Rail fare rip offs

[Prof Beard]

Today I had to go to Bolton for a meeting. Locations made going by train the best option.

I turn up at Stafford station and say "Day return to Bolton please" - "That'll be £49 something" says woman behind the glass. "That's ridiculous," I say "will it be cheaper to get a return to Manchester, and then one from there to Bolton?". "Possibly." She says.

I buy a return to Manchester (£17ish). At Manchester I buy a local return to Bolton for £3.

And they wonder why people think trains are a rip-off

[StevenJJ]

Had a similar experience the other day.

Travel was from A to C via B. A-B with Company A and B-C with Company B.

When boarding Company A I requested a ticket on-board from A-C. Other local counterparts (not known to me) who were also travelling A-C only requested an A-B ticket at 25% of the cost. Turns out there is no on-board check by Company B from B-C.

Obviously there is a moral issue here i.e. I paid my way and they didn't but I can't honestly say I will pay in full next time. Whichever way I cut it with trains I always get ripped off or delayed somehow either by the company or compared to other people

[GHW]

Try over £160 for a return ticket from Newport to London.