Government must grasp the nettle on rail fare reforms with a plan to provide clarity and reduce confusion
Friday 5 November 2021
The Government must set out a strategy for rail fare reform to ensure that Great British Railways (GBR) is clear about its objectives and can successfully implement the new system. This will help secure early wins, build public trust and encourage passengers to use rail services.
The Government needs to ensure that contactless payment technology is available at all stations across the national rail network, not just those in the South East, before the launch of GBR in 2023. It should also make the ticket infrastructure upgrades which are needed across the network.
For commuters, single-leg pricing and contactless fare structures may generate more demand. For long-distance travellers, dynamic pricing may help to spread demand. The new flexible season tickets are not satisfactory and should be improved by the end of the year to attract more passengers.
The new system under GBR should not stifle competition. There should be a diverse range of ticketing retailers who compete on fair commercial terms.
The delayed regulated rail fare increases for 2022 should be urgently announced by the Government. The Government should be unambiguous about when it will replace RPI with CPI as the inflation measure used to calculate fare rises, so that there are less sharp rises for passengers.
Anomalies in the ticketing system, such as split ticketing which can undermine passenger trust and different off-peak windows which cause confusion, should also be addressed.
These are the main conclusions and recommendations of an inquiry carried out by the House of Lords Built Environment Committee on the fare reforms proposed in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. The committee has put these in writing to the rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Chair of the House of Lords Built Environment Committee said:
“To encourage passengers to return to the railways after the pandemic and meet the important commitments set at COP26 this week, it will be essential to improve the consumer experience for rail passengers and simplify fares. The launch of Great British Railways in 2023 provides a unique opportunity to clarify fares and reduce confusion.
“On ticket types, one size doesn’t fit all. Two different approaches are needed: one for long-distance travel and another for regular short-distance commutes, often in urban areas. Journeys should be supported with technology, such as contactless or QR codes, to reflect customer expectations in the modern world.
“Early wins for GBR could include reform of ticket types, digitalisation and improving the underwhelming new flexible season tickets currently on offer.”
More on the Built Environment Committee
The cross-party Built Environment Committee has been appointed to consider housing, planning, transport and infrastructure. It is chaired by Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG.
The Committee’s work can be followed on its website and via Twitter.
