The Rail Delivery Group says fares reform is a crucial component of wider industry proposals to enable train operators to better respond to rapidly evolving needs of customers.
The comments from Robert Nisbet come as stats released by the Office for Rail and Road have estimated that rail passenger journeys in Britain fell by more than 400 million in 2020-21 (April to June) compared to the same quarter last year.
This represents the lowest level of passenger usage since the mid-19th Century.
The statistical release shows:
- Rail passenger journeys in Great Britain in April to June 2020 fell to 35 million (8.1% of the 439 million in 2019-20 Q1). This represents the lowest level of passenger usage since the mid-nineteenth century.
- 10 million journeys are estimated to have been made using season tickets in 2020-21 Q1. This represents a 29.0% share of all journeys during the quarter, which is the lowest recorded by season tickets for any quarter since the time series began in 1994-95.
Robert Nisbet, Director of Nations and Regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Rail travel is the economic lifeblood of our towns and cities. With the majority of company bosses planning to keep some home working beyond the pandemic, train companies are keen to work with government to introduce flexible season tickets that will incentivise more people safely back on to trains.
“Fares reform is a crucial component of wider industry proposals to enable train operators to better respond to the rapidly evolving needs of their local customers.”
Nationally, 35 million journeys are estimated to have been made in the first quarter of 2020-21 (April to June 2020). This is a decrease of more than 400 million compared to the same quarter last year, highlighting the severe effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on passenger numbers.
More journeys were recorded in London and the South East compared to the rest of the country. Govia Thameslink Railway recorded 7.5 million passenger journeys this quarter, the most of any operator.
Transport for Wales Rail recorded the lowest number of journeys at 369,000. The 1 million journeys made on ScotRail this quarter equates to 4.3% of journeys made in the same quarter a year earlier. This was the lowest percentage for any operator.
Recent estimates published by the Department for Transport show that current national rail use was predicted to be 32% of what would be expected on an equivalent day.
Graham Richards, Director of Railway Planning and Performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said: “This unprecedented fall in passenger numbers, the largest on record to levels last seen in the mid-nineteenth century, has clearly had an impact on both rail usage and also ticketing revenue.
“These figures include the period of lockdown and reassuringly we’re now seeing passenger numbers slowly increase. ORR has worked closely with the industry, and continues to do so, to ensure the necessary health and safety advice and guidance is in place.
“Rail is one of the safest ways to travel and our inspectors continue to monitor the reality on the ground to ensure people have the confidence that they can travel safely.”
Total passenger revenue in Great Britain was £184 million in 2020-21 Q1. This equates to 6.9% of the £2.7 billion in 2019-20 Q1.
Anytime/Peak tickets accounted for 24.1% of all passenger revenue this quarter – the lowest share for such tickets in any quarter since the time series began in 2010-11.
Photo credit: Rail Delivery Group
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