Rail travel experiences

These pictures were taken in Leeds station this week; it was a fairly quiet day on this particular morning. Commuters will be aware of the large numbers of people pushing through the barriers in the rush hour and the sometimes lengthy process of checking tickets.

As a regular rail traveller it seems to me that there are huge inconsistencies in the way ticket validating is handled across the country. The biggest improvements, in my view, came in London when Oyster Cards were introduced on the underground. Effortlessly, commuters were able to pass through barriers and pre-pay for journeys. The pay as you go aspect of Oyster Cards and the automated way in which the charging is handled across peak and non-peak periods is excellent. Not only do Oyster Cards lead to easy and convenient travel, but are fair on charging.

In my local train station I often see people trying to work out whether or not it’s worth buying a travel card – miss a few journeys and the benefits drain away.

I think we need to get much more sophisticated in the way we handle the payment aspects of rail travel. Think, for example, of the confusing range of options for intercity travel. It's entirely possible to find yourself on the wrong train and forking out maby an extra £90.
(Mark Waddington, ITV Local Yorkshire Channel Manager)

Do you think rail travel can be improved? How? Use the comments tab on this posting.

Also see the ITV Local Yorkshire Travel Channel