Ralph’s Place

Train companies recently updated their ticket tarrifs to make things simpler for customers. Removing a large number of ticket types, on EMT services you can now get:

• Anytime - for use at any time
• Off-peak - for use at off peak times
• Advance - bought in advance, for use on a specific service

Along with these changes, prices appear to have been raised slightly… so that an Off-peak ticket actually costs around 10-15% more (based on London-Nottingham ticket) than the old, and equivilant, Saver ticket. Although on thetrainline.com, a Super Off-peak ticket seems to be available if bought in advance (isn’t this an Advance ticket?) at around the old price.

So while simplifying the ticket types, train companies have also managed to raise prices… great, but it doesn’t stop there! Some of the tickets that disappeared as part of the simplification have no equivilant. Take the “Weekender” that EMT offered on their services, allowing you to leave any time on a Friday and return anytime over the weekend or on Monday (you could also do this Saturday to Tuesday). This ticket used to cost just a little more than a saver ticket, but now the only way to do this is to buy an Anytime ticket, which costs more than twice as much!

This means that not only have they raised prices on simple tickets, but they’ve removed cheaper options, forcing you to travel at inconvenient times or pay a small fortune for your journey. Isn’t that just fantastic.

Fantastically shit. I think I’ll just drive.

Just like turning off the light, September’s arrival has turned on the rain and marked the end of another summer. Not that the last few months haven’t been without their fair share of rainfall, the last week has just been that bit more significant

Anyway, squeezed between the rainy days there has been some climbing! 60 routes in total, mostly in the Peak, plus a few in Croatia. 11 VS and an HVS not bad for a fairly wet summer… but lets hope that the winter gives us a few dry weekends to get out too!