Rail fares to undergo 'biggest reform since 1985'

Rail ticketing is set to undergo the "biggest reform… since 1985, when British Rail introduced the existing pricing structure", says The Times.

"A ten-point 'action plan', to be implemented from July, will require operators to flag up the cheapest fares, warn passengers when they can catch a later service to save money and abolish jargon," the paper adds.

The news follows an investigation by the Times last summer, which found the cheapest fares for as many as two-thirds of journeys are routinely hidden from rail users.

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In particular, under the current system, priority is given to the sale of single fares for long-distance journeys and returns involving changes when buying several tickets for each part of the trip could be much cheaper.

For example, says the BBC, a traveller "can currently pay up to £342.50" for an off-peak return from Wick, in northern Scotland, to Par, in Cornwall.

However, "by buying six separate fares for each leg of the journey, passengers can pay as little as £80 for the same trip".

A new system is to be trialled on the CrossCountry franchise between south-west England and Scotland in May that will automatically show if a multi-leg purchase would be cheaper than buying a single ticket, says the Times.

Other trials will follow on Virgin and East Midlands trains, including scrapping "costly fares on little-used routes" and highlighting where two single tickets may be cheaper than buying a return.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said the overhaul represented the biggest reform of the fare system since 1985.

But the Times says the changes still "fall short of reforms demanded" and fail to tackle "split-ticketing" discrepancies, where a long journey costs less if the passenger buys a series of tickets between several of the stations passed on the route, even if they do not need to change trains.

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said: "When you book a rail ticket, in a station or online, people should be given the cheapest price available at that time for their chosen journey.

"These changes will not make that happen. The changes do include split-ticketing, but only where you change train. Most of the big-ticket train savings come where you don't change."

The Rail Delivery Group said tackling the issue was a "long-term aspiration".

Train operators promise to cut fares after investigation

29 July

Train operators have pledged to overhaul ticketing to make it easier for customers to find cheaper fares.

Rail companies are in the dock after a Times investigation earlier this week found that National Rail Enquiries was hiding the cheapest fares on 33 out of 50 journeys. As a result, travellers are paying up to £85 more than necessary.

Operators have responded with a promise to give customers a better, more transparent deal, allowing them to choose a journey date and time so they can mix and match fares. Today’s Times reports that they will meet with the government in the coming weeks to agree on the new system.

Stephen Joseph, of the Campaign for Better Transport, gave the proposals a cautious welcome but warned of a possible “stitch-up between industry and government” if passengers are not represented at the meeting.

Last night’s announcement of an airline-style booking system for customers followed what the Daily Express called a “car crash interview” when the Rail Delivery Group’s Jacqueline Starr appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme to justify the differences in ticket prices.

In the course of a “cringeworthy conversation” with presenter John Humphrys, the Express reports that “Ms Starr refused to give a clear answer [...] prompting the frustrated Humphrys to say several times: ‘Let me ask you the question again.’”

The Today programme discussion did produce consensus on one subject, however. Ms Starr said she agreed when Humphrys suggested it was “patently daft” that travellers can get a cheaper fare if they buy separate tickets for different parts of their journey.

How to find the cheapest train tickets

03 June

With UK train tickets among the most expensive in Europe, commuters are finding clever new ways to save money on their rail journeys.

"For really huge savings, remember train fares and logic go together like Pop-Tarts and ketchup so lob the rulebook out the window," Jenny Keefe, from MoneySavingExpert, tells the BBC.

Here's a list of simple tricks from the experts:

Book in advance

Thinking ahead can save you a bundle. Tickets with discounts of up to 80 per cent are available up to 12 weeks in advance.

If you travel on the same route regularly, you can get an email notification each time a ticket for your specific route goes on sale on Trainline.

If you travel on the same route more than two or three times a week then it often works out better to buy a season ticket. Commuters can choose from weekly, monthly or yearly options.

Railcards

Having a valid railcard can save you money on tickets, with a number of options to choose from.

Travellers aged between 16 and 25 can enjoy a third off with the 16-25 Railcard, which costs £30 for a year or £70 for three. You can even buy a three-year railcard right up until the day before your 24th birthday. Mature students aged 26 or over and in full-time education can also apply.

A similar deal is available for over-60s with the Senior Railcard offering a third off tickets for £30 a year.

Passengers with a disability that makes travelling by train difficult may qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard, which is £20 a year or £54 for three years. This gets a third off fares for both the railcard-holder and a friend.

If you regularly travel with a particular pal, family member or partner, you could save cash by investing in a Two Together Railcard. It costs £30 – so £15 each – and offers a third off journeys when you are travelling together.

Alternatively, a Family & Friends Railcard costs £30 a year and gets discounts of a third for adults and 60 per cent for children. It can be used by up to four adults when travelling with up to four children aged between five and 15.

There are, however, various restrictions on each scheme and travellers must always carry their railcard with them to avoid a fine.

Avoid rush hour

Off-peak tickets are much cheaper than those allowing you travel at any time of day. By avoiding rush hour, you'll also be more likely to get a seat.

Restrictions apply depending on the train operator, so make sure you are aware of the rules.

Choose singles over a return

"Returns should be better value but often aren't," Keefe writes at Moneysavingexpert.com. "Lots of top deals are only available on one-way fares."

Most websites will show you the difference between the two fares, but ensure you always double check.

Split your ticket

Websites such as TrainSplit search through timetables, fares and reservation information for the whole of Britain's rail network to find the cheapest combination of tickets.

For example, an off-peak return from Birmingham to Leeds costs £58.10, but if you split your journey by travelling from Birmingham to Derby, Derby to Sheffield and then Sheffield to Leeds, you could save £20.20.

You don't always need to change trains, but you must make sure the train stops at each specified station for the ticket to be valid.

Ticket splitting is permissible under the rail networks condition of carriage, so customers cannot be penalised.

"The train guard will understand what you're doing and will often compliment you on finding a cheap combination of train tickets," says TrainSplit.

And remember to always claim your refund

Unclaimed compensation for delayed and cancelled trains runs into millions of pounds each year, according to Which?.

The consumer group blames train companies for making it too difficult for passengers to get a refund, but also points out that commuters are also often unaware of their rights or forget to make a claim.

The fine print and the amount you can claim back varies according to each train operator.

A full list of companies offering refunds on journeys and details of how to claim can be found on the Which? website.