{"id":2833,"date":"2024-01-16T22:36:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T12:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=2833"},"modified":"2024-01-16T22:36:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T12:36:28","slug":"east-coast-train-fares-simplified-in-bid-to-boost-passenger-numbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=2833","title":{"rendered":"East Coast train fares simplified in bid to boost passenger numbers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fares on the East Coast Main Line have been simplified and are being based on demand on a trial basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Operator LNER launched a two-year trial overhauling the fares system on the East Coast Main Line today for travel from February 5 2024.<\/p>\n

The scheme applies to journeys between London King\u2019s Cross and each of Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

The number of available standard class fares for those routes has been cut from seven to three:<\/p>\n

Advance (Fixed) \u2013 the best value fare, booked in advance for a fixed journey with a guaranteed reserved seat for travel with LNER.<\/p>\n

\u201870min Flex\u2019 (Semi-Flexible) \u2013<\/em>\u00a0a new type of ticket offering customers the flexibility to travel on other LNER services, which can be 70 minutes before or after their original booked journey.<\/p>\n

Anytime (Fully-Flexible) \u2013 this ticket can be used at any time of day.<\/p>\n

Dynamic pricing has been introduced in an attempt to smooth demand throughout each day by incentivising passengers to travel at quieter times.<\/p>\n

Fares are being made more or less expensive based on the level of demand for each service.<\/p>\n

LNER managing director David Horne said: \u201cLNER remains at the forefront of rail reform.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimplifying fares is vital in making rail travel more attractive. Customers tell us they find fares confusing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis exciting new pilot is the next step in our plans to overhaul complicated and outdated ticketing options and we look forward to hearing feedback from our customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that making fares simpler, smarter and fairer, while introducing value for money and modern flexibility, will encourage more people to choose to travel by rail, the most sustainable travel choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

LNER cited a survey by industry body the Rail Delivery Group which indicated that 35% of people for whom train travel is an option are put off because they find it difficult to find the best fare.<\/p>\n

Rail minister Huw Merriman said: \u201cWe are delivering on our commitment to reform the railways, working with operators to provide passengers with simpler and more flexible tickets that better suit their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

LNER, which is owned by the Department for Transport, launched single-leg pricing in 2020.<\/p>\n

This involved introducing single fares around half the price of a return, allowing passengers to mix and match different types of tickets to get better value.<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s outdated train ticketing system means many return fares are only \u00a31 more than single fares.<\/p>\n

Stewart Fox-Mills, programme director for fares, ticketing and retail at the Great British Railways Transition Team, said: \u201cIt is great to see this next step in the simplification of rail fares.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis pilot will move the dial towards simpler and better fares for customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simplifying fares is among the proposed tasks for Great British Railways (GBR), a planned new public sector body to oversee the railways.<\/p>\n

GBR was initially due to be launched early this year but the required legislation has not been passed and no timeline has been set out by the Government.<\/p>\n

Alex Robertson, chief executive at watchdog Transport Focus, said: \u201cThe plan to trial demand-based pricing on some LNER routes is a radical change for passengers.<\/p>\n

\u201cTransport Focus strongly supports fares reform and it\u2019s right to trial new ideas to see if they work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to hearing how the trial progresses and will be monitoring that it does indeed deliver better value for money tickets for passengers.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fares on the East Coast Main Line have been simplified and are being based on demand on a trial basis. Operator LNER launched a two-year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,387,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-british-railways","category-scotlands-railway","category-uk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t