Good news: UK train ticket pricing is getting an overhaul
It's been a tough few months for train travellers – but finally, there's some good news.
The UK's ticket pricing system is getting a much-needed facelift to scrap overpriced routes and make it easier for passengers to buy the cheapest tickets.
Some fares for longer, connecting train journeys will be removed because cheaper options exist. This will mean passengers won't have to spilt their tickets to save money. Ticket vending machines will also be made more user friendly.
Read more: Pressure is building for a Southern Rail intervention
Trials of the new ticketing system will begin in May on routes including CrossCountry, Virgin Trains' east and west coast routes and East Midlands.
Jacqueline Starr, director of customer experience at Rail Delivery Group, told the Guardian: "We know customers can find it hard to get the right ticket for their journey due to complex rules and regulations built up by governments over decades.
"There are more than 16m different train fares, many of which nobody has ever bought. This also makes it more difficult to give passengers the right, simple options on ticket machines."
Passengers have been faced with extra misery this year as strikes and engineering works hit various lines. Southern passengers are particularly unhappy due to endless strikes on the service. It was recently voted the UK's worst train company.
The UK's worst train companies
| Train company | Proportion of unhappy customers | |
| 1. | Southern | 19% |
| 2. | Thameslink | 13% |
| 3. | Great Northern Southeastern |
10% |
| 4. | Great Western Railway Transpennine Express |
9% |
| 5. | Greater Anglia CrossCountry |
8% |