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
.
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.
