UK Rail system to simplify ticketing

Which? Magazine has performed a survey in regards to the rail system in the United Kingdom, or more specifically, the ticketing procedure for travelling on the rail system in the United Kingdom. The survey began with the watchdog publication asking a series of 25 questions to not to travellers, but ticket office staff, both at rail stations and on the national Rail enquiries phone line.

It seems the real confusion in pricing on National Rail comes from the staff themselves, with the survey finding that staff had quoted a single journey for a passenger travelling to Grantham, Lincolnshire from London at ₤4.50, while ten minutes earlier, a train to the same location would have cost a substantially lower ₤20.

This experiment has opened the eyes not only of consumers, but Ruth Kelly, the National Transport Secretary. Kelly confirmed she will “make sure people can be confident they’re getting the right ticket at the right price,” when speaking at a recent Labour Party conference.