Stansted Express - Criticism

Criticism

In May 2009 National Express abolished off-peak fares on services from Stansted Airport. Therefore all fares are considered peak (regardless of day or time travelled) and hence this is reflected in the price. Those living locally have to produce ID in order to obtain a discounted ticket, though the discount is less than the previous off-peak fare. It should however be noted that combinations of tickets may be used, as long as the train stops at the station where one ticket's validity ends and the other's starts – for example, by buying single tickets from Liverpool Street to Harlow Town at a cost of £10, and from Harlow Town to Stansted Airport at £6.80, and then catching a train which calls at Harlow Town, as of 2011 a saving of £4.20 can be made on the £21 single fare to the airport. Further savings may be made by purchasing tickets to/from Audley End, especially at peak times, which tickets are valid via Stansted Airport.

In September 2010, advertisements for Stansted Express at Stansted Airport were banned because they were deemed misleading, advertising a 35-minute journey time to Tottenham Hale and claiming this as "London". The Advertising Standards Authority believed the advertisements might confuse travellers into thinking that the train would reach central London in 35 minutes. National Express defended the adverts, stating that Tottenham Hale allows access to the Victoria Line and also stating that the adverts made no reference to the trains going into central London in 35 minutes.