I am delighted to today announce we have launched new flexible season tickets for rail commuters, which are on sale now and can be used from Monday 28th June. These will help save passengers hundreds of pounds by giving them greater freedom and choice in how they travel.
As the Government kickstart the biggest reforms to our railways in a generation, my colleagues are working to deliver the reliable, rapid and affordable services commuters deserve.
I have been speaking with my ministerial colleagues, on behalf of constituents, about the need for the introduction of flexible tickets, for a very long time. A lot of constituents will be working from home with irregular travelling to an office in London, Brighton, or possibly even another city, and the cost of buying a peak weekly pass can be substantial. For a constituency like Mid Sussex, home to three commuter towns, I hope this will come as a huge boost to many of you reading.
These new flexible season tickets will allow passengers to travel on any 8 days in a 28-day period. If you are making the same journey twice a week or more, a Season Ticket may be the best value ticket for you. There are several types of Season Ticket which may be suitable, and to help find the best one for you, National Rail has come up with a calculator to help you find what works best for you.
This Season Ticket Calculator can work out on average what the cost per day of travel equates to, based on your answers to how many days per week you plan to travel and how long you need a Season Ticket for. The more you travel, the better value for money a Season Ticket is. To find out how much money you could potentially save, please visit: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/Season-Calculator.aspx
To encourage more passengers to travel by rail, for the rest of this year (until 31 December 2021), train companies will also offer a book with confidence guarantee, allowing people to rebook journeys or receive rail vouchers without an admin fee if their plans change.
For more information, please visit the Government's website: Flexible season tickets on sale, saving hundreds of pounds for rail passengers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)