Rip-off rail fares for long journeys scrapped in major ticket overhaul

Jamie Bullen1 February 2017

Rail fares are to be given their biggest overhaul in 30 years in a bid to make it easier to buy the cheapest train tickets.

Some fares for long, connecting journeys will be removed from the system as cheaper alternatives exist.

The move is aimed at stopping customers needing to buy split tickets in order to save money.

Currently, passengers taking multi-leg journeys are often charged more for the overall ticket than they would be if they bought tickets for singles along the route.

The changes are designed to help passengers to know if they would be better off buying two single tickets or a return.

Overhaul: the move is aimed at helping customers find the cheapest tickets
PA

There are also measures to make ticket vending machines more user-friendly.

The trials are due to start in May on selected routes, including CrossCountry, Virgin Trains' east and west coast services and East Midlands.

In October, the Commons' Transport Select Committee published a damning report which stated that "unfairness, complexity and a lack of transparency" in rail ticketing have been apparent for at least a decade.

Train companies claim they have been prevented from being more flexible in offering tickets that passengers want because of government rules covering rail fares.

The pilot schemes, agreed by rail firms and the Government, are designed to establish what changes are needed to regulations and processes to enable train companies to set simpler fares.

Rail Delivery Group director of customer experience Jacqueline Starr said: "We know customers can find it hard to get the right ticket for their journey due to complex rules and regulations built up by governments over decades.

"There are more than 16 million different train fares, many of which nobody has ever bought. This also makes it more difficult to give passengers the right, simple options on ticket machines.

"Working with Government, we're determined to overhaul the system to cut out red tape, jargon and complication to make it easier for customers to buy fares they can trust, including from ticket machines."

Lianna Etkind, public transport campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed plans to simplify the "horribly complicated" fares system, but called for the introduction of "long overdue" part-time season tickets.

She also urged rail companies to protect station staffing levels, as ticket vending machines "cannot replace trained, visible members of staff".

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