Train travel gets cheaper as new flexible tickets become available
From today, flexible and cheaper rail tickets are available in England, with big savings on certain routes for people who travel two or three days a week.
The tickets can be used from 28 June and allow travel on any eight days in a 28-day period.
The Department for Transport says that, compared with the cost of buying daily tickets over a year, those travelling two days a week could save more than:
- £260 from Woking to London
- £210 from York to Leeds
- £60 from Southampton Central to Winchester
- £170 from Stafford to Birmingham
- £230 from Liverpool to Manchester
Those travelling three days a week could save more than:
- £230 from St Albans City to London
- £110 from Bromsgrove to Birmingham
- £90 from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads
- £350 from Chelmsford to Stratford
The new flexible rail tickets come amid an increase in working from home due to the pandemic, in that time rail usage has plummeted.
Earlier this month, it was reported the number of people travelling on Britain’s railways had reached its lowest level since at least 1872.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “As we kickstart the biggest reforms to our railways in a generation, flexible season tickets are the first step.
“They give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel, simpler ticketing and a fairer fare.”
Rail franchises were effectively ended in March 2020, when the government took over the financial liabilities of operators so services could continue during the pandemic, despite the drop in demand and its effect on operators’ finances.
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