Farewell to the SuperSaver as train tickets change to simplify travel
· Biggest fare overhaul since privatisation
· Campaigners fear more expensive charges
* Richard Wray
* The Guardian,
* Thursday April 24 2008
Cheap day return, SuperSaver and Apex tickets are to vanish with about 70 other fare categories in the largest overhaul of rail ticketing since privatisation, train companies will announce today.
Consumer groups welcomed the replacement of the confusing array of train tickets with four new categories, but said fares were still too expensive.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) pledged that the introduction of one standard advance ticket type from next month and three "on the day" tickets in September would not result in fare increases.
But there are fears that the disappearance of so many advance and day of travel tickets across the rail network could allow some train operators to replace cheap deals with more expensive standard fares.
"The real cost of rail fares has increased by 6% in the last 10 years," said Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport. "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."
A government white paper last year proposed a mass simplification of ticketing in the face of customer confusion.
Recent research by Passenger Focus, the defender of rail commuters' rights, showed that under half of passengers are confident of getting the best value ticket for their journey. Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said the tickets were "a big step in the right direction. Anything that hacks away at the current fares jungle will help," he said.
From May 18 all standard class or first class tickets purchased in advance will be known simply as Advance tickets.
Railcard holders, who are currently restricted from using their cards on certain journeys, will be allowed to use their discounts on all Advance fares.
Atoc is also standardising the terms and conditions across all Advance tickets, making them non-refundable and attaching a £10 fee if a passenger needs to make alterations before travelling.
"The fact that railcards are valid will make some train travel for some people very cheap indeed," said Joseph. "The downside is the changes to refund arrangements will leave some people worse off as some of the train companies had much more flexible refund policies."
Advance tickets will be available up to the day before travel, but the way the tickets are sold is being changed, bringing the railways in line with the budget airline industry.
Instead of booking a return ticket, passengers booking Advance tickets must book both outbound and inbound single tickets for specific trains if they want to come back.
From September 7 standard class or first class, return or single tickets bought on the day of travel will fall under one of three categories: Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak.
Anytime tickets - single or return - can be bought up to the time of travel and used on any train.
Off-peak and Super Off-peak tickets will be cheaper and designed for passengers willing to set off when services are less busy.
New system
From May all standard or first class tickets bought before the day of travel will be known simply as Advance tickets. Passengers wanting a return will have to purchase an outbound and inbound Advance ticket for specific trains and times. Railcards can be used on all Advance journeys. From September, single or return tickets bought up to the time of travel will be called Anytime tickets. Tickets bought up to the time of travel for use outside busy times will be renamed Off-Peak, replacing the Saver and Cheap Day Return.
This article appeared in the Guardian on Thursday April 24 2008 on p9 of the UK news section. It was last updated at 00:09 on April 24 2008.
UK - Farewell to the SuperSaver
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Re: UK - Farewell to the SuperSaver
Simpler rail fares to take effect
Measures to make buying rail tickets simpler and easier to understand will be introduced from next month.
New fare categories mean that rail travellers will only have to choose between three ticket types.
From May 18, an array of discounted advance purchase fares will be known as Advance fares and railcard discounts will apply on these tickets.
From September 7, tickets bought on the day of travel will be divided into two groups - Anytime and Off-peak.
The Association of Train Operating Companies says the complicated range of tickets currently available is one of the biggest complaints among passengers.
At present, some train companies can have as many as 12 different ticket types ranging from full-fare open returns to cut-price book-ahead fares.
"This is the biggest shake-up 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," said David Mapp, Atoc commercial director.
ATOC said the new ticket structure will not result in price increases and the regulation of fares, including the 40% that are price-capped on an annual basis, is unaffected by the changes.
The changes were first outlined in the government's rail White Paper last year.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said the fare overhaul was a sensible move but said more clarity was needed.
"It would help everyone if train companies made their advance ticket policies public so that travellers were clear about what bargain tickets are available and when and how they can best buy them."
Campaign for Better Transport said it welcomed the new structure but urged the government to take action to reduce the cost of tickets, especially for last-minute journeys.
New ticket names
Measures to make buying rail tickets simpler and easier to understand will be introduced from next month.
New fare categories mean that rail travellers will only have to choose between three ticket types.
From May 18, an array of discounted advance purchase fares will be known as Advance fares and railcard discounts will apply on these tickets.
From September 7, tickets bought on the day of travel will be divided into two groups - Anytime and Off-peak.
The Association of Train Operating Companies says the complicated range of tickets currently available is one of the biggest complaints among passengers.
At present, some train companies can have as many as 12 different ticket types ranging from full-fare open returns to cut-price book-ahead fares.
"This is the biggest shake-up 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," said David Mapp, Atoc commercial director.
ATOC said the new ticket structure will not result in price increases and the regulation of fares, including the 40% that are price-capped on an annual basis, is unaffected by the changes.
The changes were first outlined in the government's rail White Paper last year.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said the fare overhaul was a sensible move but said more clarity was needed.
"It would help everyone if train companies made their advance ticket policies public so that travellers were clear about what bargain tickets are available and when and how they can best buy them."
Campaign for Better Transport said it welcomed the new structure but urged the government to take action to reduce the cost of tickets, especially for last-minute journeys.
New ticket names
- Advance
Off-peak
Anytime
- Leisure advance
Apex
Business advance
Value advance
Saver
Cheap day returns
SuperSaver
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Re: UK - Farewell to the SuperSaver
New System To Simplify Rail Fares
Updated:11:28, Sunday May 18, 2008
New rules aimed at making it easier to buy train tickets have come into force.
They mean that passengers have to choose from only three ticket types when planning their journey.
Out go fares like Leisure Advance, Business Advance, Value Advance and Apex - in comes Advance.
From September 7, turn-up-and-go tickets will be grouped into two categories - Anytime and Off-peak.
The changes are designed to enable people to buy the best value ticket to match their journey more easily.
Some tickets are not affected by the changes, including season tickets and London Oystercards.
Aimed mainly at those travelling at off-peak times, the new system is being brought in by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
ATOC commercial director David Mapp said: "This is the biggest shake-up 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."
Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Anything that hacks away at the current fares jungle will help. Fares names such as First Great Western Firstminute Business Standard will not be missed."
Sky News
Updated:11:28, Sunday May 18, 2008
New rules aimed at making it easier to buy train tickets have come into force.
They mean that passengers have to choose from only three ticket types when planning their journey.
Out go fares like Leisure Advance, Business Advance, Value Advance and Apex - in comes Advance.
From September 7, turn-up-and-go tickets will be grouped into two categories - Anytime and Off-peak.
The changes are designed to enable people to buy the best value ticket to match their journey more easily.
Some tickets are not affected by the changes, including season tickets and London Oystercards.
Aimed mainly at those travelling at off-peak times, the new system is being brought in by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
ATOC commercial director David Mapp said: "This is the biggest shake-up 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."
Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Anything that hacks away at the current fares jungle will help. Fares names such as First Great Western Firstminute Business Standard will not be missed."
Sky News