Passengers are now able to enjoy simpler train fares for walk up rail journeys with the second stage of fares simplification which took effect on Sunday 7th September. This follows the introduction of simpler fares for advance journeys in May. ‘Walk-up’ fares (i.e. tickets that passengers don’t have to buy in advance of travel) will now be grouped into just two categories – Anytime or Off-Peak.

Anytime fares (Singles and Returns) can be purchased right up to the day and time of travel and used on any train without peak hour or any other restriction. Current ticket types that fall into the Anytime category include Open Singles and Open  Returns.

 Off-Peak tickets are, as their name suggests, cheaper fares for travelling during periods when train services are generally less busy. They can be bought right up until the time of departure but they carry restrictions on the time, day or route of travel. Current ticket types that will be renamed Off-Peak include Savers and Cheap Day Returns.

On some routes where there is more than one off-peak fare, the cheaper fare will be called Super Off-Peak. Current SuperSaver tickets fall into this category.

The new fare categories mean that passengers have a simpler choice of tickets when planning their journey. Websites and ticket office information will reflect this. The changes are designed to enable people to buy the best value ticket to match their journey.
The introduction of Anytime and Off-Peak fare names follows on from the first stage of fares simplification in May, when all advanced purchase fares were simplified under the name Advance. The two million holders of railcards get 1/3 off the price of all Standard Class Anytime, Off-Peak and all Advance fares. Senior, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcard holders also get 1/3 off First Class fares.

Passenger feedback and research has suggested that people don’t always find it easy to buy the best value ticket to match their needs because of the range of ticket names and different fares presently available. The new names were chosen based on market research with customers undertaken by ATOC. Further research by the national rail watchdog, Passenger Focus, found a simplified fare structure to be an important step in the right direction towards a better understanding of rail fares.

Commenting on the changes, David Mapp, Commercial Director of ATOC said: “We want passengers to take advantage of these changes and, by making fares simpler, encourage even more people to take the train.
“Passengers have told us that they want a simpler fares system. We are listening and responding.”

Together with Season tickets, Advanced, Off Peak and Anytime account for around 99% of all rail tickets. A small number of ticket types remain unchanged and are not included in the new arrangements.  

The new fare names are being communicated to passengers via leaflets and posters at stations and also on the National Rail website