Rail firms to axe complex inter-city fare system

Train fares on Britain's flagship long-distance routes are to receive the biggest shake-up since privatisation, The Independent understands.

Train fares on Britain's flagship long-distance routes are to receive the biggest shake-up since privatisation, The Independent understands.

The highly complicated system of tickets, which means passengers can be charged up to two dozen different prices for the same journey, is to be abolished on the main inter-city routes.

Operators are to take an axe to the byzantine range of discounts available ahead of a journey and bring them more into line with airlines, where passengers may be able to get the lowest prices the day before departure. It will depend on how full the train is.

The new fares system is being introduced by Virgin on its west coast and CrossCountry services, by Great North Eastern Railways on its route between London and Edinburgh and by Midland Mainline on routes out of London St Pancras.