UK: State-owned LNER is to extend its so-called Simpler Fares pilot scheme, with the removal of Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets for journeys from 27 stations around London.
On August 10 LNER said this ‘is designed to more closely resemble a vision for long distance fares simplification and enables LNER to capture much richer learnings to consider for the future’.
Simpler Fares pilot scheme
LNER described Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak fares as ‘often complicated’. Its Simpler Fares pilot scheme includes three fares in both first class and standard:
- Fixed, only valid for the booked service(s) stated on the ticket;
- Semi-Flexible: a ‘70min Flex’ fare allowing people to travel as booked or start their journey up to 70 min either side of the booked train;
- Fully Flexible: Valid for travel at any time of day.
Dynamic pricing of Advance and 70min Flex tickets aims to smooth demand over the day.
The two-year pilot scheme was originally introduced in January 2024 for travel between London King’s Cross and Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. It was still possible to obtain flexible Off-Peak tickets by buying tickets to and from stations just outside the initial trial area, and in August 2024 the scheme was extended to include intermediate stations around and between Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh served by Northern, CrossCountry, ScotRail and TransPennine Express. .
Phase 2a
In the Phase 2a of the pilot scheme 27 stations around London have been added, including stations between London King’s Cross and Stevenage. LNER has worked with Govia Thameslink Railway and Transport for London to make the new Semi-Flexible fares available for connections. Tickets became available to purchase on August 10 for travel from September 7.
Other journeys between origin or destination stations not included in the pilot will see no changes made to the ticket types available.
Reviewing feedback
LNER said it is continuing to review feedback from customers and industry partners to understand more about how the changes are working.
On July 17 Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy told the House of Lords that he expected the changes made by LNER to be adopted by other inter-city operators ’on the West Coast Main Line and on Great Western in due course’.
