I wrote on behalf on NHBUG to Chris Hinchliff MP pointing out some of the idiocies in the latest train fares on the Great Northern routes.
E.g. An off peak return from Letchworth to London costs slightly more than two singles.
If you wish to make one journey at peak time and one at off peak it is again cheaper to buy two singles than a return.
Most idiotic of all: There used to be a cheaper off peak return at weekends from Letchworth. Now if you buy a return from the ticket machine at the station or online it costs the same as during the week, £15.05 with a Senior Railcard.
But if you go to the ticket office they will helpfully sell you a super off peak return from Ashwell which is £12.70. I now know if I book online to book from Ashwell rather than Letchworth.
But how many people have not worked this out and paid more than they needed?
His reply is quoted below.
”I understand your frustration regarding the rail fares on the Thameslink network. The examples you provided highlight a common issue I hear from my constituents; a fares system that can be difficult to understand and which does not always offer the most logical or best value journey for a particular journey.
You may be aware that I have already raised concerns in Parliament about both the affordability and reliability of Thameslink services. During a Westminster Hall debate on Thameslink services in February 2025, I highlighted correspondence from constituents regarding “expensive fares on the line” and asked what steps the Government would take to improve fares as services are brought into public ownership. The Minister acknowledged these concerns and stated that the Government intends to create a “unified, simplified railway” through Great British Railways.
I have also been pressing for wider rail fare reform nationally. In January 2026, I asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further steps could be taken to reduce rail fares, arguing that many people need to see ticket prices come down further. In addition, I tabled amendments to the Railways Bill that would give Great British Railways a duty to secure the affordability of fares and proposed a national rail discount scheme available to British residents.
The Government has confirmed that Great British Railways will bring passenger services together under a single directing body and has stated that simplifying the railway and putting passengers first are key objectives of reform. However, the detailed structure of future fares has not yet been finalised, and many of the issues you describe remain unresolved at present.
The specific examples you have identified, particularly where split-ticketing or purchasing from a different origin station can produce a cheaper fare than the most obvious ticket option, illustrate why many passengers feel the current system is unnecessarily complex. While some fare anomalies arise from the way historic fares and different ticket products have developed over time, I agree that passengers should be able to purchase the most appropriate ticket easily and with confidence.
I assure you as Parliament continues to consider rail reform and the implementation of Great British Railways, I will continue to support measures that improve affordability and make the fares system simpler and easier for passengers to navigate, particularly in more rural areas such as North East Hertfordshire.”
