Railway passengers could choose to pay more to travel on “reliable and comfortable trains” under a radical shake-up of rail ticketing being planned by the industry.
Combining peak and off-peak fares into a new “flat fare” structure so passengers are charged the same during busier and quieter periods, and reducing prices for e-tickets but charging more for paper tickets, are options outlined in a consultation being launched on Monday.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, is seeking passengers’ views in the biggest ever consultation into rail fares. It is being launched with passenger watchdog Transport Focus, and responses will lead to recommendations for the government to consider in the autumn. The group said it was cancelling its annual conference due to start on Monday because of the ongoing delays and cancellations to services but the consultation would go ahead.
Last month, rail companies announced that they were seeking “root and branch” reform of fare regulations that date back to the mid-1990s and had failed to reflect the march of technology and changing working patterns.
With 55m different fares in the current system – according to the providers’ body, the Rail Delivery Group – the industry wants to persuade ministers to simplify ticketing and make it easier to use, ending anomalies such as split-ticketing, whereby it is cheaper to buy several tickets for a journey than a single one.
Following recent disruption on some parts of the network due to botched timetable changes, passengers will be asked whether fares should be based on quality of service. They could opt to travel more cheaply on routes with slower, less regular and more basic trains, with better services becoming more expensive.
Abolishing railcards could also be considered, along with rewarding regular travellers for their loyalty. Passengers will be asked whether they prefer certainty over the price of journeys, even if it means early-bird or last-minute deals are restricted.
The industry has pledged that average fares will not rise as a result of any reform. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said the industry’s priority was to create an easier-to-use fares system.
“Reforming the rules about how tickets are sold and bought has the potential to transform the buying experience for customers, making it easier for people to be confident they are getting the right ticket,” he said. “These reforms support what the industry is already doing to make improvements to fares alongside record investment in new train carriages, upgraded stations and extra services.”
Its latest research found that 34% of passengers were “very confident” they bought the best-value ticket for their last journey, and just 29% were “very satisfied” with the ticket-buying experience.
The three-month consultation will be hosted on britainrunsonrail.co.uk and involve a questionnaire that can be completed online or posted via freepost.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Our research shows that rail passengers want a fares system that is simple to use, easy to understand and is flexible enough to cater to how people work and travel today. ... We will ensure the voice of the passenger is heard clearly as part of this consultation.”
The consumer group Which? welcomed the consultation but called for automatic compensation to be introduced as standard. “It’s been clear for years that rail fares are too complicated and confusing for passengers, and all too often people don’t get the best fare for their journey” said Alex Hayman, Which? managing director of public markets. “It’s a situation that’s gone on too long and the government needs to make sure that any changes to the fares system are in the best interests of passengers.
“Trust in the industry is chronically low. While fixing the broken fares system will go some way to address this, more must be done for passengers who have to deal with shambolic services day in, day out. That’s why automatic compensation should be introduced across the industry for people who have to endure delays and cancellations.”
