Is your rail fare fair? MP urges commuters to have their say

Peter Kyle said he welcomed the rail industry ‘grasping the nettle’ by giving the public a chance to have their say on the fares system.

The consultation follows a survey of rail customers carried out by KPMG on behalf of the rail industry, which found that in the South East and East of England only 36 per cent of customers are very confident that they have the best value rail ticket.

Mr Kyle said: “With 55 million different fares options, buying rail tickets can be a confusing process often leaving my constituents wondering if they’ve got value for money.

“It is great to see the rail industry grasping the nettle and tackling this issue head on. We need to ensure that customers have confidence that they are buying the tickets that are right for them, which is why I am encouraging my constituents to have their say in reforming the fares and ticketing system.”

Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “This consultation will ensure the views of passengers, communities and businesses will be represented when we present our proposals to governments later this year. Reforming the rules about how tickets are sold and bought has the potential to transform the buying experience for customers, making it easier for people to be confident they are getting the right ticket. These reforms support what the industry is already doing to make improvements to fares alongside record investment in new train carriages, upgraded stations and extra services.”

To take part in the consultation by September 10, visit: www.britainrunsonrail.co.uk/fares

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