pie-eater 207 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Just check this out. A conversation between a journalist and the Head of Communications of a train operator in the UK - trying to get some answers about frankly barmy pricing. You expect them to come up with crappy answers, but this takes the pie (or biscuit if you like). Richard Gibson, head of communications, CrossCountryGW: I tried to book a CrossCountry train journey from St Austell to Macclesfield. The only available ticket was £147.50, eight weeks ahead. Train companies boast about low advance fares – the trade-off for pricey walk-on fares. What's going on? RG: Not all journeys have an advance fare. We set the fare between St Austell and Birmingham, so we can offer an allocation of advance fares for that part of the journey. But Birmingham to Macclesfield is set by another operator. GW: But both segments of the journey are aboard CrossCountry trains. RG: The way fares are set, we cannot provide allocation of advance fares on the second part. GW: Why? RG: Because that is the way the system is set. GW: Who sets the system? RG: The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc). They would be quite happy to explain the national fare structure. GW: I then booked the two parts of my journey separately on your website. I bought one ticket from St Austell to Birmingham, and one from Birmingham to Macclesfield, on the same CrossCountry trains I'd been quoted £147.50 for. The new price was £65. That's £80 cheaper. RG: Yeah. GW: How can you justify that? RG: If you choose to buy multiple tickets for a simple journey, you may find it's considerably cheaper. But you're not getting the guarantee of the service all the way through. If your train from A to B was delayed, and you missed the train from B to C, you'd have to buy a new ticket. GW: Do you think that's a fair way to treat your customers? RG: This is the industry system and you'd need to contact Atoc. GW: Do you think it's fair that one person could pay £147.50, but another could split the tickets and pay £65 for the same journey on the same trains? RG: I think the fare of £147.50, at less than 50p per mile, is a fair price for the 300-mile journey. GW: But in the end I paid just £65!. RG: I think that £147.50 to travel from St Austell to Macclesfield is a fair price for the journey. GW: You keep telling me it's fair, but when people read this they're going to say: it's absurd and you're ignoring my question. Why can't CrossCountry write on their ticket site, "It may be cheaper to book your journeys separately." RG: Because not every customer wishes to do what you've tried to do. GW: Not every customer wishes to save money? It is a hassle, but you should still tell them. Why won't you? RG: Because that would be confusing to customers. GW: I think customers would like to save money. RG: I think we disagree on what we think our customers would prefer. GW: In an ideal world, would the fare system be different? RG: I have no idea what an ideal world would look like, I'm afraid. GW: Do you think CrossCountry should be transparent about the fact they can't control all of their ticket prices? RG: I don't think it would be useful for customers to put a section on our website to explain how the fare system works. I think it's providing a level of complication. GW: I think the customers are grown up enough to understand it. RG: I tell you what, I will pass your suggestion on to the revenue team and the commercial director to see if they are able to do anything with it. GW: Please do. If it wasn't actually true, it would be hilarious. Any other good examples like this? (Thanks Guardian, printed with total permission, good lads) Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 You could hardly make it up could you. Train prices in the UK are just mental, it really is silly beyond words. So many highlights. GW: I think customers would like to save money. RG: I think we disagree on what we think our customers would prefer. GW: In an ideal world, would the fare system be different? RG: I have no idea what an ideal world would look like, I'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 There's a chance that bloke might just regret doing that interview! Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 That is a heck of an interview. Love the way in the end he says "I tell you what....". Can just imagine the tone being put into that. Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 The Japanese train system is great in almost every respect. None of this cozy pricing policies that no-one understands. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Japanese train system is great in almost every respect. None of this cozy pricing policies that no-one understands. There is, you just have to look for it. Take shinkansens for example. If you book with mobile suica, you save money. If you book online and choose certain trains you can save money there as well. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Perhaps but it is way way more extreme and confusing in the UK. In Japan there is a basic price that is simple and easy to understand. (Is it per distance as well? Not sure about that?) Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Last time I used a train in the UK, I looked on the Virgin website and almost every single train - this is on a major line - for that day was a different price. Some were 4 or 5 times more than others. On the same day. Exactly same route. Every single one a different price, and there were probably about 15. You need some kind of qualification to buy a ticket, it's just absurd. Yes you can find discount tickets here perhaps, but tere's none of that silly bollocks here. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 The Japanese train system is great in almost every respect. None of this cozy pricing policies that no-one understands. There is, you just have to look for it. Take shinkansens for example. If you book with mobile suica, you save money. If you book online and choose certain trains you can save money there as well. and if you book the cheapest shink and just get on anyone you want, you also save money Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 So, different shinkansens cost different? Is this just a train ticket or some package deal? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Same shinkansen can cost less depending on how you book / pay for it. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I get trains in Japan about twice a year now, but when I used to use them, I wouldn't have minded more confusing ticket prices if it meant at least some trains were cheaper. Last time I was home, we got a single from London to Newcastle and it was seventy quid for me, the missus and two little kids booked in advance. That's ten thousand yen.On the shinkansen, going the same distance would be forty minutes quicker but it would cost double. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Out of interest, because I always have bought a ticket at the station, how much cheaper can you get a shinkansen ticket for. Let's take Tokyo <> Echigo Yuzawa as an example. No packages that includes ski lift ticets etc. What's the cheapest I could get for that trip (and how?) Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I get trains in Japan about twice a year now, but when I used to use them, I wouldn't have minded more confusing ticket prices if it meant at least some trains were cheaper. Last time I was home, we got a single from London to Newcastle and it was seventy quid for me, the missus and two little kids booked in advance. That's ten thousand yen.On the shinkansen, going the same distance would be forty minutes quicker but it would cost double. Train to Newcastle - are you a Geordi like man? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Fook me! No!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Ow ai, that's a bit haorshe like pet Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Out of interest, because I always have bought a ticket at the station, how much cheaper can you get a shinkansen ticket for. Let's take Tokyo <> Echigo Yuzawa as an example. No packages that includes ski lift ticets etc. What's the cheapest I could get for that trip (and how?) I'd be keen to hear that as well as I am not convinced. Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Thanks Pie man, right canny filums those. My daughter in law is a Geordie lass but I won't be showing her those ones. Though she is a posh Geordie as I can understand what she is saying Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Mr Wiggles, how far in advance would you need to book that train you mention? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 So, different shinkansens cost different? Is this just a train ticket or some package deal? Yeah. For example the route from Tokyo to Osaka uses different kinds of shinkansen's.....NOZOMI (fastest), HIKARI and another one that I can't remember (there may also be more). The Nozomi train is the fastest and is therefore the most expensive, BUT if you buy a ticket for the cheaper trains, HIKARI for example, then you can jump on the Nozomi and sit in the unreserved car.......no one checks tickets. If you are past the gates on the Shinkansen line, then its assumed that you are meant to be there. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Interesting. In the case of the Joetsu Shinkansen, all of the trains basically cost the same. And unchanged for a long time too! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 oh yeah, I should point that out that I've only saw a difference on the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Osaka)....the Joetsu one is the same cost (I think) for every train Link to post Share on other sites
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