Keith Williams, Chair of the Williams Rail Review and former boss of British Airways, has warned that it’s now or never to radically overhaul and simplify Britain’s confusing and outdated rail fares system.

Speaking at an industry event organised by the Institute for Government to look at how the UK government will implement the biggest rail reforms in a generation, he stressed that progress on fares is crucial in showing passengers that the government is starting to make the changes cited in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail white paper.

Liverpool Street railway station

© Rail Delivery Group (RDG)

Noting that revenue risk currently sits with the government, Williams highlighted the need to seize the opportunity because of the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

With over 55 million fares, the rail industry has long argued for an overhaul of the system to allow for tap-in, tap-out in cities across the country which would better fit an increasingly flexible workforce, and more flexible pricing on long-distance services to make better use of capacity and help more people to get a seat.

Updating regulations, coupled with investment in ticketing technology, will enable the industry to do away with the current confusing fares system. This will allow passengers to get the best fare for their journey more easily and boost confidence.

The Director General of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which co-hosted the event, echoed Williams’s views and warned that while the white paper made some promising commitments to review the system, it was thin on the detail about how it would be enacted.

source= https://railway-news.com/rail-industry-experts-call-on-uk-government-to-begin-implementing-fare-reforms/