Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post

al2637 · 10-05-2006, 08:55

Please, please, please do not go down the route of yield management. It works good for airlines who's sole aim is to maximise the profit per passenger. But the public transport system is NOT there to be a cash cow, it is there to provide a public service!!! With most of the infrastructure paid from our taxes!

Sure, the argument is that it can be used to manage demand, but this is TOTALLY the wrong attitude to take for the future of public transport. Increase capacity to meet demand. It is the ONLY way.

I understand we have problems at peak times, but this can be managed in other ways. In the Netherlands, I can travel any time of day, anywhere on the intercity network, for the same fixed price. I don't need a ticket for a specific train, just for the trip itself, and I can take any reasonable routing. However, NS do offer a 'Korting' Card (Discount Card) which you can purchase for 1 year for €50. Using this card, I get a 40% discount on ALL services, if I travel AFTER 9am Mon-Fri, and also all weekend. This makes InterCity travel very cheap. A very simple mechanism for encouraging people to travel off-peak.

Fixed fares, and enough capacity to ensure reservations are not needed. Turn up and go with a cheap price is the only way we are really going to get people out of their cars and onto trains.

Let's not follow the British model.

10-05-2006, 08:55	#9
al2637 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 191	Please, please, please do not go down the route of yield management. It works good for airlines who's sole aim is to maximise the profit per passenger. But the public transport system is NOT there to be a cash cow, it is there to provide a public service!!! With most of the infrastructure paid from our taxes! Sure, the argument is that it can be used to manage demand, but this is TOTALLY the wrong attitude to take for the future of public transport. Increase capacity to meet demand. It is the ONLY way. I understand we have problems at peak times, but this can be managed in other ways. In the Netherlands, I can travel any time of day, anywhere on the intercity network, for the same fixed price. I don't need a ticket for a specific train, just for the trip itself, and I can take any reasonable routing. However, NS do offer a 'Korting' Card (Discount Card) which you can purchase for 1 year for €50. Using this card, I get a 40% discount on ALL services, if I travel AFTER 9am Mon-Fri, and also all weekend. This makes InterCity travel very cheap. A very simple mechanism for encouraging people to travel off-peak. Fixed fares, and enough capacity to ensure reservations are not needed. Turn up and go with a cheap price is the only way we are really going to get people out of their cars and onto trains. Let's not follow the British model.