Fares shake-up to end train ticket confusion

It will see train companies scrapping their bewildering range of choices and replacing them with just three types of ticket - advance, offpeak and any time.

But the move by the Association of Train Operating Companies was criticised by passenger groups because refunds will no longer be given for tickets bought in advance, and the fee for changes to journey times will double. ATOC commercial director David Mapp said: "This is the biggest shakeup in the fares and ticketing system for many years and we want passengers to take advantage of it and also encourage more people to take the train.

"Passengers have told us that they want a simpler fares system. We are listening and responding.

"These changes will enable people to buy train tickets more easily and with greater confidence." Season tickets and London Oystercards are not affected by the changes.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail users' watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "There should be some flexibility because of the degree to which people have to book in advance to get a cheap ticket. For a lot of tickets it won't be worth paying the fee to make the change."

Mr Smith added: "Simplifying the range of fares is a big step in the right direction. Anything that hacks away at the current fares jungle will help. Fares' names such as First Great Western First-minute Business Standard, among others, will not be missed."

Passenger Focus research has shown that fewer than half of passengers are confident of getting the best-value ticket for their journey, while fewer than half understand the range of tickets and fares available.

The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the new fare structure but called on the Government to reduce the cost of rail fares, especially for lastminute journeys.

Executive director Stephen Joseph said: "The real cost of rail fares has increased by six per cent in the last 10 years, and government plans mean it will increase further.

"Advance tickets are sometimes cheap but people can't always plan their journeys weeks beforehand.

"The Government must make train travel the cheap and easy option if we're going to reduce carbon emissions from transport."

Liberal Democrat transpor t spokesman Norman Baker MP said: "This is a sensible move which will helpfully clear away the bewildering array of weekend fares, super savers and open returns. But there is much more that can be done to bring clarity to fares.

"There are some good deals around, but travellers are often left confused as to how to get hold of cheap tickets."