RDS is aiming to produce a new Easy Rail document aimed at making the argument for cheap and better fares. There is a need for a more flexible and generous attitude from the rail companies.
A national rail card is at least 10 years overdue. BR at least did some trials on one in the 1980s. Other European countries, including Germany and Switzerland, have them, allowing a 50% discount.
Rail vouchers should be available for sale as Christmas and birthday presents. Singles should be priced at half the cheap return fare, not at a prohibitively high rate. There should be a re-think on the new airline-sized tickets. Credit-card sized tickets are better.
Rail must be affordable for all, not just middle-class, middle-aged business people. So far rail. operators have made it more difficult to buy tickets, undermined the family railcard and increased by massive amounts the unregulated fares.
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