ATOC

Train operators aim to make fares more user friendly
_______________________________________________________________

date 15 March 2000
source ATOC
type Press release

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) today confirmed it is working on banding ticket types to make Britain's rail fares structure easier for passengers to understand.

ATOC Director of Commercial Services, Philip Benham, said: "We recently carried out a passenger survey which found passengers were happy with the variety of fares but felt that getting the right one was often confusing and complex.

"The train companies immediately took these results on board and investigated what can be done to help passengers make the right choice of ticket to suit their journey needs."

The aim is to group the 90 ticket types available on the national railways into the following generic families of tickets:

o buy anytime/travel anytime
o buy anytime/some travel restrictions
o buy in advance/travel anytime
o buy in advance/some travel restrictions
o multi-journey (season tickets)
o other/special

"We still have more work to do in getting the right description for these family ticket types. We are also investigating the best possible way to inform passengers of their benefits. We aim to have this new structure in place by September," Mr Benham said.

ENDS

For more information call the ATOC Press Office on 0171 904 3010

Railhub Archive ::: 2000-03-15 ATO-001