More Rail Fare Madness

I was looking at fares today for trains between Southampton and Carmarthen.  I know that fares in this country are complicated, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything this bad before.

Looking at travel from the suburb of Swaythling, if I travel at 12.43 it will cost me £31.60, on a ‘turn up and go’ ticket.  If I travel an hour later, it will cost me £51.90, simply because the train takes a different route (even though the journey time is similar).  Waiting for the next train another hour later will save me money because the standard fare is back to £31.60 – but I can get an Advance fare for just £12.55.

Airport Parkway has more trains and so I thought I might get more choice of Advance fares.  Apparently not, however.  Despite being further up the line (with a bus fare of £2), the cheapest ticket *on the same train* to Carmarthen is not £12.55 but £61.70.

That’s an expensive walk or bus ride…

Comments

Jim Huckle said…
Thus proving, once again, that despite giving it their best lip service, the powers that be don't want people travelling by train.

It's all a conspiracy!
Tue Aug 24, 05:35:00 PM GMT
starkey said…
I like the new design of your diary, JP.
Wed Sep 01, 08:02:00 PM GMT
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