Spa. Chiltern very much hope that this will reduce the overcrowding on the 1915 Mainline service to Kidderminster which remains the first evening service for Super Off-peak travellers to Warwick Parkway and stations northwards. We shall see...
Another change confirmed from Monday is that the £10 supplement WILL be introduced for the Business Zone carriage on the Silver trains from Birmingham Moor Street at 1055 and from London Marylebone at 1337. On the subject of Silver Trains, Chiltern tell me that the newly-released refurbished set is undergoing 'shake-down' prior to entering revenue-earning service!
On the 20th May, the Anytime Return fare increases to £95 between Birmingham and London. Chiltern are 'sweetening' the pill by offering 2,000 purchasers of this ticket a free Weekend (ie £25) return ticket. Alas, the procedure is rather complicated and involves buying the Anytime ticket through a special web page: http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/freeticket This offer lasts until 31st May or until the allocation is sold out - the weekend tickets are valid for a return journey within 3 months of issue.
However, as regular readers of my blog will know, there is NO need to buy an Anytime ticket from Birmingham to London - see Chiltern Railways Birmingham to London fares from 20th May 2012 - except in very particular circumstances. The push to taking advantage of the Split Fares available has been given a huge boost by the launch of the Tickety Split App by moneysavingexpert.com Now Chiltern have indicated that the Business Zone supplement will be chargeable only ONCE if users of the 0619 from Moor Street and the 1646 from Marylebone choose to split the fares (at Banbury) for the journeys on these services (Chiltern reserve the right to reassess this decision in the future).
A final piece of 'unofficial' news - Chiltern expect to open the new decked car park at Solihull from Monday.
The effect of this easement is that the new 1844 service to Stratford-upon-Avon will be available to Super Off-peak passengers to Bicester North, Banbury and Leamington Spa. Chiltern very much hope that this will reduce the overcrowding on the 1915 Mainline service to Kidderminster which remains the first evening service for Super Off-peak travellers to Warwick Parkway and stations northwards. We shall see...
Another change confirmed from Monday is that the £10 supplement WILL be introduced for the Business Zone carriage on the Silver trains from Birmingham Moor Street at 1055 and from London Marylebone at 1337. On the subject of Silver Trains, Chiltern tell me that the newly-released refurbished set is undergoing 'shake-down' prior to entering revenue-earning service!
On the 20th May, the Anytime Return fare increases to £95 between Birmingham and London. Chiltern are 'sweetening' the pill by offering 2,000 purchasers of this ticket a free Weekend (ie £25) return ticket. Alas, the procedure is rather complicated and involves buying the Anytime ticket through a special web page: http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/freeticket This offer lasts until 31st May or until the allocation is sold out - the weekend tickets are valid for a return journey within 3 months of issue.
However, as regular readers of my blog will know, there is NO need to buy an Anytime ticket from Birmingham to London - see Chiltern Railways Birmingham to London fares from 20th May 2012 - except in very particular circumstances. The push to taking advantage of the Split Fares available has been given a huge boost by the launch of the Tickety Split App by moneysavingexpert.com Now Chiltern have indicated that the Business Zone supplement will be chargeable only ONCE if users of the 0619 from Moor Street and the 1646 from Marylebone choose to split the fares (at Banbury) for the journeys on these services (Chiltern reserve the right to reassess this decision in the future).
A final piece of 'unofficial' news - Chiltern expect to open the new decked car park at Solihull from Monday.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Chiltern Railways London to Birmingham fares from Monday 21st May 2012
For journeys FROM London to Birmingham there is NO need to use the Anytime Return fare unless your trip requires an overnight stay and a return to London Monday to Friday before 10am. Even then, the Anytime Return fare is only necessary if you leave Marylebone between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday!* Otherwise...
- buy a Super Off-peak return at £25 from London and an Anytime Single at £61 from Birmingham, thus saving £9 (and gaining a ticket for an additional journey) to get back to London before 10am
- buy a Super Off-peak return at £25 from London and an Off-peak return at £50 from Birmingham, thus saving £20 (and gaining 2 tickets for an additional journeys) to get back to London before 11.30am
- buy a Super Off-peak return at £25 from London to get back to London after 11.30am, thus saving £70!
* If you can use the 1607, 1737, or 1837 services from London and the 0546, 0659, or 0747 services from Birmingham, buy an Anytime Return to Bicester (£49.60) and an Anytime Return Bicester to Birmingham (£22.50), thus saving £22.90!
DON'T forget that Chiltern are offering 25p fares each way between London and Birmingham on certain services up to Saturday 26th May. Click here for more information.
All the above fares are valid ONLY on Chiltern's route via High Wycombe
Chiltern Railways Birmingham to London fares from 20th May 2012
As noted in blog posts earlier this week, Chiltern are introducing a new timetable from Monday 14th May, and 'revised' (ie increased) fares from Sunday 20th May - although some minor changes in restrictions and supplements come in to force from the start of the new timetable.
The headline fare change is the £10 increase in the Anytime Return fare between Birmingham and London along with the £5 increase in the Anytime Single fare. As the Off-peak and Super Off-peak fares are not affected, the 'simplified' fare structure becomes:
The headline fare change is the £10 increase in the Anytime Return fare between Birmingham and London along with the £5 increase in the Anytime Single fare. As the Off-peak and Super Off-peak fares are not affected, the 'simplified' fare structure becomes:
- £95 Anytime Return for journeys into London Monday to Friday arriving by 10am
- £50 Off-peak Return for journeys into London Monday to Friday arriving by 11.30am
- £25 Super Off-peak return for ALL other journeys EXCEPT return journeys from London between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday (when an Off-peak return is required)
The Business Zone supplement remains £20 per journey on the peak time Silver sets BUT the Business Zone Package fare increases by £10 to £125. However, from the 21st May, a Business Zone Advance ticket will be available on the 0619 and 0655 departures for £65. Combining this fare with the equivalent fare at £50 on the 1646 and 1807 return departures from Marylebone thus saves £10 by booking ahead, and you get a reserved seat (not that I have ever seen a reservation label in the Business Zone yet...).
So far, so simple... but of course being Chiltern nothing is ever straightforward. The key question for Chiltern passengers is 'Do I ever need to book an Anytime Return?'; the answer to which is 'Only if you are travelling on the 0655 Silver set service from Birmingham and returning on the 1807 Silver set service from Marylebone.* Here's why:
- You are travelling to London to arrive before 10am Monday to Friday BUT can return either before 4pm or after 7pm Monday to Friday OR at the weekend: buy an Anytime Single at £61 and a Super Off-peak return at £25, thus saving £9 (and gaining a ticket for an additional journey)
- You are travelling to London to arrive before 10am Monday to Friday NOT on the 0655 Silver set service BUT need to return from London between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday NOT on the 1807 Silver set: buy an Anytime Day Return to Banbury (£19.10) and an Anytime Return Banbury to London (£67.30), thus saving £8.60
- You are travelling to London to arrive before 10am Monday to Friday and can use the 0546, 0659, or 0747 services AND can return from London on the 1607, 1737, or 1837 services Monday to Friday: buy an Anytime Return to Bicester (£22.50) and an Anytime Return Bicester to London (£49.60), thus saving £22.90!
* Note that Option 2 works only for journeys there and back in a day
All the above fares are valid ONLY on Chiltern's route via High Wycombe
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
More good news from Chiltern Railways but there is a sting in the tail
Chiltern have announced record growth figures for the Birmingham to London Mainline service: year on year, passenger numbers from Birmingham have increased by 41%, from Solihull by 53%, and from Warwick (Parkway) by 32%. All this of course on the back of the £250 million Evergreen 3 investment and without any direct Government subsidy.
Buoyed by this (well-deserved) success, Chiltern have announced further improvements over the reminder of the year:
Buoyed by this (well-deserved) success, Chiltern have announced further improvements over the reminder of the year:
- The first of the refurbished Silver Sets will be in service during May, with the existing sets going off for refurbishment over the year
- Each Silver Set will gain an additional carriage by December
- An ADDITONAL Silver set will enter service in December
- The FREE WiFi capability on the Silver sets will be enhanced
- Catering is to be improved, AND Credit Card facilities introduced from next week (staff training taking place this week)
- Additional car parking at Solihull and Warwick Parkway
- Birmingham Moor Street is to gain a bar/restaurant
- All Services from Birmingham to London will have barcode tickets available through the Chiltern App
So what's the sting? From Sunday 20th May, Anytime Returns from Birmingham to London increase in cost by £10 to £95, and the Business Package fare also increases by £10 to £125. The Off-peak and Super Off-Peak return fares remain at £50 and £25 respectively.
DON'T forget that you only need an Anytime Return if you are planning to arrive in London before 10am Monday to Friday. You DON'T need to buy an Anytime Return for any journey FROM London to Birmingham unless you are planning to return to London before 10am Monday to Friday,
ALSO, should you be able to return up to 4pm or after 7pm (and any time Saturday and Sunday) from London, then buy an Anytime Single at £61 and use a Super Off-Peak return at £25 to come back - saving £9... Likewise, UNLESS you're leaving Marylebone between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday AND need to get back to London before 10am Monday to Friday, use the Super Off-Peak / Anytime Single combination.
Simplified fares - I don't think so!
Simplified fares - I don't think so!
Monday, 30 April 2012
Chiltern Railways: Good news for the passengers on the 1915!
Chiltern have let it be known that from the start of the new timetable (Monday 14th May 2012), passengers with Super Off-Peak return tickets from Bicester North will be able to use the new 1844 departure from London Marylebone to return home. This, it is hoped, will alleviate the chronic overcrowding on the existing 1915 service.
Also from the start of the new timetable, BOTH off-peak Silver set departures in both directions will charge the £10 supplement for the use of the Business Zone carriage. So passengers from Birmingham have until Friday 11th May to try the delights of the Business Zone carriage on the 1055 service from Moor Street without paying extra, whilst those from London can use this carriage on the 1337 for the princely TOTAL sum of 25p by booking ahead (click here).
Don't forget that Bevis Thomas, Head of Train Planning, is on Twitter on Wednesday (2nd May) between 8am and 10am #ttmbev - so have your favourite train planning conundrums ready!
Also from the start of the new timetable, BOTH off-peak Silver set departures in both directions will charge the £10 supplement for the use of the Business Zone carriage. So passengers from Birmingham have until Friday 11th May to try the delights of the Business Zone carriage on the 1055 service from Moor Street without paying extra, whilst those from London can use this carriage on the 1337 for the princely TOTAL sum of 25p by booking ahead (click here).
Don't forget that Bevis Thomas, Head of Train Planning, is on Twitter on Wednesday (2nd May) between 8am and 10am #ttmbev - so have your favourite train planning conundrums ready!
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