GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY has confirmed reports that more flexible season tickets are being considered.

A spokesman told Railnews that outline plans have been sent to the Rail Delivery Group for wider discussions within the industry, so that they can then be submitted to the Department for Transport, which is currently controlling all franchises under Emergency Measures Agreements associated with this spring’s pandemic.

Among the options are three-days’-travel-in-seven seasons, along with others which would be valid for a month and allow twelve days of travel during that period.

The mechanisms which might be used are not yet clear. ‘There is a lot to be worked out,’ the spokesman added.

The industry has been repeatedly urged to allow flexible seasons to match the needs of commuters who work part time. Some experiments involving smartcards were carried out on the former South West Trains franchise several years ago, but the results appear to have been inconclusive.