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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| New rail ticket system launched | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Rail passengers pre-booking their trip will now be issued with an "advance ticket" as the first phase of a new ticketing system comes into operation. | |
| The ticket replaces discounted offers such as Leisure Advance, Business Advance, Value Advance and Apex. | |
| Train operators say this will make the system simpler for passengers and plan to bring in more changes in September. | |
| But the change will see an increase in charges for some who want to rearrange a ticket they have booked in advance. | |
| The number of UK rail journeys has risen more than 40% in the past decade. | The number of UK rail journeys has risen more than 40% in the past decade. |
| Fee changes | Fee changes |
| The changes will mean an end to refunds on advance sales and, for some, a doubling of the fee for changes to journey times to £10 per journey leg. | |
| The second phase will take place on 7 September. Tickets that can be bought right up to the date and time of travel will be split into two categories - Anytime and Off-peak. | The second phase will take place on 7 September. Tickets that can be bought right up to the date and time of travel will be split into two categories - Anytime and Off-peak. |
| Anytime tickets can be bought up until the time of travel and used on any train without peak hour or any other restrictions. | Anytime tickets can be bought up until the time of travel and used on any train without peak hour or any other restrictions. |
| Off-peak tickets can also be bought up until the time of travel, but will carry restrictions on the time and day of travel - current ticket types which will be re-named Off-peak tickets include Saver and Cheap Day returns. | Off-peak tickets can also be bought up until the time of travel, but will carry restrictions on the time and day of travel - current ticket types which will be re-named Off-peak tickets include Saver and Cheap Day returns. |
| 'Not about fares' | 'Not about fares' |
| A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the move was "nothing to do with the cost of fares" but was meant to simplify the system for passengers. | A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the move was "nothing to do with the cost of fares" but was meant to simplify the system for passengers. |
| "Passengers have told us that they want a simpler fares system. We are listening and responding," said David Mapp, commercial director of Atoc, when the plans were announced. | "Passengers have told us that they want a simpler fares system. We are listening and responding," said David Mapp, commercial director of Atoc, when the plans were announced. |
| "These changes will enable people to buy train tickets more easily and with greater confidence." | "These changes will enable people to buy train tickets more easily and with greater confidence." |
| But Campaign for Better Transport director Stephen Joseph said the new system could be even clearer. | |
| "It will simplify things for passengers but not as much as I think they should be," he said. | |
| "You'll still have a situation where you'll have confusion about when off peak is, when you can get, walk up and buy a cheap ticket. | |
| "In some cases you've still got confusing restrictions which mean that it's actually quite difficult to get cheap tickets on the railway - particularly at times when people want to travel like on InterCity lines from say Manchester to London." |