RDG fares reform
Rail Delivery Group seeks reform of rail fares, as research reveals dissatisfaction with ticket-buying experience.
A WIDE-RANGING reform of rail fares is being sought by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), following research suggesting that just one in three passengers is confident that they bought the best value ticket for their journey.
The independent research, conducted by KPMG, also suggests that fewer than one in three passengers were “very satisfied” with the experience of buying their ticket.
A public consultation conducted with passenger watchdog Transport Focus will begin in June, to hear the views of businesses, passengers, rail staff and the general public on what future rail fares could look like.
The RDG, which announced its findings on May 8, describes the existing regulations underpinning rail fares as “well-intentioned but ultimately counterproductive”.
It argues that the 1995 Ticketing Settlement Agreement has been added to by further requirements introduced by individual franchising agreements, which has made it “increasingly difficult for rail companies to guarantee the right fare”.
It adds that regulations have “failed to keep pace” with the rise of smartphone technology and changing work and travel patterns, and that long-standing anomalies such as what it calls ‘through ticket peak time premiums” - where passengers are charged the full peak-time fare for a journey even if some legs are on off-peak trains - are becoming “locked in, resulting in bigger problems for customers”.
Following the consultation, a final report will make proposals to
governments with options for fares reform.
The RDG says the proposals will be “neutral” in revenue terms with no change in average fares and no requirement for additional government support for the railway.
However, a new fares offering with the potential to attract more passengers to rail could either support investment or give governments the option to change the balance between taxpayers and farepayers for funding the railway, the RDG says.
RDG Chief Executive Paul Plummer said: “We want to work in partnership to drive root and branch reform of well-meaning but outdated fares regulation. Working together, we want to develop proposals to reform fares and regulation to make it easier for our customers to get the right ticket, enhancing trust in the system and supporting continued investment to improve the service.
“Unpicking the regulation of a £10 billion-a-year fares system that underpins such a vital public service means there are no quickand-easy solutions.
“The change that’s needed won’t be easy and the industry doesn’t have all the answers, which is why we want to hear views from passengers, communities and businesses in all parts of the country.
“There have already been improvements and more are on the way, but this consultation will enable us to create a clear roadmap with the country so that we can make the right changes for the long term more quickly.”
Transport Focus Chief Executive Anthony Smith said the ability to make journeys using ‘split ticketing’ is “fast eroding trust in advertised fares”.
He added: “Rail passengers want a rail fares system they can trust, that is simpler, offers better value for money, and is more understandable.
“Fares and ticketing systems need to suit the way we travel now - there is a huge demand for smarter ticketing. Opening the debate on reform options is overdue.”