Call for part-time season tickets following annual rail fare increase

Campaign for Better Transport has called for the introduction of part-time season tickets following today’s annual rail fare increase.

Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the UK Government and train operating companies to introduce flexible ticketing as a matter of urgency for the 8.5 million people who work part-time, or regularly work from home, and are not catered for under the current ticketing system. The announcement comes as the annual rail fare increase, which is linked to July’s Retail Price Index is announced at 1.9 percent.

Campaigners insist the introduction could save part-time worker thousands of pounds a year and encourage people to take the train.

Flexible ticketing a matter of urgency following annual rail fare increase say campaigners

James MacColl, Head of Campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The current season ticket system still fails to reflect our modern work force and discriminates against women who make up three quarters of part-time workers, years after the Government committed to roll-out flexible ticketing nationally.

“We want to see a ticketing system that reflects modern working patterns and makes rail travel affordable, not just for the UK’s millions of part-time workers, but also for the thousands more who are currently prevented from working due to the cost of the commute. It is not good enough for the Government to leave it up to franchisees to develop inadequate compromise offers which don’t provide fair discounts.”

Campaign for Better Transport has listed possible savings for commuters under the proposed scheme: