Flexible train tickets are being introduced from next month as part of a huge shake-up of the rail industry.
The government says the new fares could save commuters “hundreds” of pounds - depending on how often you need to travel somewhere, for example, if you’re working part-time from home.
It comes as part of plans to create a new public sector body to oversee Britain's railways, under the long-awaited “Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail” review.
Great British Railways (GBR) will own and manage rail infrastructure, issue contracts to private firms to run trains, set most fares and timetables, and sell tickets.
It will absorb Network Rail in a bid to end what the Department for Transport (DfT) branded a "blame-game system" between train and track operations when disruption occurs.
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As well as the flexible ticketing option, rail firms will also introduce more pay as you go, contactless and digital ticketing on smartphones.
We explain what you need to know.
How the new flexible season tickets will work
The new flexible season tickets for train travel will be available to buy from June 21, for travel from June 28 onwards.
The tickets - which will be paperless and for use on standard class only - will allow travel on any eight days within a 28-day period.
Passengers will be able to tap smartcards or scan mobiles at the station, with no need to select the days of travel in advance.
In terms of saving you money, it depends on how often you need to travel.
Exact prices have yet to be revealed by the government, but on its website, it implies that these tickets are being targeted at those who travel two or three days a week.
This means if you are travelling just one day a week, you will likely be better off buying daily tickets.
Or for travellers going into work four or more days a week, the best savings will typically be through seasonal tickets.
The government gives the following examples of savings compared to buying single, daily tickets.
For people travelling two days a week:
- over £250 from Woking to London
- over £200 from York to Leeds
- over £60 from Southampton Central to Winchester
- over £160 from Stafford to Birmingham
- over £220 from Liverpool to Manchester
For people travelling three days a week:
- over £220 from St Albans City to London
- over £120 from Bromsgrove to Birmingham
- over £90 from Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads
- over £330 from Chelmsford to Stratford
But the bad news is, if you have a railcard, you won't be able to use savings from this on top of the flexible season tickets.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "For many, the idea of travelling 5 days a week to the office is fast becoming a relic of the past.
"The future is flexible: passengers want a simple, stress-free option, and new flexible tickets make fares fairer.
"As we kickstart the biggest reform of our railways in a generation, we’re committed to creating a modern railway that works for its passengers."
