A major shake-up of the British rail network's fare system, designed to make it easier for passengers to buy tickets, is to be introduced next month.
The changes, announced today by the UK's Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), will also introduce more widely-available discounts for railcards.
Under the plans, three main ticket types for single and return journeys will be available on the rail network, grouped into three categories: Advance, Off–peak and Anytime.
From 18 May 2008, all advance purchase fares, many of which are substantially discounted, will be known simply as Advance and have common terms and conditions.
"Passengers have told us that they want a simpler fares system. We are listening and responding. These changes will enable people to buy train tickets more easily and with greater confidence," says ATOC Commercial Director David Mapp.
The price of train tickets will not be increased as a result of the new fares structure and the regulation of fares will also be unaffected, says the ATOC.
The plans to simplify the fares system were first put forward in the UK Government's rail White Paper last year.
By Ozge Ibrahim
