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| Cross-country commuters to save 'hundreds of pounds' | Cross-country commuters to save 'hundreds of pounds' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Passengers using cross-country train routes could save up to £260 a journey, under a trial scheme to simplify fares. | Passengers using cross-country train routes could save up to £260 a journey, under a trial scheme to simplify fares. |
| The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, says the 16 million fares currently on offer are "baffling" for passengers. | The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, says the 16 million fares currently on offer are "baffling" for passengers. |
| It wants to ensure passengers are offered the cheapest possible fares. | It wants to ensure passengers are offered the cheapest possible fares. |
| The trial from May will initially benefit people travelling between Scotland and south-west England. | |
| A traveller buying an off-peak return from Wick, in northern Scotland, to Par, in Cornwall, can currently pay up to £342.50, although in practice few people pay that amount. | A traveller buying an off-peak return from Wick, in northern Scotland, to Par, in Cornwall, can currently pay up to £342.50, although in practice few people pay that amount. |
| However, by buying six separate fares for each leg of the journey, passengers can pay as little as £80 for the same trip. | However, by buying six separate fares for each leg of the journey, passengers can pay as little as £80 for the same trip. |
| The RDG says the potential saving of £262 will soon be offered to customers automatically. | The RDG says the potential saving of £262 will soon be offered to customers automatically. |
| CrossCountry Trains, the main operator taking part in the trials, may eventually offer savings on other routes as well. | |
| 'Fares to trust' | 'Fares to trust' |
| Passengers travelling between London and Glasgow, or London and Edinburgh on Virgin Trains, will also benefit from clearer pricing. | |
| Operators currently have to offer a return fare between these cities, which is regulated by the government. | Operators currently have to offer a return fare between these cities, which is regulated by the government. |
| But the RDG says it would be more transparent - and possibly cheaper - for commuters if the single fares were regulated instead. | But the RDG says it would be more transparent - and possibly cheaper - for commuters if the single fares were regulated instead. |
| It wants more airline-style booking of single fares - at ticket offices and ticket machines, as well as on the internet. | It wants more airline-style booking of single fares - at ticket offices and ticket machines, as well as on the internet. |
| "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," said Jacqueline Starr, RDG director of customer experience. | "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," said Jacqueline Starr, RDG director of customer experience. |
| The trial will also see the removal of some historic fares which do not make sense. | The trial will also see the removal of some historic fares which do not make sense. |
| At the moment passengers travelling between London St Pancras and Sheffield pay extra to travel via Grantham, for example, even though it takes longer. | At the moment passengers travelling between London St Pancras and Sheffield pay extra to travel via Grantham, for example, even though it takes longer. |
| Such fares date back to the pre-privatisation era of British Rail. | Such fares date back to the pre-privatisation era of British Rail. |
| The price of average train fares - including regulated and unregulated tickets - went up by 2.3% in January, even though consumer prices rose by just 1.6% last year. | The price of average train fares - including regulated and unregulated tickets - went up by 2.3% in January, even though consumer prices rose by just 1.6% last year. |
| The rise led to protests by passengers and rail unions. | The rise led to protests by passengers and rail unions. |