Which? welcomes rail fares review

Consumer watchdog Which? was among the organisations welcoming the RDG’s consultation into rail fares.

Managing Director of Public Markets Alex Hayman said: “Rail passengers have struggled for far too long with a confusing ticketing system that can make it hard to pay the right fare, so passenger-focused reform of the fare system is long overdue.

“The rail industry and government must ensure that any reforms tackle the poor levels of passenger satisfaction with the current ticketing system, and are implemented swiftly.”

However, the RMT union warned that the review will not solve problems faced by passengers. General Secretary Mick Cash said: “No one trusts Britain’s rip-off private rail companies to do the right thing by passengers when it comes to fares and ticketing.”

He described the rail companies as “the same bunch of spivs who have hacked back on staffing levels and axed ticket offices in the name of profit”.

London TravelWatch welcomed the review, with Chief Executive Janet Cook saying the body’s own research and casework “have shown that buying a rail ticket is getting more and more confusing for passengers. Fares between two places similar in distance often vary wildly, and passengers continue to be uncertain about whether they are getting the best price for their journey. As rail passengers continue to pay fares that increase annually faster than their incomes, the least they deserve is a fairer system.”