Or nationalise it and then simplify it like this:
Comment on Paper and mobile train tickets to be replaced with GPS tracking in new travel trial
fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Bag of cocks. Simplify the ticketing system by: a) make all the tickets generally cheaper, so you don’t need to make special advance super saver restricted use tickets b) actually tell us when peak time is, and keep it consistent c) no more “you can only use it on this train company” tickets d) no more “you can only use it on this exact train” tickets. If you cancel my train, I’m getting on the next train that goes there and you’re accepting my ticket. e) there are three main tickets - single, day return, period return f) you can buy discounted tickets for a week, month, year of the same journey g) you can buy a ticket online, from a website to email, from an app, in a ticket office with a person or from a machine
Basically, just get rid of the stupid shit with all the “special” conditions on it.
Zombie@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Glad I’m from Northern Ireland where our railways are still somewhat nationalised
ohulancutash@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
a) prices are set at a level that balances the oversupply at off-peak times and the under supply at peak times. The solution to this is to build new rail routes but the NIMBYs have taken over.
b) peak demand occurs at different times at different parts of the network. Operators do make those times available.
c) these will be gone when franchises are rolled up.
d) that’s already in the T&Cs of advance tickets
If the train you purchased a ticket for is cancelled or is delayed and you still decide to travel, special arrangements will be made to accommodate you on another train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed).
fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
(Sorry if this sounds like I’m whinging at you - I’m really whinging about them)
a & b) I get that peak times exist. I didn’t argue against it. I regularly experience ~400 people squashing onto a 200 capacity commuter train - so yes, dissuading other people from thinking “that’s a good time to go for a day out” is fine. Regarding telling you when it is, maybe some operators do, but I’ve not been able to find this for any of the routes I use. The ticket buying website knows when peak is, as if you select a time, it either does or doesn’t show you an off-peak return amongst the tickets offered, but nowhere actually tells you exactly when and where. In some places they have some peak in the morning and afternoon, others morning only. If you’re working away for a week, and head over on the Sunday night and get an off-peak return, which return trains are peak or off-peak? You finish an hour earlier then expected - peak or off-peak? You don’t know until it rejects your ticket and they fine you. Really, if they’d just show on the ticket buying websites/apps “this one is peak” “this one is off-peak”, that would do me fine.
c) Yes - I’m looking forward to it :)
d) It might say that, but that’s not what seems to happen. Even if the person in the station says “yes, don’t worry, this will be valid on that train”, the person on the train can still decide it isn’t and fine you (you can appeal it when you get home, assuming you’re rich enough to buy another full ticket plus £100 fine).
Maybe I’m just travelling on the routes with the shittest train companies? :)
Anyway, as you say, half of these problems should hopefully disappear when the separate privatised companies’ contracts run out :)
sunbeam60@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
Myeah not entirely an unfair comment.
But I’ve worked in Switzerland and literally it’s even simpler there. You start and app, you say “I’m starting a journey”, you climb onboard and when you get off, you indicate on the app that the journey has completed. You are then charged the cheapest for a journey from your A to your B.
Still inspection onboard, eg if you sit in first class with a second class tracking ticket, but it’s a two-click operation.
Fairtiq it’s called. Pretty neat.