TRAIN operators are preparing to trim railcard discounts, with a pro-rail group describing the move as “a step in the wrong direction”, according to reports.
Railcards which will be affected include those held by passenger groups such as people aged 16-30 or 60 and over, families travelling with children, people with a disability, and military veterans.
Discounts are currently calculated as 34%, but train operators will take advantage of an easing of system limitations to apply a smaller reduction of 33.4%.
It is understood that the new, lower fare reductions will come in from September 15.
Most railcard advertising states that the cards provide savings of a third off usual fares, but some operators’ websites continue to give the 34% figure.
ScotRail’s railcards section on its website states “discounts save you at least 1/3 off your rail travel” while LNER's similar online section says “most railcards offer similar savings of around 1/3 off train tickets”.
Bruce Williamson, of lobby group Railfuture, said: “Whilst this represents a very tiny increase in fares for some passengers, it’s a step in the wrong direction.
“As the slogan goes, every little helps, so why risk irritating passengers for a few pence?”
Michael Solomon Williams, of pressure group Campaign for Better Transport, called for the introduction of a northern network railcard to make the system “fairer” by giving passengers in the north of England “the same discount offered to many of their southern counterparts by regional railcards”.
A spokesperson for Railcard, the organisation which manages the discount cards on behalf of train operators, said: “The cost of a railcard hasn’t increased for over 10 years and will continue to provide customers with a third off their rail fare for just £30 a year – a cost that can be made back in just one or two journeys.”
The rail industry is striving to boost fares income, which remains lower than pre-coronavirus levels, which included a pilot scheme by the Scottish Government scrapping peak time services on ScotRail trains.
Office of Rail and Road figures show revenue from passengers across the UK was £10.3 billion in the year to the end of March, compared with £12.7 billion in 2019-20.
ScotRail have been approached for comment.
