Flexible season tickets to be centrepiece of rail shake-up

MINISTERS are to announce the biggest shake-up of the railways since privatisation on the three-year anniversary of a bungled timetable overhaul that provoked fury among commuters.

Flexible season tickets will be unveiled as Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, lays the groundwork for a series of radical changes on Thursday.

As the railways adjust to changing working patterns, French-style “carnet” tickets will be offered to those coming to the office for up to two days a week. Mr Shapps is also expected to signal the end of orange and green tickets with investment in “digital” ticketing that could be stored on mobile phones or smart cards.

After a long delay – in part due to the pandemic– the railway review will be published to kickstart a slew of reforms. Led by Keith Williams, the former British Airways boss, a decision to axe rail franchising will be rubber-stamped.

Rail operators will be paid a fee by taxpayers to run services with the Ggovernment collecting fares instead. An independent body to oversee operations will also be unveiled. Rail bosses are worried that more radical changes could be watered down.

Carnet tickets will allow passengers to complete five return journeys in any single month at a discount of 15pc to peak fares.