Page ^ Daily Mail, Friday, August 30, 2019
By James Salmon
Transport EditorRAIL passengers could soon
be spared the injustice of pay-
ing almost as much for a single
fare as a return.
The Transport Secretary yes-
terday revealed a radical shake-
up of a government-run route
that will save customers up to
£73 per trip.
New prices will be introduced for
journeys between London and Leeds,
Newcastle and Edinburgh.
London North Eastern Railway
(LNER), which is owned by the
Department for Transport, will
replace off-peak return tickets for
the routes with singles which cost
nearly half the price.
Those travelling between London
and Edinburgh who buy a ticket at
the station are currently charged
£146.40 for a single – or £147.40 for a
return. The cost of a single would bereforms of the fare system. However,
experts have warned this may lead
to a reduction in income from fares,
which could prompt operators to
raise the price of other tickets – or
demand more subsidies from the
Government.
The trial on LNER will be used to
determine whether a similar fares
system can be introduced across
the rail network.
Darren Shirley, chief executive of
the Campaign for Better Transport,
called the plan ‘a welcome step
towards fairer, simpler, more trans-
parent ticketing’.
He added: ‘Single-leg pricing
could make it easier for passengers
to choose the most appropriate
ticket for their journey and improve
confidence that they are getting a
good deal, but only if this is not
used as a means to push up fares
further.’
Other suggestions put forward by
the rail industry include abolishing
the ‘cliff edge’ between peak and off-
peak fares in favour of more regular
pricing throughout the day.
This would reduce the cost of some
peak fares, but increase the price of
some off-peak journeys.
Jacqueline Starr of the Rail Deliv-
ery Group, which represents the
industry, said: ‘Passengers, busi-
nesses and rail companies are united
in wanting easier fares.
‘The trials on LNER’s routes will
support our proposed reforms and
create a system that better fits how
people live and work today.’
The announcement comes days
after rail chiefs faced a furious back-
lash after officials confirmed that
fares will rise by an inflation-busting
2.8 per cent from January 2.
Ticket prices have risen by almost
40 per cent since 2010.
[email protected]‘Make it easier
for passengers’THIS huge cloud of toxic fumes and smoke
billowed from a blazing Hotpoint fridge
factory last night after a massive blast.
Ironically, the firm is part-owned by Whirl-
pool – which has been accused of covering up
fires caused by its white goods.
Nearby residents were forced to evacuate as
fire crews fought the blaze in Peterborough.
Witnesses shared pictures of the burning appli-
ance factory on social media.
The explosion reportedly happened in the
part of the building that produces fridges.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue tweeted
warnings advising locals to ‘stay indoors and
keep windows closed’. No one was hurt.
Last month it emerged that Whirlpool has
used at least 24 gagging orders on customers
to ‘cover up’ fires linked to the company’s
faulty tumble-dryers.
By Mike Bedigan
Plume of smoke:
The scene in
Peterborough
yesterdayslashed to £73.70 under the trial,
which begins in January.
Grant Shapps has vowed to crack
down on rip-off fares by slashing
prices for one-way tickets.
He said the scheme would help
create ‘a more convenient, flexible
and fairly-priced experience’.
He added: ‘This will save many
people money with substantially
cheaper single tickets, boost cus-
tomer confidence, and ensure pas-
sengers up and down the country
get the modern transport service
they expect.’
Due to the fragmented nature of
the rail system, some operators’ sin-
gle fares can cost almost as much as
a return – but in other cases they
cost significantly less.
The rail industry has already rec-
ommended bringing down the cost
of single fares as part of sweepingOn track at
last, plan to
play fair on
single fares
Now Hotpoint
FACTORY goes
up in flames...