Text entered

Asda's Great Train Robbery Expose

Asda

21 December 2011

Snacks on trains cost Brits up to 365% more than those bought from Asda
With Brits making 1.3bn rail journeys a year today Asda has challenged train companies charging extortionate amounts for basic on-board refreshments to drop their ridiculously high and unnecessary prices.
With the Association of Train Operating Companies announcing the price of train tickets set to rise on average by 5.9% in January and the transport secretary Philip Hammond declaring British railways are a “rich man’s toy”, Asda has exposed this daylight robbery on snacks to help rail commuters save their pennies.
Asda research has shown 86% of customers find train food overpriced, with 68% adding that they would rather go hungry and wait until their final destination than pay the extortionate on-board train prices. A further 68% said that when possible, they buy food and drinks pre-departure with the top reason being for money saving reasons.
Research by the supermarket giant shows that rail commuters are being forced to pay, in some cases, a staggering 365% more for some snacks if they choose to buy them on the train, compared with Asda prices:
Not only are the train food and drink prices sky-high, but there is also limited choice for commuters who want something other than a sandwich or a sausage roll. Passengers looking for healthier options are also left disappointed – fresh fruit and salads are limited and often unavailable.
An Asda spokesperson says “We think it is day light robbery for train companies to charge such outrageous prices for basic on-board snacks just because they have a captive audience. With so many families travelling the length and breadth of the country on trains to visit their loved ones this Christmas, a little bit of forward of planning could save them from these off-the-rail on-board prices.”