RAIL companies need to offer flexible railcards as more people spend less time in offices following the Covid pandemic.
Pressure group Transport Focus have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to demand more flexible fares on railcards as more people only spend a day or two in their offices.
Independent watchdog Transport Focus has written to the Secretary of State for Transport calling for rail fares reform.
In a survey, half of people expect to work from home more often in the future and more than a third – 36 per cent – think their job will be homebased with limited travel to their workplace.
They are calling for more flexible season tickets or ‘carnets’ which offer a discount for multiple journeys when bought upfront for people returning to work part-time in an office.
Writing to Mr Shapps Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith, said: “A new railway needs a 21st century retail offer, especially when it may need to stimulate demand and persuade passengers to return.
“People working from home for two-three days a week will not want to pay for a traditional season ticket offer but will still expect some recognition that they are a regular, if less frequent, traveller.
“We hope that consideration can be given to accelerating the provision of carnet/flexible season style tickets.
“As well as improving the work life balance for passengers this could also help manage demand in the coming months when capacity is scarcer.”
