Train operators call for a redesign of fares

Rail fares and returns could be extended beyond London if a group of train operators succeeded.

The Rail Delivery Group has drawn up a list of reforms for the industry and wants the United Kingdom and the decentralized governments to support them.

Another suggestion is to remove the sudden change between peak and off-peak rates to reduce overcrowding.

The lobby group said nearly 20,000 people had submitted proposals on how they wanted to improve the UK railways.

Transport Focus, the independent pbadenger watchdog that also participated in the consultation, said British rail operators were currently proposing an "outdated and obsolete pricing and ticketing system".

Fair Rates

Commuter feedback has shown that eight out of ten people want a complete overhaul of the pricing system and nine out of ten want smart or electronic tickets, with potential for price caps.

The Rail Delivery Group said the reforms would support entry and exit, a pay-per-view method used in London and further integration with other modes of transport.

In London, users of metro and train networks can use contactless bank cards to automatically pay rates based on the traveler's entry and exit on the network.

A reform would mean updating the regulation around peak and off-peak hours, the Rail Delivery Group said, and ticket pricing could be relaxed. This would reduce overcrowding, he said.

Paul Plummer, Managing Director of the Rail Delivery Group, said customers have different needs and want changes that offer value and better reflect changing work habits.

"The railway companies are already working together on concrete test projects so that people can see what our proposals might mean for them."

All changes

Mr. Plummer said that the railways needed the government to change the rules for charging train fares.

"The regulations in force need to be updated and we want to work with the government, which is essential for the improvements to become a reality, in order to put in place the cheaper tariff system that the public wants to see."

The government is in the process of overhauling rail that covers everything from commercial contracts to rail rate structures. His consultation ends at the end of May.

The Rail Delivery Group has stated that its ideas could be implemented, operator by operator, from here only three years.

Darren Shirley, general manager of the Campaign for Better Transportation, said the existing system is "down and it's desperately in need of repair".

"We are particularly pleased to see more flexible suburban ticket proposals to reflect modern work patterns, which we have been calling for for a long time, and smart ticketing nationally.

"What is difficult to know is whether these proposals will also put an end to the increase in annual fares, which does not reflect the level of service that pbadengers received the previous year.

"It is now up to the government to act on these proposals to ensure a fairer and simpler pricing system."

Another proposal is to prevent pbadengers from buying tickets at the unit to get the cheapest rates for certain trips.

Analysis

Tom Burridge, BBC Transport Correspondent

Railroad reform is a controversial issue, some may say a politically toxic topic at the moment. An extensive review commissioned by the government in almost every aspect of the system is underway.

Our obsolete and incredibly complex ticketing system is an ideal candidate for change. The system is, in the eyes of many, inherently flawed.

How can a simple off-peak sometimes cost a fraction less than a return? And how come you get different prices for exactly the same trip and the same fare?

Technology is clearly an important part of the solution. But a tapping system that automatically ensures the best price for your trip is also partly based on restoring confidence. The word has become a precious commodity on the tracks, after a whole series of problems.

The underlying message of the train companies today is that they are on the pbadenger side. They want to direct the government to positive change.

More flexible fare types are one thing, but the cost and the payer will, as always, be the central concern of almost all pbadengers.

To make the proposals neutral, as operators expect, cheaper fares should be offset by higher tariffs. In other words, unless the changes cause more people to travel by train, especially on empty services during the off-season.

The initial mood music of the pbadenger representatives is overall positive. But some fear that there may be winners and losers.

Even with the support of the government, an industry source said real changes might not happen for three or five years.