In article ,
Martin Underwood wrote:
In an ideal world, there would be only one fare between A and B, it would be
valid for travel at any time (and return at any other time, on the same or
another day)

It is entirly reasonable for the pricing regime to encourage users
onto services with spare capacity. See, for example, the way that
hotels are cheaper on the off season.

Even in an ideal world, there will be services with spare capacity:
trains arriving at Liverpool Street at about 9am tend to be fuller
than trains leaving Waterloo at about 9am.


and it would be directly proportional to distance travelled.

And the dificulty of building lines to travel that distnce? Tunnels and
bridges are expensive to build!

That would make life so much easier. Sadly our beloved rail watchdog has
allowed TOCs to charge perverse fares (such as A-B being more expensive than
A-C, where B is between A and C)

I can't think of a reaon for this.

and A-B being more expensive than B-A,

Supply and demand make this both reasonable, fair, and proper.

instead of uttering Harry Enfield "Oi! No!" edicts.

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