Train passengers using the East Coast Main Line will have more flexible ticketing options from Sunday (14 May).
The new approach will start this Sunday 14 May 2023.
LNER said it will expand its trial of single leg pricing to cover its entire network.
That means single fares across the East Coast route between London King’s Cross, York and Edinburgh will be around half the price of a return, allowing passengers to mix and match different types of tickets to get better value.
Britain’s outdated train ticketing system means many return fares are only £1 more than single fares.
That means passengers often cannot save money if cheaper Advance tickets for specific services are only available for one direction of their return journey.
LNER began trialling single leg pricing in 2020 between London King’s Cross and Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh – but not York.
Now it will be available across its network for tickets bought from Sunday for travel from 11 June.
The simpler system means customers can select the best ticket options for their journey from these options:
- Anytime Single
- Off-Peak/Super Off-Peak Single
- Advance Single
LNER managing director David Horne said: “We believe that making fares simpler, smarter and fairer will encourage more people to choose rail, making a green and sustainable travel choice.
“Alongside our successful innovations from our legendary customer service to our industry leading digital products, LNER remains at the forefront of transforming rail.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Passengers will get the best value ticket for their journey safe in the knowledge a single ticket will be around half the price of a return.”
Independent online consumer research commissioned by LNER found that 61% of customers surveyed were in favour of single leg ticketing being extended, and close to 45% of non-customers were more likely to travel for long-distance journeys in the future as a result of single leg ticketing.
More than half, 55% of LNER customers agree that single leg ticketing simplifies the way tickets work.
The expansion of Single Leg Pricing is featured in the new LNER podcast series ‘The Fast Track’ and can be heard here. Select episode three and it’s from 14:15.