As if the way people buy their tickets is going to make the rail industry better. You think there would be a positive effect if everyone who bought an annual ticket switched to weekly? The train companies would suddenly go, oh look the people have voted with their feet and demand better value, let's turn this ship around.
What's the point of rail season tickets?
- Thread starter Energize
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Ye of little faith!
A significant change in purchasing behaviour might bring down the entire franchising and rail delivery model. You would think it would not be beyond the realms of possibility that rail network experts* could conjure a better and fairer way of delivering national and regional rail services. Certain European continent institutions seem to be able to deliver a good and reliable service at reasonable costs.
*Ignoring the current crop of in-country no-hopers!
A significant change in purchasing behaviour might bring down the entire franchising and rail delivery model. You would think it would not be beyond the realms of possibility that rail network experts* could conjure a better and fairer way of delivering national and regional rail services. Certain European continent institutions seem to be able to deliver a good and reliable service at reasonable costs.
*Ignoring the current crop of in-country no-hopers!
People in this thread also need to factor in the refunds available to season ticket holders for delays, cancellations etc. These are fairly easy to claim back monthly with a season ticket (and depending on just how bad your train operator is) can mean a substantial amount of money back.
Regular return tickets would be a nightmare to claim for over the course of a year.
Regular return tickets would be a nightmare to claim for over the course of a year.
I save £350 by getting an annual, plus it is a work sponsored travel loan that gets deducted from my pay before tax, so I am even extra quids in.
And as per the above, I got £120 refund from all the Waterloo kerfuffle last year.
And as per the above, I got £120 refund from all the Waterloo kerfuffle last year.
What sort of refunds can you claim though? The cost of an anytime day return? Shockingly I don't think the Manchester transpennine service has been more than a minute late into Preston in the last month, your train needs to be more than 30mins late doesn't it?
I think I would have killed [or permanently maimed] someone to get a train service that reliable last year! My daily commute was 3 trains in the morning and 3 or 4 on the way home depending on scheduling. For a 40 mile journey each way. Costing over 3 grand a year for cattle/standing class. Many many times a train would be 30 mins late. This was with the late-great SWT now reemerged as SWR.
I gave up and now lease a car.
Soldato
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That's a bargain. An annual ticket around London is more like £3,500!
Whats a bargain? I just looked it up, mine is now £3576. And it didnt even take me into Zone 1 or 2.
Soldato
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The OP's annual ticket. I feel your pain, despite not commuting on the train. Train ticket prices from outside into London are outrageous.
It really shouldn't be being deducted from your pay before tax. Unless your company are offsetting the tax deliberately and paying it themselves.
Soldato
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Home to work anytime return fare is £28.20. Season ticket is £2,604. I travel to work probably 220 days per year, which would cost £6,204 on daily tickets. So a 58% saving by buying a season ticket (or as I get a 15% discount on the ticket, a 64% saving.)
Makes sense in my book.
Makes sense in my book.
I apply, they give me a cheque, and the value of that cheque is divided by 12 and deducted from my monthly pay pre-tax.
Season ticket loans come under the reporting limit required for the taxman, so companies can offer this as a perk for employees.
https://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/...ption-for-travel-season-ticket-loans-doubles/
My annual season ticket come around at £4.5K and that is the price there and there abouts of 40weekly season tickets saving about £700 a year.
The biggest advantages are:
Free Weekend travel on the route and automatic upgrade from standard to First Class (on weekends)
Flexibility of service, any train on the route. Advance tickets may be cheaper but miss that train and you are screwed..
Less hassle
With a season ticket you can still claim for late services / cancelled trains just like anyone else..
Simples..
The biggest advantages are:
Free Weekend travel on the route and automatic upgrade from standard to First Class (on weekends)
Flexibility of service, any train on the route. Advance tickets may be cheaper but miss that train and you are screwed..
Less hassle
With a season ticket you can still claim for late services / cancelled trains just like anyone else..
Simples..
Soldato
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I think that might have been a bit misunderstood. No taxable benefit arises for loans under £10k, but the employee still needs to pay income tax on all of their earnings. If the repayment is deducted pre-tax they are receiving earnings to the value of the loan income-tax-free. Season ticket loan repayments should be deducted after income tax and NI or it's a neat way to reduce your income tax - everyone takes a loan of £10k and pays £3k-ish less income tax and NI.
Which line is that that you get free First Class upgrade on weekends? That's not common to all operators is it?
Don't ask me, I didn't write it. I suspect there are thousands of commuters in blissful ignorance that they've underpaid a smidge of tax for the pleasure of going to work! I'm off to cry into my beer
Fairly sure HMRC usually have the last laughDon't ask me, I didn't write it. I suspect there are thousands of commuters in blissful ignorance that they've underpaid a smidge of tax for the pleasure of going to work! I'm off to cry into my beer