The transport watchdog and the rail industry have launched a consultation today (4 June) on plans to reform ticketing that aim to maximise the benefits of new technology but could see some cheap fares culled.
Consumer watchdog Transport Focus said a three-month consultation will help the industry to better understand what passengers want to see from an ‘up to date, easier fares and ticketing system’.
However the industry is only committed to considering revenue neutral changes, meaning improvements could come at a quid pro quo price.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said responses to the consultation ‘will inform proposals from the industry which aim to be revenue neutral overall with no change in average fares, meaning that taxpayers and passengers would not pay more towards the cost of running and improving the railway’.
However, although it said that 'a fares offering which is trusted...has the potential to attract more people to travel by train', it added: ‘For proposals to be revenue neutral, any changes in specific fares would need to be balanced out elsewhere.
'The consultation questionnaire therefore does not advocate options but asks those responding to give their preference for a range of options, which would feed in to industry proposals and ultimately need to be considered by governments.
‘For example, this includes whether people and organisations would prefer certainty over the price of journeys, even if it means “early bird” or last-minute deals are restricted.'
The RDG added that an ‘easier-to-use’ range of fares will aim to maximise the benefits of improvements in ticket-buying technology.
Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith, 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. The rail industry has grasped the nettle and we will ensure the voice of the passenger is heard clearly as part of this consultation.
‘Passengers have long told us that they want rail fares system they can trust, that offers better value for money and is more understandable. Fares and ticketing systems need to suit the way we travel now.’
The consultation will be hosted on britainrunsonrail.co.uk and involve a questionnaire that can be completed online or posted by freepost.
The RDG said the industry will be engaging with governments throughout the consultation and will host a series of roundtables with consumer, business and technology groups.
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