West Coast ticketing

Most readers will know that the value of split ticketing has been around for years.

When Virgin Trains took over the West Coast Main Line some 20 years ago, it was possible to save £100 by buying a ticket from Liverpool or Runcorn to Nuneaton and (at the same time) a ticket from Nuneaton to Euston on a train departing about 0830.

The ticket office staff (at least under Virgin) were told they were not to tell passengers this, but must issue the tickets if asked, under the national rules of ticketing.

Virgin Trains put a stop to that by changing its peak-time rules, so it was necessary to wait until about 1000 for the cheaper fares, and later introduced the peak afternoon travel period returning from London.

It then made a concession that those with a Senior Railcard could

travel in the peaks with the cheaper tickets. Virgin Trains withdrew this concession last year - I assume this is because it was expecting this would add to its profits, although it probably backfired as most Senior Railcard holders (like me) now avoid the peaks.

Now, if it is necessary to catch a train direct to London before 0947, the Standard Class fare to pay when arriving at Lime Street station is £318 return or £210 with a Senior Railcard. The off-peak fares on the 0947 are £84 and £55 respectively. Consequently, the 0947 is full, unlike the previous one.

A simple solution is obvious… for London Midland to extend its Euston to Crewe service to Liverpool (perhaps alternating with Preston every other train), with its 110mph trains. I think these are going to operate direct from Crewe to Stafford, so would provide valuable competition and more comfortable trains than the ‘aircraft-style’ Pendolinos. Chris Lewis, Cheshire