Rail industry delivering for passengers says ATOC
4th July 2008
ATOC
Nearly one year on from the Rail White Paper “Delivering a Sustainable Railway” (July 2007), which put the rail passenger centre stage, the industry is improving the journey experience for its passengers and providing ticket types to suit all pockets, says the Association of Train Operating Companies.
This has been a key factor in attracting more people to rail travel over the past 10 years. Passenger numbers on Britain’s railways are up by 42.5% on a decade ago.
More than 80% of rail passengers use discounted tickets such as Savers, Cheap Day Returns, Advance tickets. Season tickets are also heavily discounted and in many cases offer a cheaper option when making three or more return journeys per week.
Around 600,000 journeys are made every week on cheap Advance purchase tickets and they account for over 20% of passenger journeys overall on longer distance routes. On key routes to and from London they can often account for 40% or more of journeys and, on many, Advance fares are cheaper than they were in 1996 in real terms – such as London to York, Leeds, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Recent fares simplification also means that railcard holders can now get one third off all Advance tickets, giving even more value for money.
In addition, there are many cheaper walk-on Off Peak tickets for both day and longer period return travel – such as the Saver and Cheap Day Returns.
All these fares are heavily promoted by train operators via press and online advertising and at stations across the country.
Rail is a greener way of travelling too. On average, it emits approximately half the level of CO2 per passenger kilometre of cars and around a quarter of domestic aviation, and is improving still further.
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC said: “The railways continue to offer and promote a range of good value tickets - both advance and walk-on - to attract more people to travel by train.
“While a strong economy, a much better performing railway, and now fast rising petrol prices have all contributed to rail growth, the range of cheap and discounted travel is also helping us to increase passenger numbers to their highest level for over 60 years. We have the fastest growing railway in Europe which this year alone has already seen numbers travelling increase by 6%.”
This has been a key factor in attracting more people to rail travel over the past 10 years. Passenger numbers on Britain’s railways are up by 42.5% on a decade ago.
More than 80% of rail passengers use discounted tickets such as Savers, Cheap Day Returns, Advance tickets. Season tickets are also heavily discounted and in many cases offer a cheaper option when making three or more return journeys per week.
Around 600,000 journeys are made every week on cheap Advance purchase tickets and they account for over 20% of passenger journeys overall on longer distance routes. On key routes to and from London they can often account for 40% or more of journeys and, on many, Advance fares are cheaper than they were in 1996 in real terms – such as London to York, Leeds, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Recent fares simplification also means that railcard holders can now get one third off all Advance tickets, giving even more value for money.
In addition, there are many cheaper walk-on Off Peak tickets for both day and longer period return travel – such as the Saver and Cheap Day Returns.
All these fares are heavily promoted by train operators via press and online advertising and at stations across the country.
Rail is a greener way of travelling too. On average, it emits approximately half the level of CO2 per passenger kilometre of cars and around a quarter of domestic aviation, and is improving still further.
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC said: “The railways continue to offer and promote a range of good value tickets - both advance and walk-on - to attract more people to travel by train.
“While a strong economy, a much better performing railway, and now fast rising petrol prices have all contributed to rail growth, the range of cheap and discounted travel is also helping us to increase passenger numbers to their highest level for over 60 years. We have the fastest growing railway in Europe which this year alone has already seen numbers travelling increase by 6%.”
