Train Travel

[gilf]

Why is it that a return fair is only slightly more expensive than a one way. For example the train fair to London from here is �12.50 but return is onyl �12.60. I cant think of a single reason why they do this.

[BenDToy]

I would suggest that there are restrictions on when you can use the return eg off peak, same day, book more than 7 days in advance tec. Otherwise not sure.

[gilf]

These are standard prices. This was always the case in london even for small one or two stop journeys. Just doesnt make sense to me.

[Fifi]

Presumably they try to trick us into thinking that the return fare seems cheap - these train companies have been underestimating our intelligence for a long time - Don't actually know why they bother because for some of us there just isn't any other way of travelling so they could hike a return up even more and we'd still have to pay!

[KARL]

This is something that truly fascinates foreigners who have never seen this practice in their own countries. I think it may go back to the days when people were being encouraged to take leisure trips, plus the fact that one way fares are more likely to be bought by people on working trips (and maybe more able to pay or needing to make the trip with not much choice). The net effect is to suggest that the single is overpriced. The same applies to the traditional airlines, low cost ones having upset the traditionalists.