A new flexible train ticket is launching today, as railways continue to adjust to a new working week. This is the latest move by the Government to ‘shake up’ the railways.
The National Rail Website allows passengers to calculate savings, and book new tickets. These tickets can be used eight times within a month. This move is part of an ongoing “shake up” of the railway services.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the new tickets offer “greater freedom and choice” when it comes to scheduling travel arrangements. It also allows for a “fairer fair” when commuting flexibly. The Government estimates this can initiate savings of between £60 and £350 a year on selected journeys.
However, Rail Expert and contributor to Modern Railways magazine, urges people to remain cautious. Whilst the new system offers a finite amount of journeys, a season ticket allows for unlimited travel. The new flexible purchasing of tickets is, in effect, bulk buying tickets for future use.
The need of seasonal tickets was reduced prior to the pandemic, although the lockdown made them almost obsolete. However, now all the restrictions are beginning to easy, peoples employment is becoming more flexible in terms of commuting to the office. He urges passengers to really think about how many days they are going to go to work.
Those who are travelling two days a week will benefit from the new flexible tickets but, any more than two and “you should be careful because you’ll quickly use up credit”
Transport Focus Chief Executive Anthony Smith said the new ticket “suited people who expected to commute less frequently in future”. The tickets apply to the National Rail operations but they are available on cross border commutes such as Berwick to Edinburgh.
Government shake up of train services for easier travel
The new tickets are just part of the governments pan for to shake up the railways going forward. State owned body Great British Railway (GBR) is setting timetables, sell tickets and manage the infrastructure going forward.
From 2023 onwards, the Government promise more “high quality, consistent services” to help make travel better in the future. Part of these changes are the simplifying of booking tickets, introducing more contactless and pay as you go payments.
The shake up comes after years of complaints regarding delays and “fragmented” franchising systems. GBR is set to replace Network Rail in 2023. The operators will take a whole host of train operators under the umbrella of GBR, similar to Transport for London.
While Scotland and Wales are adamant they will continue to exercise their own powers, the Government assure commuters that the changes will benefit all nations. Mr Shapp’s says the Governments ultimate aim is to have “one guiding mind” in the UK rail system.
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