Student Connect - Background

Last year, First Capital Connect removed a 75% discount which was given to students from some sixth-forms by the previous franchise holders, WAGN and Thameslink. This has been replaced by a 34% discount, which is theoretically available to more people, but only from certain stations (e.g. no-one south of London is entitled to the discount, and passengers between Hadley Wood, Crews Hill, Elstree & Borehamwood and London can only get discounts if travelling to stations north of those listed).

In theory, it sounds like a good idea. Sadly, in practice this is not the case. Customers who have lost the old discounts have faced 170% fare increases, and the changes were not well publicised, with many people complaining about the lack of notice.

The purpose of this blog is to get FCC to notice the problems people face. I really hope FCC can do the decent thing and reinstate a more substantial discount, in line with other operators (National Express East Anglia provides a 50% discount, for example).