Train fare 'simplification' trial adds more than £100 to cost of some journeys
A trial to make train fares simpler has ended up adding more than £100 to the cost of some journeys on one of the UK's busiest railway lines.
This was discovered by PA news agency when they investigated tickets sold by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) for travel on the East Coast Main Line. The price increase comes after a two-year trial that promised "simpler fares".
Railfuture, a campaign group, called the scheme "awful", while Seat61.com, a train travel website, said it seemed designed to "allow big price increases". LNER has promised to "make adjustments so that as many people as possible can access the right ticket at the right price".
Under the trial, the cheapest tickets for some single journeys between London King's Cross and Edinburgh have gone up from £87 to £193.90 if bought on the day of travel. Similar price increases were found for journeys between London King's Cross and both Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The trial, which started earlier this month, is only for these three routes but could be used across the network if it works well. The price increase is because Super Off-Peak fares have been removed. These were the cheapest tickets that could be used on several departures during quieter times without needing to be bought in advance.
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PA has analysed the prices for services that could previously be travelled on by holders of those tickets, which cost between £83.80 and £87 depending on the route. For some services booked on the day of travel the lowest priced available tickets are now fully flexible Anytime fares priced between £192.80 and £193.90.
Most services have cheaper options available either fixed Advance tickets or new semi-flexible 70min Flex tickets but in some cases these fares are more expensive than the Super Off-Peak prices. Railfuture director Neil Middleton said: "The removal of the Super Off-Peak ticket is an awful move."
"Just the possibility or having to pay over £192 for a railway ticket to travel between King's Cross and Newcastle is enough to put you off travelling by train, possibly forever. Yes, it is quite possible to travel for a lot less, but if you need to travel unexpectedly or travel plans change, these are eye-watering prices to pay. I think they are well beyond tolerable for most people's wallets and indeed most companies' expense claims."
Mr Middleton said the flexibility offered by the 70min Flex fare is "a real benefit" but he expressed concern that "the ticket may not be available when I want to travel". He urged LNER to reinstate Super Off-Peak fares but continue with the rest of the trial.
Train companies are under pressure from the government to make more money and cut down on help from taxpayers.
Mark Smith, founder of Seat61.com, said: "It's now pretty clear to everyone that the LNER fares 'simplification' was a smokescreen for removing the Off-Peak fare to allow big price increases. I now suspect DfT is behind this. As a trial simplification for passengers it has already failed and should not be extended."
He shared a tip that if you're going from London King's Cross to Edinburgh without planning ahead, you can grab an £87 Super Off-Peak ticket to Haymarket, which is just past Edinburgh. You can still get these tickets because Haymarket isn't in the test run, and they let you stop your journey at Edinburgh. This way, you save 55% compared to the £193.90 Anytime ticket.
An LNER spokesperson explained: "Since the pilot launched, the majority of customers who have bought Advance tickets have paid less than the old Super Off-Peak fare."
"There will, from time to time, be traditionally classified 'Off-Peak trains' where Advance tickets have sold out and a more expensive Anytime ticket is the only option on popular services.
However, the pilot will see even more Advance and 70min Flex tickets being available up to the day of travel. We'll continue to monitor and will make adjustments so that as many people as possible can access the right ticket at the right price for them."
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The operator explained that before they put this new plan into action, only 11% of commuters along these particular routes were buying Super Off-Peak tickets. They expect this new plan will match what's being offered to what people need more smoothly and might even decrease the number of packed trains.
A spokesperson from the DfT piped up: "LNER's trial is part of a long-standing commitment to simplify complicated ticketing which can often put people off taking the train. Through this, the majority of passengers on these routes will find fares to be the same or cheaper than the old Super Off-Peak fare."
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