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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Train tickets: Rail industry plans fares shake-up | Train tickets: Rail industry plans fares shake-up |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Britain's rail companies are to launch a public consultation aimed at making ticketing fairer and easier to use. | Britain's rail companies are to launch a public consultation aimed at making ticketing fairer and easier to use. |
| The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail firms, said about 55 million different fares exist in the current system. | The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail firms, said about 55 million different fares exist in the current system. |
| A passenger group said reform was "overdue". | A passenger group said reform was "overdue". |
| The industry admits passengers are not currently always offered the cheapest fare available due to "long-standing anomalies" such as split ticketing. | The industry admits passengers are not currently always offered the cheapest fare available due to "long-standing anomalies" such as split ticketing. |
| That means it can be cheaper for passengers to buy several tickets for a single journey than one ticket. | That means it can be cheaper for passengers to buy several tickets for a single journey than one ticket. |
| Another "anomaly" it highlights is the charging of a peak-time fare when half a trip is on an off-peak service. | Another "anomaly" it highlights is the charging of a peak-time fare when half a trip is on an off-peak service. |
| The industry has pledged that average fares will not rise as a result of any reform. | The industry has pledged that average fares will not rise as a result of any reform. |
| Rules governing how tickets are sold and how fares are set date back to 1995, and have not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel, the RDG said. | Rules governing how tickets are sold and how fares are set date back to 1995, and have not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel, the RDG said. |
| It said existing laws were based on customers visiting ticket offices to buy tickets and do not reflect the rise in smartphones or the increase in part-time and freelance work patterns. | It said existing laws were based on customers visiting ticket offices to buy tickets and do not reflect the rise in smartphones or the increase in part-time and freelance work patterns. |
| "Long-standing anomalies are becoming locked in... as a result it has become increasingly difficult for rail companies to guarantee the right fare," it said. | "Long-standing anomalies are becoming locked in... as a result it has become increasingly difficult for rail companies to guarantee the right fare," it said. |
| 'Well-meaning but outdated' | 'Well-meaning but outdated' |
| A reformed ticketing system could include integrated tickets covering other modes of transport such as buses and trams, and more flexible tickets for part-time workers, the RDG said. | A reformed ticketing system could include integrated tickets covering other modes of transport such as buses and trams, and more flexible tickets for part-time workers, the RDG said. |
| It added that a more sophisticated computer-based system of ticketing would be able to automatically offer customers the lowest fare. | It added that a more sophisticated computer-based system of ticketing would be able to automatically offer customers the lowest fare. |
| RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said the industry is committed to reforming "well-meaning but outdated" regulation. | RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said the industry is committed to reforming "well-meaning but outdated" regulation. |
| "The industry doesn't have all the answers, which is why we want to hear views from passengers, communities and businesses in all parts of the country," he said. | "The industry doesn't have all the answers, which is why we want to hear views from passengers, communities and businesses in all parts of the country," he said. |
| The consultation will be launched next month and will run until September. It will lead to a report containing proposals for governments to consider. | The consultation will be launched next month and will run until September. It will lead to a report containing proposals for governments to consider. |
| Transport Focus, a passenger interests group working on the consultation, said the debate on reform options was "overdue". | Transport Focus, a passenger interests group working on the consultation, said the debate on reform options was "overdue". |
| "Rail passengers want a rail fares system they can trust, that is simpler, offers better value for money and is more understandable," said the group's chief executive, Anthony Smith. | "Rail passengers want a rail fares system they can trust, that is simpler, offers better value for money and is more understandable," said the group's chief executive, Anthony Smith. |
| 'No-one trusts' rail firms | 'No-one trusts' rail firms |
| Steve Chambers, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the attempt to improve ticketing, but warned "it will need government support to make it happen". | Steve Chambers, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the attempt to improve ticketing, but warned "it will need government support to make it happen". |
| Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said that "no-one trusts" private rail firms to "do the right thing by passengers". | Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said that "no-one trusts" private rail firms to "do the right thing by passengers". |
| A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "We want passengers to always be able to get the best possible deal on their ticket and we welcome the industry's commitment to review fares." | A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "We want passengers to always be able to get the best possible deal on their ticket and we welcome the industry's commitment to review fares." |
| Split tickets v single fares | |
| Buying split tickets can work out cheaper - but by how much? | |
| Exeter Central to Sheffield on 16 June, leaving at 8:53 BST. | |
| Split tickets: Exeter Central to Exeter St Davids (£1.40); Exeter St David's to Bristol Temple Meads (£14.70); Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham Spa (£7); Cheltenham Spa to Birmingham (£9.90); Birmingham to Derby (£6.30); Derby to Sheffield (£7.50). Total: £46.80 | |
| Advance ticket: £70.20 (50% more expensive) | |
| Birmingham to Lincoln on 14 May, leaving at 7:49 | |
| Split tickets: Birmingham to Long Eaton (£19.30); Long Eaton to Lincoln (£11.90). Total £31.20 | |
| Anytime ticket: £43.40 (39% more expensive) | |
| Leicester to Edinburgh on 18 May, leaving at 7.52 | |
| Split tickets, including advance fares: Leicester to Derby (£6.70); Derby to Sheffield (£8.40); Sheffield to York (£14.10); York to Darlington (£9.10); Darlington to Edinburgh (£45.10). Total £83.40 | |
| Advance ticket: £144.10 (73% more expensive) | |
| Oxford to Cambridge on 23 May, leaving at 10:01 | |
| Split tickets, including advance fares: Oxford to London Paddington (£5.40); London Underground to Cambridge (£27.40). Total £32.80 | |
| Off-peak single: £55.60 (70% more expensive) | |
| Northampton to Southampton Airport Parkway on 12 May, leaving 8.50 | |
| Split tickets, including advance fares: Northampton to London Euston (£10); London Underground to Southampton Airport Parkway (£23.50). Total £33.50 | |
| Off-peak single: £51.70 (54% more expensive) |