Passengers need help getting the right ticket deal

The rail industry must work harder to ensure passengers get the best deal when buying tickets, says Rail Minister Paul Maynard.

In a Commons Written Reply on September 13 to Drew Hendry (SNP, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey), regarding Government simplifying fares between London and Scotland and reducing the fare anomalies that lead to split ticketing, Maynard said: “We are aware that there are a number of routes for which it can be cheaper to purchase two or more tickets for individual parts of the route than a through ticket for the entire journey.

“Anyone is entitled to purchase two or more separate tickets for their journey so long as the train they are travelling on stops at the stations indicated at the end of each ticket.

“Apparent anomalies in pricing that may be experienced on longdistance routes, like London to Scotland, can sometimes be a result of competition on the railways encouraging one operator to reduce prices when competing with others on the route. Price competition on the railways can be positive for passengers. The Department would need to consider very carefully any action that removed this incentive for operators.”

Maynard added: “Train operators are obliged to sell the most appropriate through fare based on the information the passenger gives them. This will depend on what time the passenger wants to travel and how flexible they need to be. The National Rail Conditions of Carriage, which form the basis of the contract you enter into when you buy a rail ticket, allow passengers to use combinations of tickets. However, it is vital that industry improve information available to passengers, and I will be raising this with the Rail Delivery Group as a priority.”

Around 80% of railway tickets are purchased at ticket machines and booking offices, according to research conducted by SilverRail.

Although the proportion of internet ticket sales is rising (in 2006-07 the proportion was 7%), SilverRail Chief Commercial Officer Cameron Jones said the UK is “significantly behind the pace”.

He pointed out that in France and Spain more than 40% of tickets are brought online, while in Sweden the claimed figure is 90%.