New fares structure on XC

[hairyhandedfool]

XC are changing the fares structure that they set as of 18 may 2008.

Saver tickets which currently have a restriction will have a standard restriction for outward and return journeys, NOT BEFORE 0930 MON-FRI. Un-restricted Saver tickets will be restricted before 0500 MON-FRI (so no actual change) There will be no saver tickets for journeys of less than 50 miles. Savers bought with Railcards will no longer be valid at any time and will obey the normal Saver restriction.

Cheap Day tickets will all have the same restrictions, NOT BEFORE 0930 AND NOT BETWEEN 1530 AND 1815 MON-FRI.

New Saver First tickets will be introduced for journeys over 50 miles. They will not be valid BEFORE 0930 MON-FRI.

Advanced tickets will fall in line with national advanced fares from 18 may 2008. XC are revising fares levels and availability, the different fares levels will no longer be advertised 'in line with fares simplification' As a consequence of the fares simplification, Advance tickets sold after 24 APR for travel after 18 MAY will be NON-REFUNDABLE, although changes to travel plans can still be made.

First Class Season tickets will increase to 1.7 times the standard fare 'in line with other Intercity TOCs'.

[martin adamson]

I wodner if they will increase the charge for a cup of tea from the trolley service too

[hstudent]

As far as I'm aware most TOCs accept Saver tickets on any train. The main exceptions being morning and evening long distance trains in and out of London.

Based on the current timetable those changes would mean you could travel from Newcastle to Manchester on the 0726 service with a Saver ticket. However, you would not be permitted to travel at 0840, changing at York.

A Saver ticket is valid on Virgin from 0845 on trains departing from Manchester or on any train if you hold a railcard. Based on what CrossCountry are saying Saver tickets would not be valid on the current 0854 and 0924 Birmingham bound departures from Manchester, which call at some of the same stations as the 0845 London train.

There are issues with Saver and Day tickets which should be sorted out. For example, from my local station (Knutsford) you can buy a Cheap Day Return to Blackpool, but the cheapest ticket you can buy to travel to Preston is a Saver Return, even though to get to Blackpool you must travel through Preston. The likely reason is that the fare for Knutsford to Preston is set by Transpennine Express and the fare for Knutsford to Blackpool is set by Northern Rail.

There are also some journeys for which Day Return tickets are available, but Cheap Day Returns are not, which should be easier to sort out.

[hairyhandedfool]

The problem at the moment is that different routes are set by different people and so the restrictions and conditions are different. In September they will be the same hopefully.

For example: Newcastle to Bristol TM

The 'any permitted' fare is set by NEEC, meaning the saver fare is valid on any trains (from Newcastle) timed to arrive in London after 1115.

The 'not London' fare is set by XC, but has a restriction code of 8a (which will become 8x) and is valid at any time (will become after 0500), even on NEEC.