Millions of train passengers in uk hit by higher fares from today as operators axe popular super off-peak

The new fare structure, introduced by companies in the south in a bid to simplify pricing, abandons cheaper tickets and sets new evening peak hours.

It means higher prices will apply between 4 and 7pm, Monday to Friday for passengers travelling between Zones 1 and 9.

The rail operators affected by the change in fares will include c2c, Chiltern, Southeastern, London Northwestern Railway and South Western Railway.

Some Thameslink services which call at stations run by Southeastern will also be affected.

New changes explained

In preparation for the rollout of pay-as-you-go contactless ticketing, 53 stations in London and the southeast have made changes to their ticketing structure. 

To keep the price as similar as possible, companies have made various changes which affect the price of train fares and tickets.

In simple terms, this means: 

Single tickets now cost around half of a Return ticket  

Evening peak times will apply 16:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, from or via a London station for journeys where pay as you go with contactless will be available

No more Super Off-Peak tickets available on these routes, however the price of Off-Peak tickets have been reduced to reflect this

The rail operators affected include c2c, Chiltern, Southeastern, London Northwestern Railway and South Western Railway. Some Thameslink services which call at stations run by Southeastern will also be affected 

The new changes also include the roll out of single-leg pricing, which means a single fare will always be half the cost of a return. At present many return fares only cost marginally more than singles. 

Many passengers will be caught out by the changes, London TravelWatch said, although the watchdog welcomed the simplification with additional concern about new evening peak times.

Commuters who board the first off-peak train into London but return between those hours 4-7pm will no longer be able to travel on an off-peak day return ticket. 

Off-peak day travelcards, which include bus and Tube travel, will continue to be valid after 9.30am.

National Rail advice states: 'Depending on the day and time of your journey, it may be better value to buy two single tickets rather than a return ticket. 

'For example, if you make a peak journey in one direction and an off-peak journey in the other, then an anytime single plus an off-peak single will be cheaper than an anytime day return.'

The axing of super off-peak tickets, which affects some weekday tickets and all weekend ones, will also hit families travelling into the capital on Saturdays and Sundays.