A quick one… I had to get a train today… can you tell.?
“Dear First ‘Great’ Western
Could you please explain in simple terms why, when I went to Weston-super-Mare station this morning, was I confronted by a train fare of £12.20 for a normal day return ticket to Taunton for the 9am train.? I was informed by a very nice lady behind the glass that if I caught the 09.33 departure then it would only be £6.80, which is weird as the cattle truck class 143 is the same type of unit that runs both services and the journey is not lengthened by 30miles due to a time-space wormhole requiring a detour via Stroud. The nice lady behind the glass also agreed it was ridiculous but unfortunately rules are rules (no matter how stupid and profiteering they maybe).
As it was, the 9am train was late by four minutes so technically was off peak and for this I would like to claim back my difference of £5.40 which I could put to good use using your overpriced bus “Service” around Weston. So I will be invoicing you for that £5.40 difference and also an administrative charge of £10 for having to type this email (as well as the wear on my teeth as they did rather grate together as I typed my PIN into your ticket machine at 08.45). I simply cannot understand why you should throw almost DOUBLE the price on a ticket on top of a fare to make a few more quid just to allow another of your managers to buy another Lexus.
We are trying to get people to USE public transport but as a company you are almost singlehandedly (in Weston-super-Mare at least) making people buy more cars and stick two fingers up to everything with the word FIRST on the side.
(On the way back I had to stand due to the lack of room on one of Arriva’s overcrowded and pointless Voyagers but that is another email and another day.)
Thanks for listening, the invoice is in the post, along with a small furry rodent which comes free with every awful rail journey I make. You must have quite a collection there by now.!”
Cheers then.!
Fluffy Bunny.