2001-04-06 National Rail operators make a change to Network Railcard (ATOC)

1997-08-19 Regulator welcomes fresh look and better decision on Network Card (Office of the Rail Regulator)

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date 1 March 2002
source ATOC
type Press release

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) today announced plans to change the conditions of use for Network Railcards purchased after Sunday 2nd June 2002.

With effect from the 2nd June any adult rail ticket purchased with a new Network Railcard for off peak travel Monday to Friday will have a minimum fare of £10. The minimum fare will not apply for tickets purchased for travel at weekends and bank holidays. The cost of the card (£20) and the
child discount remain unchanged.

Current Network Railcards and ones renewed or purchased prior to 2nd June will not be subject to the minimum fare.

Commenting on the proposed minimum fare,ATOC Director of Commercial Services, Philip Benham, said: "Train companies have thought long and hard on this issue before coming to this decision. However the card, which offers a further discount on tickets which have already been discounted, is costing train companies between £5 million and £10 million a year in lost revenue by encouraging travel in the evening peak.

"The train companies plan to meet again in four weeks to consider the comments of passengers and their representatives on this issue and decide whether or not these change their decision.

"The commercial reality is that the product is no longer achieving what it set out to do when it was introduced in 1986 and that is to grow the off peak market. In fact it is losing the train operators a considerable amount of money, which could be reinvested in better passenger services, because the significant Network Railcard discounts are available to passengers travelling during busy evening weekday peak periods. Most passengers travelling during this period are buying full fare tickets or travelling on season tickets.

"The implementation of the minimum fare will not mean an end to cheap off peak travel since Network Railcard is retained and crucially there are no new restrictions on weekend and bank holiday use. London train companies also offer excellent value packages (see note to editors for examples) some of which offer greater discounts than the Network Railcard. Further off-peak discounts are available through the Family, Young Persons, Disabled and Senior Railcards. These products offer 34% discount on most tickets that have already been heavily discounted (e.g cheap day returns, supersavers).

The change in conditions will provide train companies with greater flexibility to offer promotions that are tailored to their passengers'
needs."

-Ends-

ATOC Press Office 020 7904 3010

Notes to editors

Network Railcard
The Network Railcard can be purchased from train stations in the south east at a cost of £20. It currently provides one third off tickets purchased after 10am between Mon - Fri. No restrictions apply on weekends and bank holidays. Children receive a 60% discount off the child fare (min £1). Network Railcards purchased prior to 2 June will operate under these conditions of use for the period of their validity.

Network Railcard purchased after 2 June will apply a minimum £10 fare for any adult ticket purchased with the Network Railcard for travel Monday to Friday. The minimum fare will not apply on weekends and bank holidays and the child discount remains unchanged.

The Network Railcard is valid on all London train companies: (c2c, Chiltern Railways, Connex South Eastern, First Great Eastern, Silverlink, South Central, South West Trains, Thameslink, Thames Trains, WAGN). It is also valid on some Inter-City services to and from London with further restrictions (GNER, Midland Mainline, Virgin Trains, Wales and Borders Trains, Wessex Trains, First Great Western).

There are currently 360,000 Network Railcard holders.

Examples of off peak fares offered by London train operators.

All London train companies (within zones 1 to 6) - The Family Travelcard entitles you to a 20% discount on the Day Travelcard (Off peak) price and up to 4 Children travel for just 80p each within the London area. The Family Travelcard is available for groups with a minimum of one adult and one child and a maximum of two adults and four children. Adults and children must travel together to obtain these prices. Several train companies also offer this ticket outside zones 1 to 6 for travel to London with up to four children travelling for £1 each.

All London train companies - In January this year, train operators in England's south-east and Transport for London (TfL) launched the Peak Day Travelcard within zones 1 to 6. Many train companies also offer this ticket from stations outside zone 6 for travel to London. The TOCs saw the need for the new product some years ago as the existing "One Day Travelcard" did not allow the holder to travel before 09.30 on Mondays to Fridays. The new ticket carries no such restriction.

All London Train Operating Companies - The annual season ticket Gold Card will remain unaffected by this proposal. This card provides holders with excellent off-peak discount fares for journeys throughout London and the south-east.

Chiltern Railways, First Great Eastern, c2c, WAGN, Silverlink, First Great Western, Thames Trains and Thameslink all offer GroupSave. This allows 3 or 4 adults to travel for the price of 2 at off-peak times.

South Central and Connex South Eastern - The London Price Buster, the best
value ticket to London. Monday to Friday, travel after 1000, returning before 16.45 or after 1915 (inclusive). Available anytime at weekends and bank holidays, returning the same day.

Thameslink - The Daysave ticket (available through the Thameslink website) allows unlimited off-peak travel on the Thameslink network for £10 for one person, £20 for up to 4 people and £1 each for accompanying children. This fare will shortly be introduced on South Central.

c2c - The Family Ranger. This gives the freedom of the entire c2c route for unlimited journeys on a single day and costs just £5 for adults and £1 for
children. Up to two adults and four children may travel on a Family Ranger ticket.

Thames Trains, South Central and Thameslink - Kids For A Quid. When an adult buys a Cheap Day Return up to four children may travel with them for just £1 return. WAGN are also offering this facility until 28 April.

Silverlink - Milton Keynes to London Cheap Day Return fare of £9.50 on Silverlink trains offers significant savings. An inter-available Cheap Day Return ticket for the same journey costs £12.80.

Railhub Archive ::: 2002-03-01 ATO-001