Advance tickets are vital

Philip Haigh joins the bandwagon of saying scrap all low-priced rail fares so that there are just a couple or so left, and we’ll all be better off ( RAIL 849).

This is doing a real disservice to the many (rapidly increasing) who are better organised and who really need low-priced travel.

Advance purchase fares today are a reality, and vital. They are an essential part of the marketing of a product, deliberately cheaper than alternatives to attract patronage.

Without such incentives, we will not reach the goals of more passengers switching from road to rail, and I’m convinced that scrapping them would cause real hardship and that passengers will disappear. People will use their cars or alternatives.

National Express and Megabus must be rubbing their hands waiting for that day. What other sector regularly goes out of its way to advocate higher prices?

I find that simply choosing the cheapest fare - including split ticketing if necessary, for the specific level of convenience required from the journey - works well. And for the canny, extra discount is available through cash back sites.

As for seat reservations, there are already signs that improved technology is making booking even more user-friendly. Incidentally, Mr Haigh didn’t reveal which ticket he eventually bought.

Bob Newitt, Lutterworth