So true.

Travelled from Dartford to Stoneleigh on Weds pre-09:30. Checked the
(new) price of a peak all-zone travelcard, then toddled to the ticket
office which remarkably had no queue AND all three windows open, to
check the price of a day return, since the *?|***!!?? SE Trains ticket
machines have so few destinations in them. Clerk told me price, I said
"oh, all-zone travelcard is cheaper, I'll have one please" and he was so
surprised he had to check on his little map that Stoneleigh was in the
zonal system. And was even more surprised to find it is.

I really, really pity the non-anoraks who don't understand the system.
They must consistently overpay. Sigh.

Mike

Steve Firth wrote:
On Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:38:13 GMT, Bill Hayles wrote:

I was amazed at the number of people who had season tickets from Kent
stations to Bank via London Bridge rather that continue to Cannon Street
and walk.

Under the fare structure we had at the time, the former was considerably
more expensive.

Did anyone bother to tell those commuters? My experience is that no ticket
clerk will ever suggest a cheaper alternative route or indeed inform the
traveller of the best route option. Hence when taking the train from Essex
to Manchester the ticket office would always try to route me via London
Euston. I had to point out to them that there was a direct service which
was actually cheaper, and faster.

Things haven't changed, no one working for SWT will point out that it's
cheaper to get to my home from London if one uses the Portsmouth train,
rather than the Southampton train. And they certainly won't advise anyone
of the closest station, preferring to direct people to Winchester.