Want to level up? Close the north-south railcard divide
In 1986 British Rail introduced the Network Railcard, offering a 34 per cent discount on all off-peak fares for train journeys within the Network South East area. Despite a few amendments, some of which we opposed*, passengers in the South East continue to get a third off rail fares thanks to the cooperation of 18 train operating companies (TOCs). Which got us thinking… why is there nothing of the sort up north?
For over ten years I’ve been mercifully paying for discounted rail tickets thanks to the 16-25 and now 26-30 Railcard. So, when 18 months ago I moved from Leeds to London, my discount continued, only to be affected by the passage of time rather than where I live. Having never lived in the South East before, it was news to me that the Network Railcard even existed. I was familiar with the nine railcards that offer a variety of discounts nationally, but completely unaware of this regional equivalent.
So is it only the South East that benefits from a regional offer? It turns out no it isn’t. There’s a similar discount for residents of Devon and Cornwall, while discounts can also be obtained for specific lines and routes as is the case with the Cotswold and Cambrian Railcards. But the region where railcards are most sparse is without doubt the north of England. Hikers wanting to walk the Yorkshire three-peaks can purchase a railcard to get one third off the Settle & Carlisle Day Ranger, while only residents in certain postcodes can apply for an Esk Valley Railcard for travel between Whitby and Middlesborough. But that’s it. In the region that is half as wealthy as the south east of England, transport discounts are lowest.
Last year research from the Social Market Foundation found that five million people have been driven into poverty due to transport costs with cars costing the median British household £5,650 per year in upfront costs, maintenance and fuel. A breakdown of regions shows that a disproportionate number of those in transport poverty live in the north of England. In the north east of England, 12.5 per cent of people are afflicted compared to just four per cent in London. Since 2010 fares have risen almost twice as fast as wages, while the South and South East have received more than double the North’s rail subsidy per household.
Enter: The Northern Network Railcard. Our suggested way to address this imbalance. Offering rail users in the North the same discount as their southern counterparts would go a long way to not only making rail travel more affordable, but also boosting local economies and incentivising more people to take the train. A Northern Network Railcard would be an easy win for the Government’s levelling up agenda which has recently been under fire for a lack of results.
Our idea is supported by former Transport Secretary and current chair of Transport for the North, Patrick McLoughlin:
“A Northern Network Railcard would contribute to rebalancing the UK economy, finally offering travellers in the north of England a benefit that the South East has enjoyed for almost 40 years. Cheaper off-peak rail tickets would also help to reduce carbon emissions from transport in our region, where almost 70 per cent of car emissions come from non-employment related travel.”
For this to become reality, it would require the 12 TOCs that operate across the north to come together and agree to offer this discount. With such a strong economic and social argument, we think it’s a no brainer. It’s time to end the North-South Railcard divide once and for all.
*In 2002, it was proposed that Network Railcard holders would receive no discount if the standard adult full fare was under £10. As Transport 2000, we opposed this.
Image: Kimi Gill
