05.07.17
Operators roll out on-the-day advanced tickets for passengers
Passengers who book tickets at short notice will soon benefit from cheaper fares, as the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced that millions of advanced tickets will now be available up to 10 minutes before departure.
Customers of Grand Central, Greater Anglia, Northern, TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains and Caledonian Sleeper will now be able to buy advanced tickets on the day of travel and save extra cash. Previously, advanced tickets could only be purchased up to 24 hours before the service was scheduled to depart.
Additionally, passengers on long-distance services will be able to see when there are only a few advance tickets left online, and avoid missing out on the best price.
Jacqueline Starr, managing director of customer experience at the RDG, said: “Not everyone can plan journeys in advance and now more people can buy cheaper tickets on the day, even on their way to the station.
“We want customers to get the best possible deal whenever they travel,” she added. “With 97% of your fare going back into running and improving the railway, investment is driving quicker improvement, more choice and greater freedom.”
Lianna Etkind, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, added that the organisation was pleased that more advanced tickets would be made available.
“We welcome this initiative which removes a further barrier to affordable rail travel and means people can make unplanned journeys without being unfairly penalised,” she said.
“We would urge train companies not already signed up to this to follow suit so all passengers benefit from these new tickets. However, we hope this doesn’t add another layer of complexity to a ticketing system already bloated and convoluted.”
Top Image: Lauren Hurley and PA Wire
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