Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with railway operators on making the price of a single rail journey equivalent of a return ticket for that journey.

The Department launched a trial of Single Leg Pricing with LNER on 2 January 2020, removing return tickets for journeys between London King’s Cross and Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Removing returns has simplified the fares structure, with flexible single fares purchased just before travel now costing around half of the old return fare and no more singles priced at £1 less than the return. Passengers are able to mix and match tickets much more easily, providing better value for money, tickets that suit their travel plans and cheaper journeys overall.