Tickets across the country have been renamed in what has been described by rail bosses as a simplification of the system.
But rail companies have been criticised for taking the opportunity to bring in even tighter restrictions on when cut-price fares are available.
East Midlands Trains, which is based in Derby, used to offer a discounted fare on the 9.04am Derby to London service but that is not available any more.
And people travelling from Birmingham to Derby on Cross Country Trains can no longer use a cheap day-return ticket during afternoon rush-hour.
George Hogg, 21, of Jessop Street, Ripley, travelled from London to Derby yesterday and said: "I did notice an increase in the price of my ticket.
"I do think it's quite typical of the rail companies but some advance tickets still cost less than £5, which is amazing."
Also at Derby train station was James Preston, 61, of Moor Rise, Holbrook, who said: "If you want to go somewhere, you've got no option but to pay."
Andrew Dyson, director of Platform Five publishing in Sheffield – which publishes Railways UK magazine – has investigated the price rises.
He said: "None of the fares have actually gone up but some restrictions on cheap tickets are tighter, so fares have risen by the back door.
"With East Midlands Trains, there doesn't seem to be much to benefit customers, although the odd change does."
The changes, which were introduced last week by the Association of Train Operating Companies, mean that tickets for on-the-day travel are now split into two categories.
Open tickets are replaced by "anytime" fares and both cheap day and saver returns have become "off-peak" tickets.
The move follows the first phase in May, when a whole range of options for single train journeys were replaced by "advanced" tickets.
David Mapp, commercial director of Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "Passengers told us they want a simpler fares system and we are responding."
No comments:
Post a Comment