Rail fares to rise by RPI + 1%, Good value? Options

[Biker1]

FGW rail fares are to rise by approx 6% in the new year.
Is this good value bearing in mind that it is reported that motoring costs have risen by twice that amount in the last 12 months?
Is the extra revenue to go on shareholders dividends or to be re-invested in the infrastructure as we are told?

[NWNREADER]

I'm no train buff, but I use them from time to time for work.
The only thing I find odd about FGW is they do not seem to participate in advance purchase schemes.

If I travel to London I don't seem to be able to do it for less than #40+, any time of day and any period in advance. I recently travelled to Birmingham new Street at 0900 for #19 with Virgin (via Reading). Same when I have looked at train options to the West Country, but just as long a journey up the east coast (via London) can be really cheap.
To me it makes it hard to get my head round the pricing strategy, let alone marketing the train as a viable option.

[Vodabury]

I'm no train buff, but I use them from time to time for work.
The only thing I find odd about FGW is they do not seem to participate in advance purchase schemes.

If I travel to London I don't seem to be able to do it for less than #40+, any time of day and any period in advance.

I travel into London periodically and always try and make late morning appointments. Travelling after 1000 hrs with a railcard gives a one day Travelcard (NBY to PAD return with bus/tube) for £16.50 currently. The only thing is that the ticket is not valid for a return on fast trains departing PAD between 1630 and 1930 hrs or thereabouts.