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GTMC welcomes Govt’s public consultation on rail
The GTMC has welcomed today’s announcement that there will be a public consultation ahead of plans to reform rail ticket sales.
The consultation will be carried out by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators and Network Rail.
An RDG spokesman told Sky News the plan is to ‘strip back the layers of rules and regulations that have made the system complicated for so many of us’.
GTMC CEO Adrian Parkes said: "The announcement of a public consultation by the rail industry to reform and offer a simplified and fairer ticketing system is welcome news for both the business travel industry and the wider UK economy.
"It has been encouraging to see the government recognise the need for increased investment in regional rail infrastructure.
"However, for rail to remain a relevant form of transport for business travellers, similar improvements need to be made not only to the rail network and facilities onboard such as wifi access and adequate seating but to the current regulations around rail ticketing and fares.
"Our own research within the business travel community has highlighted that there is strong demand for more flexible ticketing.
"Over two thirds of those business travellers we questioned (66%) stated they were very interested in flexible ticketing that enabled you to change the times of a journey.
"Greater clarity and a fairer, simpler approach to fares is needed so that business travellers can be incentivised to use the rail network."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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