A
new
report


from
the
Railway
Industry
Association
is
calling
for
a
shakeup
of
how
railway
fares
are
charged,
with
the
aim
of
making
tariffs
simpler
and
easier
to
understand.

The
report
mentions
recent
research
commissioned
by
RIA
and
carried
out
by
Steer,
which
found
that
passenger
numbers
could
grow
between
37
per
cent
and
97
per
cent
by
2050.

Even
a
rise
of
37
per
cent
would
exceed
totals
recorded
in
the
1920s,
the
previous
busiest
decade.
A
97
per
cent
increase,
resulting
in
around
three
billion
journeys
annually,
would
be
unheard-of.

RIA
is
asking
for
a
consistent
‘stable
national
vision’
for
fares
which
balances
national
and
regional
interests
while
ensuring
the
‘right
balance’
between
the
private
and
public
sectors.

It
also
says
there
should
not
be
differences
between
ticketing
systems
which
block
simple
travel
purchases.
There
should
be
a
‘level
playing
field’
for
all
organisations
involved
in
selling
tickets,
with
data
and
other
information
being
freely
available.

Finally,
RIA
wants
to
see
a
‘clear
contracting
framework’
which
attracts
new
ticket
sellers
and
‘fosters
collaboration’.

RIA’s
innovation
director
Milda
Manomaityte
said:
’Providing
better,
simplified
fares
and
ticketing,
rooted
in
the
principles
of
trust
and
value,
are
vital.
We
hope
rail
policy
makers,
stakeholders
and
all
those
in
the
railway
industry
with
an
interest
in
fares
and
ticketing
find
this
report
a
useful
contribution
to
the
debate
on
how
we
can
boost
revenues
and
rebuild
trust
in
rail
in
the
future.’