Commuters fear impact of scrapping return train tickets and having to pay for ... trends now

Commuters fear impact of scrapping return train tickets and having to pay for ... trends now
Commuters fear impact of scrapping return train tickets and having to pay for ... trends now

Commuters fear impact of scrapping return train tickets and having to pay for ... trends now

Commuters are fearing a decision to scrap return train tickets will lead to a hike in rail fares - as passengers will now have to pay for two single trips instead.

Transport secretary Mark Harper will announce the changes in a speech on Tuesday evening, having been given the green light by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak amid a long-awaited overhaul of the railway. 

After rounds of successful trials testing out the new proposed system, passengers will no longer buy return tickets and instead will pay for two single trips instead.

But passengers fear the move is actually a stealth rise in rail costs if discounted return tickets are thrown out and all fares instead offered at current 'single-leg pricing' for every part of a journey journeys.

The Department for Transport was unable to confirm whether the price of single fares will fall when contacted by MailOnline this evening. 

It is expected that Mark Harper will introduce the Great British Railways as a new public body body despite fears rising of nationalisation

It is expected that Mark Harper will introduce the Great British Railways as a new public body body despite fears rising of nationalisation

After rounds of successful trials testing out the new proposed system, passengers will no longer buy return tickets and instead will pay for two single trips instead

After rounds of successful trials testing out the new proposed system, passengers will no longer buy return tickets and instead will pay for two single trips instead

Meanwhile, commuters have reacted with anxiety on social media, with some saying they would choose to work from home to avoid the higher costs.

One said: 'Umm this is insane? We already have among the world’s highest train ticket prices (on a KM/£ basis) and this is going to prompt significant train ticket price inflation.' 

The new reforms will mean Great British Railways (GBR) will be introduced as a new public body, after first being proposed by Boris Johnson and and Grant Shapps in May, 2021. 

The introduction if the new public body was halted after it was criticised for being 'nationalisation through a back door'.

According to the Telegraph fears had grown GBR was a non-starter but it has been revealed by someone who read a draft of his speech that Mr Harper will show 'the idea that GBR is dead, is dead'

It will be responsible for timetabling and ticketing which are currently managed by the Department for Transport.

There is also a possibility that paper tickets may also be a thing a of the past as Mr Harper is expected  to hint at the greater use

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