Train fares: rail firms call for ‘root and branch’ reform
6 years, 10 months ago

Train fares: rail firms call for ‘root and branch’ reform

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Train operators must store details of 55 million different fares, and promise to provide any customer with a small piece of printed cardboard entitling them to transportation, just as they have for almost 200 years. The rail industry, together with the independent watchdog Transport Focus, is launching a public consultation “to establish a roadmap for change to update fares regulation and make things easier for customers”. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, representing train operators and Network Rail, said: “We want to work in partnership to drive root and branch reform of well-meaning but outdated fares regulation. 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.” Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Rail passengers want a simpler, more understandable and modern fares system which matches the way we now travel.

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History of this topic

Trainline shares slump as worries about rival state-run ticketing app bite
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Trainline shares slump as worries about rival state-run ticketing app bite

Daily Mail  

Trainline shares have plunged amidst continued investor unease about competition from a new state-backed ticketing platform. The Department of Transport announced plans in January to introduce a new online service that would combine different train operators' ticket websites and modernise the UK's complex railway ticketing system. While Trainline said the GBR ticketing app will 'likely take several years to crystallise,' …

Split ticket savings: How exploiting Britain’s barmy train fares could cut the cost of your travel
Trending News
4 weeks ago

Split ticket savings: How exploiting Britain’s barmy train fares could cut the cost of your travel

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On 2 March 2025 ticket prices went up by an average of 4.6 per cent in England and Wales; from …

Rail fares will continue to rise under Labour’s public ownership plan, transport secretary indicates
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Rail fares will continue to rise under Labour’s public ownership plan, transport secretary indicates

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail fares will continue to rise under Labour despite plans to …

Three rail firms to be brought into public ownership but fares will still rise
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Three rail firms to be brought into public ownership but fares will still rise

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We’ve had private train operating companies running train services …

Review into rail fare-dodging enforcement after ‘egregious’ prosecutions
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Review into rail fare-dodging enforcement after ‘egregious’ prosecutions

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In her first appearance before the Transport Select Committee, Louise Haigh said: “We have seen egregious examples of fare prosecutions …

Rail has fundamental problems that nationalisation alone cannot solve
8 months, 1 week ago

Rail has fundamental problems that nationalisation alone cannot solve

The Independent  

How wrong can you be about the railways? The prime minister could have encouraged his transport ministers to settle with the train drivers’ union, Aslef, well before the dispute became the longest and most bitter in railway history and drove many passengers away permanently. Instead, Sunak chose to portray two years of sporadic walkouts as “Labour’s strikes”. Only a fool …

Why Labour’s plan to revive British Rail won’t bring down ticket prices
11 months ago

Why Labour’s plan to revive British Rail won’t bring down ticket prices

The Telegraph  

Slashing ticket prices, conversely, would require an increase in subsidy, something Labour is reluctant to fund given the numerous other calls on the public purse and its determination to stick to fiscal rules. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch praised Labour’s commitment to nationalising rail franchises as they expire as “in the best interests of railway workers”. He said the move …

UK's Labour outlines plan to renationalise railways within 5 years
11 months ago

UK's Labour outlines plan to renationalise railways within 5 years

Hindustan Times  

LONDON, - Britain's opposition Labour Party said it planned to renationalise the country's rail network within five years without paying compensation to private operators as it set out its plans to fix the troubled railway system. UK's Labour outlines plan to renationalise railways within 5 years Britain's train services were privatised in the 1990s but several operators have been renationalised …

Labour fails to rule out fare rises under rail nationalisation plan
11 months ago

Labour fails to rule out fare rises under rail nationalisation plan

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The shadow transport secretary has failed to rule out that fares …

Trainline ticket sales surge amid boost from fewer rail strikes
1 year ago

Trainline ticket sales surge amid boost from fewer rail strikes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Trainline's market share continues to rise on key routes …

Train fares: everyone knows they’re wrong, but no government is brave enough to fix them
1 year ago

Train fares: everyone knows they’re wrong, but no government is brave enough to fix them

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The general secretary of the biggest rail union, Mick Lynch, called the rise a “slap in the face” for travellers, …

Status of major rail reforms labelled ‘staggering admission of failure’
1 year, 4 months ago

Status of major rail reforms labelled ‘staggering admission of failure’

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The establishment of Great British Railways, first proposed in May 2021, was included in a draft Rail Reform Bill in …

Labour commits to bringing railways back into public ownership
1 year, 5 months ago

Labour commits to bringing railways back into public ownership

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour is set to publish a “radical” transport plan which …

New contract for one of Britain’s least reliable train operators
1 year, 6 months ago

New contract for one of Britain’s least reliable train operators

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The routes Avanti West …

Boost train competition to ‘revitalise’ railways, report urges
1 year, 8 months ago

Boost train competition to ‘revitalise’ railways, report urges

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More competition on rail routes should be encouraged as part of measures to “revitalise” Britain’s railways, …

Return train fares expected to be scrapped in shake-up of British rail system
2 years, 1 month ago

Return train fares expected to be scrapped in shake-up of British rail system

The Independent  

Return train fares are to be scrapped in a planned shake-up of Britain’s rail system, expected to be announced by Rishi Sunak’s transport secretary within days. Mark Harper will reportedly unveil plans this week to replace return fares with “single-leg pricing”, in which the price of two single tickets will be equal to a return. It was first proposed by …

RMT rail deal: what it could mean for passengers and staff, from axing train buffet cars to ancient British Rail agreements
2 years, 2 months ago

RMT rail deal: what it could mean for passengers and staff, from axing train buffet cars to ancient British Rail agreements

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The RMT union is still considering the “best and final offer” from the train operators aimed …

Creation of Great British Railways delayed
2 years, 5 months ago

Creation of Great British Railways delayed

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We have lost the opportunity to have that in …

Nationalise the railway and slash fares: Andy Burnham’s plan for transport
2 years, 11 months ago

Nationalise the railway and slash fares: Andy Burnham’s plan for transport

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Burnham sets out the policy that, as a senior Labour politician, he is promoting: “We won’t get the railway …

The Great British Rail Sale sounds splendid – but there’s a catch
2 years, 11 months ago

The Great British Rail Sale sounds splendid – but there’s a catch

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But here we are, with the …

Five years on, rail passengers are still waiting for ticket improvements
3 years, 3 months ago

Five years on, rail passengers are still waiting for ticket improvements

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Rail passengers must be able to trust that they are getting the best possible deal every time they travel.” The …

‘Ruthless overhaul’ of train fare structure and pricing needed, warns rail expert
3 years, 7 months ago

‘Ruthless overhaul’ of train fare structure and pricing needed, warns rail expert

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But Mark Smith, founder of the Seat61.com website, warns a “ruthless root and branch overhaul” of the fare structure and …

Great British Railways: How will new public sector body’s train network reforms work?
3 years, 10 months ago

Great British Railways: How will new public sector body’s train network reforms work?

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. With the future looking even more challenging, the review has been modified and has been reborn as the Williams-Shapps Plan …

Great British Railways: What powers will the new body have and will it cure our love-hate relationship with rail?
3 years, 10 months ago

Great British Railways: What powers will the new body have and will it cure our love-hate relationship with rail?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The present system …

Great British Railways: Major revamp brings UK’s train network back under control of public body
3 years, 10 months ago

Great British Railways: Major revamp brings UK’s train network back under control of public body

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Instead, a new public body, Great British Railways, will “integrate the railways, owning the infrastructure, collecting fare revenue, running and …

Rail fares need an overhaul to help ‘level up’ the North
4 years, 5 months ago

Rail fares need an overhaul to help ‘level up’ the North

The Telegraph  

Boris Johnson risks falling short of his pledge to “level up” all regions of the UK due to a “complicated and restrictive” rail fare structure, industry leaders and politicians have warned, particularly following the impact of Covid-19. The Rail Delivery Group said the current system made it “difficult to offer the more flexible fares and ticketing options that passengers will …

Rail fares to rise by 1.6% from January
4 years, 7 months ago

Rail fares to rise by 1.6% from January

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Many train tickets will cost 1.6 per cent more from 2 January – unless the government …

General election: Labour to cut rail fares by up to 75%
5 years, 3 months ago

General election: Labour to cut rail fares by up to 75%

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An across-the-board 33 per cent cut in regulated fares would take effect from January 2020, replacing the planned 2.7 per …

Rail fares: Commuters will ‘refuse to pay’ if season ticket hikes continue, campaigners warn
5 years, 7 months ago

Rail fares: Commuters will ‘refuse to pay’ if season ticket hikes continue, campaigners warn

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Train commuters will “refuse to pay” if season ticket prices continue to be hiked, a rail …

UK train passengers could save millions using 'ticket split' app, claims French firm
5 years, 9 months ago

UK train passengers could save millions using 'ticket split' app, claims French firm

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail passengers could save hundreds of millions of pounds effortlessly by exploiting anomalies in train fares, …

Millions of commuters will have to pay extra £100 a year
6 years, 4 months ago

Millions of commuters will have to pay extra £100 a year

Daily Mail  

Britain's rail fares will increase by an average of 3.1 per cent on January 2, industry body the Rail Delivery Group announced today. The rise in fares comes despite commuters consistently complaining of delays across the country this year Just last week passengers had to queue on a bridge before being allowed onto platforms at Clapham Junction after over-running engineering …

Privatising Britain’s railways cost taxpayers £5bn per year and increased fares, Labour claims
6 years, 4 months ago

Privatising Britain’s railways cost taxpayers £5bn per year and increased fares, Labour claims

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The 'catastrophic' privatisation of Britain’s railways has cost the taxpayer £5bn …

UK railways: Theresa May 'considering major review of future of network' as anger at disruption grows
6 years, 6 months ago

UK railways: Theresa May 'considering major review of future of network' as anger at disruption grows

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Theresa May is considering commissioning a major review of the …

How UK train companies could make rail fares cheaper and better
6 years, 7 months ago

How UK train companies could make rail fares cheaper and better

Wired  

Getty Images / Jeff J Mitchell / Staff Rail fares are going up, on schedule. It's not been a good year for the rail industry in the UK, and the carnage caused by the mismanaged timetable shakeup has dominated coverage, meaning any fare rise – expected or not – feels like a "slap in the face" to commuters, as one …

Renationalising railways supported by almost two thirds of Britons, exclusive poll reveals
6 years, 9 months ago

Renationalising railways supported by almost two thirds of Britons, exclusive poll reveals

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An overwhelming majority of the public would support renationalising the railways …

Fares fair? Rail industry opens public consultation on prices despite timetable turmoil across network
6 years, 9 months ago

Fares fair? Rail industry opens public consultation on prices despite timetable turmoil across network

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy On the morning when train commuters in northwest England adapt to an emergency timetable, the rail …

Rail franchising is ‘broken’ say MPs
6 years, 11 months ago

Rail franchising is ‘broken’ say MPs

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee has expressed “deep concern” about the way the UK’s busiest franchise, covering Southern, Thameslink, Great …

Rail industry announces radical overhaul of train fares in Britain
8 years, 1 month ago

Rail industry announces radical overhaul of train fares in Britain

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At the time far fewer people travelled by train, there was no competition from budget airlines and the main discount …

Cheap train tickets: Here's how you can beat the illogical pricing system
8 years, 3 months ago

Cheap train tickets: Here's how you can beat the illogical pricing system

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Slade were singing “Merry Xmas Everybody” on the radio, Britain’s role in Europe was being fiercely debated and industrial strife …

Rail fares are on the rise again but passenger interests are left in siding
8 years, 3 months ago

Rail fares are on the rise again but passenger interests are left in siding

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Great news for rail passengers …

Train fares set to rise by average of 2.3%
8 years, 3 months ago

Train fares set to rise by average of 2.3%

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We understand how passengers feel when fares go up, and we know that in …

Train companies hide cheapest ticket prices, overcharging millions of unsuspecting passengers
8 years, 8 months ago

Train companies hide cheapest ticket prices, overcharging millions of unsuspecting passengers

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Millions of rail passengers are being overcharged because rail companies …

Rail companies ‘plan to track your movements to make packed trains pricier’
8 years, 8 months ago

Rail companies ‘plan to track your movements to make packed trains pricier’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Trainline, a retailer of …

Britain's railways doing well despite privatisation
9 years, 2 months ago

Britain's railways doing well despite privatisation

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Chiltern Railways, which was judged best rail operator in the …

Cheap train tickets? Website TrainSplit does the seemingly impossible and finds users cheaper journeys using secret algorithm
10 years, 1 month ago

Cheap train tickets? Website TrainSplit does the seemingly impossible and finds users cheaper journeys using secret algorithm

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail passengers could save themselves thousands after a computer programmer …

Steamed up over rising train fares? Don't be, because the networks need the money
11 years, 2 months ago

Steamed up over rising train fares? Don't be, because the networks need the money

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We always pay more but they never seem to spend any money on the …

Rail investment worth £8bn is not enough, train companies warn
14 years, 4 months ago

Rail investment worth £8bn is not enough, train companies warn

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Passenger groups said yesterday it was "delivery time" for the Government and rail companies, as commuters would not tolerate having …

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