London Banter - View Single Post

Paul Scott · December 5th 08, 03:09 PM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:
I would like to complain about:

(a) The unavailability of a Super Off Peak fare on a journey Fleet-
Clapham Jn-Shepherds Bush

SWT only introduced SOPs for journeys from outside the London fare zones, to
stations on line of route towards and including London Terminals (Waterloo
effectively). I think you'll get knocked back - you'll find they won't sell
you an SOP anywhere else on the WLL, they don't come up for Olympia or
Willesden Junction either. I suspect it's basically because the leg beyond
CJ up the WLL is someone elses to price, eg LO, and they don't do SOPs. [Or
in the convoluted manner of the modern railway it could even be SN, LM or
Virgin!]

Looking at your other recent post, I think you have to consider the current
'Off Peak Day', as the replacement for the 'Cheap Day Return'. (This is
certainly the standard translation nationally.) SWT's 'Super Off Peak' is a
further discount on journeys towards Waterloo only, ie not really the
equivalent of a CDR. Going back to when SWT introduced their version of the
SOP in May 2007, this was all discussed at length.

In other words many CDRs at that time were given a massive increase in the
London bound direction only, and the SOP was introduced for those particular
journeys, to encourage later travel. One suggestion at the time was why
didn't they redefine the CDR as an 'arrive London after 1200' ticket, and
introduce a new name for the old CDR, I think we now know that the national
roll out of SOPs was only 18 months away, and SWT could have been out of
step with national ticketing rules had they not done as they did.

For fares in the direction away from London, or for any fare that doesn't
involve 'to London' they don't have an SOP at all, the cheapest[1] fare was
the CDR and is now the 'Off Peak Day'. For examples, Fleet to Surbiton has
an SOP, Fareham to Basingstoke doesn't.

Paul S

[1] ignoring Advance when available...