Rail companies should be allowed to introduce “airline-style fares” that could see them charging hundreds of pounds for tickets during peak times and banning passengers without pre-booked seats from travelling, a Government review is set to recommend.
It will say the railways are subject to too much state involvement and a growth in services has not been matched by efficiency savings. The documents say costs are a major problem and need to be cut by 35% to match European counterparts and they will set out plans to cut staff and propose decentralising or breaking-up Network Rail.
Leaked documents disclose that the review will say that train companies must either be allowed to charge significantly more for some travel or that the Government will have to dramatically increase the capacity on trains. The study is expected to warn that fare structures are too complex, over-subsidised and do not manage peak demand.
It will say the railways are subject to too much state involvement and a growth in services has not been matched by efficiency savings. The documents say costs are a major problem and need to be cut by 35% to match European counterparts and they will set out plans to cut staff and propose decentralising or breaking-up Network Rail.
The report will urge ministers to review fares policies and allow train operators to “take a more commercial approach” to ticket prices by lifting caps on fares and removing saver tickets from long-distance services.
More at TTel
More at TTel
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