Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of variations in ticket pricing between rail operators on the East Coast Main Line serving stations such as Berwick upon Tweed and Newcastle; and whether she plans to require more (a) transparent and (b) consistent pricing for passengers in regions where multiple operators provide competing services.

The move to Great British Railways will enable passengers to receive a more consistent offer across the network, and we are already taking steps to overhaul the complex fares system and make it easier and simpler for passengers to trust they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare for their journey.

Through public ownership London North Eastern Railway (LNER), TransPennine Express and Northern have expanded the availability of advance fares, making journeys that cross between operators cheaper and simpler. In addition, passengers travelling between Berwick and London can access the same core range of fares whether travelling on a direct service or by changing at Newcastle or York, including using TransPennine Express and then LNER on a single ticket. The only exceptions are specific LNER promotions (mainly the family ticket) and the LNER only First Class single.

Further, the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement ensures that tickets valid for all train operators on the East Coast Mainline, including open access operators, will remain available for passengers.