Simpler fares scheme to be trialled on LNER

LNER is to trial simpler fares for some of its routes from January 2 2020, in an effort to save passengers money on long-distance journeys.

The two-year trial will replace return fares with single tickets at about half the price of a return ticket. The operator says this will allow customers to select the best ticket options for their journeys, giving passengers the opportunity to ‘mix and match’ for each leg of their journey.

An LNER spokesman says that once the trial is complete, it will review the pilot scheme before deciding whether or not to roll out the different ticketing structure across all of its routes.

It will remove the following ticket types from sale on some journeys:

• Anytime Return.
• Super Off-Peak Return.
• Off-Peak Return.

Customers will instead have the option to purchase the following single ticket types:

• Anytime Single.
• Super Off-Peak Single.
• Advance Single.

LNER says passengers travelling between London and Edinburgh and buying a ticket at the station currently pay £146.40 for a Super Off-Peak Single ticket or £147.40 for a Super Off-Peak Return ticket. However, under this trial, the cost of a Super Off-Peak Single will be £73.70.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 887, published on September 11, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from September 7.

• For Barry Doe's EXCLUSIVE in-depth analysis of this scheme, read RAIL 888, published on September 25, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from September 21.