Talking about the "bucketing" where they first sell x% of tickets at a cheap price, then the next x% at a higher price, and on and on until its expensive as shit.
This is really demoralizing as someone who'd like to be a bit more spontaneous, and be able hop on a train out of town (which is running either way and never full...), the price I get offered is like double the price if I booked 3-4+ months out.
There must be a better system.
this is the context I love to see
I recall this about japan but cant speak with any authority since I'm not thaaat familiar. its not even that its cheap necessarily, but its operated as mass transit not boutique small scale shit, and the pricing is at least consistent/predictable.