UK train operator LNER (London North Eastern Railway) is launching a new Simpler Fares pilot scheme for some of its journeys along the East Coast route.
The company, which is run by the UK government and operates trains from Kings Cross station in London to Scotland, said the two-year trial would offer a “clearer choice of tickets” on routes from London to Newcastle, Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The Simpler Fares initiative comes after LNER successfully rolled out single leg ticket pricing across most of its network last year.
The UK rail system’s convoluted and complex ticketing structure has been seen as one of the major hurdles to successfully encouraging more business travellers to use trains for domestic journeys.
LNER said it would remove “complicated” ticket types on the routes taking part in the pilot phase and replace them with three “straightforward options”.
These options will be an Advance fare for a fixed journey with a guaranteed reserved seat; a 70min Flex ticket allowing the traveller to use trains 70 minutes before or after their original booked journey; and an Anytime fully flexible fare that can be used at any time of day.
David Horne, LNER’s managing director, said: “Simplifying fares is vital in making rail travel more attractive. Customers tell us they find fares confusing.
“This exciting new pilot is the next step in our plans to overhaul complicated and outdated ticketing options and we look forward to hearing feedback from our customers.
“We believe that making fares simpler, smarter and fairer, while introducing value for money and modern flexibility, will encourage more people to choose to travel by rail.”
The new simpler fares have now been put on sale by LNER on the pilot routes and will apply for travel from 5 February onwards.