Railways: Fares

(asked on 1st September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of rail fares reform in order to (a) reduce overcrowding, (b) better spread passenger demand throughout the day, (c) improve passenger perception of value for money and (d) increase the number of rail passenger journeys.


Answered by
Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait
Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This question was answered on 7th September 2020

The Government is committed to transforming our railways and building on the detailed, evidence based priorities Keith Williams set out. Covid-19 has had a clear impact across the sector and we are considering how best to deliver reform including fares reform in light of the unique challenges posed by Covid-19.

The Government recognises that Covid-19 has caused a fundamental change in working patterns and that this could have long-term effects on commuter behavior.

In order to support a green recovery and new working patterns, the Department is working with industry to explore options for flexible commuters, such as carnets, and what steps could be taken quickly to make these as useful and convenient for passengers as possible.

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