Football fans angry at train firm cancelling discounts (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Football fans angry at train firm cancelling discounts
9:20am Friday 10th February 2012 in News
FOOTBALL fans have kicked off after being told they cannot get discounted rail fares for groups travelling to see Swindon Town’s cup final date at Wembley.
Group Save tickets previously available to First Great Western customers have been withdrawn on Sunday, March 25, meaning groups of fans travelling from Swindon to Paddington will not be able to get the usual discount.
This has left many angry at the firm’s policy and seeking alternative ways to travel, while both of Swindon’s MPs have called for the firm to reverse its decision.
A spokesman for the company, based in Swindon, confirmed Group Save tickets had been withdrawn to prevent overcrowding but cheap ticket options were still available.
They were unable to confirm whether extra services would be laid on.
One disappointed Town fan who wanted to travel with a group of 12, was given a price of about £50 a head for rail tickets to the big game.
He said: “I think as a community-based company it was really not community spirited and a little bit cynical. I was prepared to buy 12 tickets but I will look elsewhere.”
When the Adver made inquiries about the availability of Group Save tickets we were told they were no longer available, even though the First Great Western website did not list March 25 as one of the dates already restricted.
Another Town fan, Nick Curtis, managed to avoid paying the full price by taking a less direct route – his group of two adults and four children cost just £74.
He said: “I can’t understand why they don’t do a special train or put more on – if we had to pay full price we would have to find another way.
“And they wonder why they are not getting people on the train.”
Swindon South MP Robert Buckland said: “I am going to contact First Great Western and ask them to see a bit of sense.”
Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson said: “This is madness by First Great Western. With potentially 36,000 tickets to be snapped up, they have fantastic potential to scoop up a major chunk of the travel business.
“They need to be proactive and work with the fans, not drive them away from the train travel option.”
Nigel Bennett, the spokesman for the Swindon Town Supporters’ Club, said: “I understand that this sort of decision is taken by rail companies for other events and we would hope that those who make these decisions re-think the policy.
“Should Great Western not pull back from this decision, supporters may wish to know that SAS Travel will be running coaches from the County Ground.”
A spokesman for First Great Western said: “Group Save tickets help fill seats on otherwise quiet services. When a service looks like it will be close to capacity, the Group Save discounts are removed to avoid over crowding, however super off peak tickets are available.
“We’re looking at large number of Swindon fans travelling on our service that day, so we urge any Swindon fans thinking of travelling by train to book early.”
For travel options log on to www.nationrail.co.uk.
Comments(18)
Old Town
says...
10:33am Fri 10 Feb 12
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They are just greedy - as simple as that
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With 36,000 tickets available to STFC fans, the train will have to be used for a lot of people - they know this and are just trying to make a quick buck at the expense of football fans wanting a day out at Wembley
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Absolutely disgraceful !
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
10:50am Fri 10 Feb 12
A.Baron-Cohen
says...
10:56am Fri 10 Feb 12
Shame that he doesn't have the same stance about hardworking professionals commuting for work, I thought it was the policy of this governement to support and reward work?!?
Northstand1
says...
10:57am Fri 10 Feb 12
jam1
says...
11:01am Fri 10 Feb 12
Robfm wrote:Absolute load of nonsense isn't it!
So it seems to be they are using Health and Safety grounds. So what is the over crowding difference every single weekday.?
I commute to Paddington and then on to Old Street and back everyday from Swindon.
Pretty much everyday, especially coming home the trains are completely rammed full of people standing in the isles.
To say they have made this decision to prevent overcrowding is beyond insulting - it's clearly to squeeze more money out of people.
Before Christmas I was paying £692 a month including the underground for my ticket. This included a 5% discount, which had been in place for a number of months because apparently First Great Western weren't hitting their performance targets. Having commuted everyday for the last few years I can assure you this was most certainly the case!
When I renewed my ticket after the Christmas break it had gone up to £734.
The month after that it was £772. Apparently First Great Western were now 0.7% over the performance targets and the 5% discount was no longer valid. This is a completely unregulated system by the way. Basically they decide if they have hit their targets or not - the service is just as bad as it ever has been.
Generally they are never on time and overcrowed to dangerous levels.
At these prices it works out that I pay £9,264 a year. How on earth can this be justified or more to the point, even allowed to happen.
If you buy a monthy season ticket from Didcot which is 15 minutes down the line it's about half the cost. Similarly, if you commute into London from Southampton or The Midlands, which are roughly the same journey times it's about half the cost.
This is a complete scandal that is spiralling out of control, somebody needs to do something about it and quick.
From what I understand First Great Western will not be renewing their franchise when the contract is up. Hopefully this can pave the way for someone else to come in and start working towards introducing a fair pricing structure for all those that commute from the Swindon area.
At the moment is nothing more than day light robbery.
STFC Higworth
says...
11:03am Fri 10 Feb 12
PJC
says...
11:03am Fri 10 Feb 12
STFC Higworth
says...
11:09am Fri 10 Feb 12
STFC Higworth
says...
11:11am Fri 10 Feb 12
Northstand1
says...
11:12am Fri 10 Feb 12
PJC
says...
11:28am Fri 10 Feb 12
STFC Higworth wrote:The point is if you get you ticket in advance it is cheaper anyway.
PJC your point is??? May be FGW should not sell the or let on the people with beer. But agin they see a fast buck and don't worry about there customers as long as they get there ££
STFC Higworth
says...
11:44am Fri 10 Feb 12
PJC wrote:The point about football fans swigging beer at 07.30 in the morning?? What has that got to do with the price of tickets??
STFC Higworth wrote: PJC your point is??? May be FGW should not sell the or let on the people with beer. But agin they see a fast buck and don't worry about there customers as long as they get there ££The point is if you get you ticket in advance it is cheaper anyway.
Even Angrier Monkey
says...
12:50pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Jim Royle
says...
1:10pm Fri 10 Feb 12
STFC Higworth
says...
1:20pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Jim Royle wrote:Great option. I have my tickets and don't wish anyone to break the law but if that is the only way go for it.
Everyone should just turn up and get on without paying the robbing bastards. They wouldn't be able to do anything and it would rob them like they are robbing STFC supporters
Even Angrier - I think I myself and a few thousend other fans will be joining you. COYR
PJC
says...
11:18pm Fri 10 Feb 12
STFC Higworth wrote:It was an aside...
PJC wrote:The point about football fans swigging beer at 07.30 in the morning?? What has that got to do with the price of tickets??
STFC Higworth wrote: PJC your point is??? May be FGW should not sell the or let on the people with beer. But agin they see a fast buck and don't worry about there customers as long as they get there ££The point is if you get you ticket in advance it is cheaper anyway.
daws
says...
5:39pm Sun 12 Feb 12
Robfm says...
10:03am Fri 10 Feb 12