Outdoor Discoveries

Decline of the Saver Return?

It seems that early morning train travel is coming at a premium these days. Last Friday’s trip to Wales had me using an Open Return that cost me £42.40 rather than £33.60 as would have been the price for the Saver Return, a staple for all of us undertaking return trips on the railways in Britain. Yes, it cost more than I would have liked but it’s nothing when compares to the cost of journeys from Macclesfield to London at peak times.

For those, with the cost of an Open Return, the only option at peak times, is extortionate; it’s more than quadruple the cost of the equivalent Saver. You just have to wonder if this is a return to the bad old days of the 1970’s where people were being priced off the railway in order to control capacity. In fact, with the London example, it might just pay to go down the evening before and stay overnight. Overnight coach travel to London is another possibility but it isn’t for everyone. Otherwise, people are being encouraged to fly or drive, hardly good environmental practice.