The
environmental
charity


Greenpeace
has
published
proposals
for
a
new
flat-fare
rail
card,
possibly
costing
£49
a
month,
which
would
allow
unlimited
travel
on
most
trains.

The
plan
has
been
drawn
up
on
behalf
of
Greenpeace
by
the
high
speed
rail
lobby
group
Greengauge21.

Some
limits
are
likely.
The
card
might
not
be
valid
on
intercity
services
and
could
require
a
‘top-up’
fare
in
the
London
area.
The
report
also
suggests
that
it
could
be
first
be
made
available
in
the
North
and
Midlands
of
England
as
well
as
perhaps
Scotland
and
South
West
England,
to
help
balance
the
difference
in
spending
on
transport
between
those
regions
and
the
South
East.
It
might
also
be
issued
only
to
younger
people,
at
least
at
first.

The
report,
Fare
Britannia,
says
such
a
reform
would
help
to
combat
climate
change
by
reducing
carbon
emissions
from
cars
if
their
drivers
started
to
use
trains
instead.
It
adds:
‘Transport
itself
is
now
the
most
stubbornly
high
emitting
sector.
Decarbonising
cars
and
vans
is
essential.’

It
concedes
that
electric
vehicles
will
help,
but
also
points
out
that
many
internal
combustion
cars
are
set
to
stay
on
the
roads
until
the
2040s.

The
report
makes
the
case
for
reform,
saying:
‘Without
a
different
approach
to
ticketing
–
cheaper,
simpler
and
more
integrated
across
modes
–
the
current
damaging
unsustainable
status
quo
will
continue.’

Such
a
card
is
already
available
in
some
continental
countries.
The
first
‘Climate
Card’
was
launched
in
Austria
in
October
2021,
to
encourage
people
to
switch
to
more
energy
efficient
forms
of
transport.
Germany
followed
suit,
and
there
are
now
broadly
similar
products
in
Hungary,
France
and
Portugal.

However,
some
countries
have
placed
limits
on
the
scheme,
because
of
financial
hurdles.
In
France,
the
Paris
region
elected
to
be
excluded,
because
it
was
estimated
that
it
would
cost
that
region
€18
billion
a
year.
As
in
other
countries,
the
French
version
cost
€49,
but
it
was
only
available
in
2024
to
about
700,000
people
under
the
age
of
27,
and
only
during
July
and
August.

Even
so,
the
report
goes
on
to
claim
that
‘The
economic
benefits
will
be
experienced
most
across
the
English
regions
(and
devolved
nations,
assuming
the
Scottish
and
Welsh
authorities
elect
to
join
the
scheme).
It
will
help
people
access
jobs
and
allow
businesses
to
expand
their
employee
catchments.
It
will
encourage
domestic
and
inward
tourism,
especially
to
less
visited
parts
of
the
country.’

Such
a
card
could
be
issued
within
three
years,
co-ordinated
by
Great
British
Railways.

In
the
report’s
Foreword,
Professor
David
Begg
says:
‘Since
2010
fuel
duty
has
been
cut
by
34
per
cent
in
real
terms
costing
the
Treasury
around £100
billion
in
lost
revenue.
This
has
made
rail
travel
much
less
competitive
compared
to
its
main
competitor,
the
car.

‘The
pro
car
stance
taken
by
the
previous
Government
has
come
at
a
cost
in
terms
of
fewer
trips
by
public
transport,
more
traffic
and
congestion on
the
roads
and
increased
CO2.
The
new
Government
needs
to
be
fully
aware
of
the
consequences
of
continuing
to
reduce
fuel
duty
in
real terms
which
is
why
it
is
imperative
that
innovative
measures
should
be
considered.’

The
Department
for
Transport
said:
‘This
government
is
committed
to
encouraging
greener
ways
to
travel
and
improving
the
state
of
public
transport.
That’s
why
we’re
empowering
local
leaders
to
deliver
better
bus
services,
overhauling
our
railways
to
put
passengers
first
and
simplifying
ticketing
to
deliver
better
value
for
money
when
taking
the
train.’