Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to introduce flexible season tickets for rail passengers.

We require all new franchise bidders to bring forward proposals that meet the needs of passengers who work or commute fewer than 5 days a week. This could include the use of multi-buy discounts such as carnet style tickets to provide passengers with a better deal than they get now.

Additionally, we are trailing a new, more flexible fares structure starting with part of GTR’s network and will use the findings to inform development of wider plans to improve fares. As operators often serve diverse markets it is more appropriate to trial different reforms on certain operators.

The detailed design of the trial and locations are being developed by DfT and industry; and there will be a further announcement when that work is complete.

Keith Williams, who has been tasked by my Department with conducting a root and branch review of the railway, has been clear that fares reform is fundamental to the creation of a modern, customer focused railway. This represents an essential first step towards a major overhaul of the whole fares system.