A SHAKE-UP to the way we buy our tickets could mean we pay more to travel.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has given the green light to scrap return tickets.
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A new system of “single-leg pricing” will be introduced according to The Telegraph.
The change means that two single tickets will equal a return.
Passengers will no longer be able to buy return tickets once the change comes in.
Instead, they will buy two single tickets.
The government hasn’t revealed how the change will affect prices but it could mean people end up paying more.
This of course, will depend on the travel provider, journey and distance.
Mark Smith, travel expert and creator of cheap train ticket finder Seat61 told The Sun that the amount of train operators in the UK makes it hard for online ticket retailers to present a clear choice of fully-flexible, off-peak and advance-purchase fares for an outward and inward journeys.
“It makes it harder to present fares in a simple way on ticket machines, and harder to implement effective contactless ‘touch in, touch out’ systems.
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“It also penalises people making open-jaw or circular journeys rather than simple returns.”
He said the government should now deliver three things:
- A simple all-one-way fares structure
- A new deal for commuters
- A new logical pricing structure
Transport secretary Mark Harper will announce the changes next week.
The move comes as part of a plan to manage the crisis within the transport network.
Many Brits across the country will be left without any services as members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) unions walked out last week as part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
It was the second strike by train drivers last week, after they took part in the huge day of industrial action on Wednesday, which also involved teachers, university staff, civil servants, bus drivers and security guards.
The latest round of talks between union bosses and train operators has seen a significant increase to the offer put on the table.
Previously, an offer of a 4% payrise over two years was suggested.
However, on January 17, 2023, the RDG (Rail Delivery Group) made its “best and final offer” to the RMT leadership.
This offer includes a pay rise of 4% from January 2023. and 5% (or minimum £1,750 rise) backdated to January 2022.
The deal includes changes to work practices.
This offer comes after the January 6, 2023, offer from RDG to Aslef of 4 plus 4 per cent rise backdated to 2022.
It includes no compulsory redundancies until March 31, 2024.
It is thought that the strikes have had significant cost to the industry as a result.
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