In today's podcast we delve into the complex world or railway ticketing.

I say complex but what I really mean is complicated, confusing, and frustrating. Who hasn’t spent time pondering over the multitude of options thrust upon us when buying a rail ticket and mulled over the permutations and consequences of advanced, off peak, super off peak day return, open return…. 

Who hasn’t spent time on their journey wondering “is my ticket actually valid?”

Who hasn’t then wondered “why is buying a rail ticket so blooming difficult!?

Well, thankfully, the Railway Industry Association certainly has. In fact, its new report Destination: Revenue Growth highlights research finding that “complexity proved to be the biggest issue in train travel, with a fifth of travellers (20%) unable to find the cheapest ticket for their journey and 58% believing there are simply too many ticket options.”

It is an issue that the rail sector has to tackle if it is going to both entice more customers onto the railway and collect the revenue along the way.

Not least given that the future – the present actually - is one of digital no-ticketing. The digital world is already transforming ticketing in every part of the transport and service sector and frankly, rail has to get on board. Fast.

But how? Well joining me on the podcast today is Milda Manomaityte, Innovation Director at the Railway Industry Association and the co-author of this report. So I suppose, having been immersed in this knotty issue for quite some time, she should know the answer! Let’s hear!

Resources
Railway Industry Association website
RIA - Destination: Revenue Growth report
RIA - Data and Digital Technologies in Rail
Great British Railways Transition Team
Shapps-Williams review
Draft Rail Reform Bill