Rail fares could be made fairer and easier to use

RAIL ticketing could be overhauled to make it fairer and easier to use.

A public consultation is being launched by the industry to suggest ways of simplifying the system, which will lead to a report containing proposals for governments to consider.

A passenger group claimed reform is “overdue”.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents private train operators and Governmentowned Network Rail, said the industry’s suggestions will aim to be revenue neutral, with no change in average fares and no extra support from taxpayers.

Only one in three (34%) passengers were “very confident” they bought the best value ticket for their last journey, according to KPMG research commissioned by the industry.

Just 29% were “very satisfied” with the ticket-buying experience.

The ticketing system is underpinned by regulations which are unchanged from the mid-1990s, and have not kept pace with technology and ways of working. Complexity has been added through individual franchise agreements.

Now around 55 million different fares exist, including long-standing anomalies such as charging a peak-time fare when half a trip is on an off-peak service, and split ticketing, where it can be cheaper to buy several tickets for a single journey.

KPMG outlined a number of principles for rail ticketing, including:

■ Transparent, predictable, easier to use;

■ Integrated with other modes of transport; and

■ Personalised, flexible fares. Rail companies say they are already making improvements to fares where they can, such as cutting jargon and providing clearer information.

The consultation opens on June 4, with a report expected in late autumn.