Viewpoint: ‘Low-cost, high-impact fix’ could provide £500m rail revenue boost

According to a recent statement by Raileasy CEO George Sikking, the rail sector in the UK stands to gain an impressive £500 million by adopting a more transparent and consumer-focused approach to data access. sikking, who leads a company specializing in rail ticket technology, emphasizes that many potential travelers are deterred from using trains as they frequently enough seek option transport options after checking fares.

A staggering 65% of individuals looking for train tickets end up exploring other travel methods or spend excessive time hunting for better deals. This issue isn’t merely about pricing; it’s fundamentally about information accessibility. Currently, third-party retailers lack complete access to an Availability Distribution Service (ADS), which would allow them to present all available seating options across various trains.

Sikking advocates for making ADS accessible to all retailers—not just as a business leader but as someone who genuinely believes in the potential of the UK’s rail system. As 2007, he has been pushing for more affordable train travel through his family-run company, which sold three million tickets last year alone. Despite this success, millions still shy away from train journeys due to limited information on fare options.

The solution lies not in seeking subsidies but rather in revealing untapped value within an outdated system that fails to provide travelers with clear fare comparisons over extended periods—unlike what is available when booking flights. Imagine if passengers could view airline-style calendars showing the cheapest and least crowded times for travel; this simple change could substantially enhance user experience.

Research conducted by Jacobs indicates that implementing such changes could lead to an additional £500 million revenue boost for UK railways while also promoting domestic tourism and reducing carbon footprints by encouraging less reliance on cars.

This straightforward yet impactful adjustment would greatly benefit passengers and improve overall service efficiency within the industry.The Self-reliant Rail Retailers Association supports this initiative, which is already gaining traction through projects like Realtime Trains’ Daytripper platform. However, achieving widespread change requires collaboration across the entire industry.

Raileasy has proven itself as a reliable partner ready to engage with stakeholders and initiate discussions around these necessary improvements—but it truly seems their voice is not being adequately heard within industry circles.

To put it plainly: limiting access to fare data serves no one—neither passengers nor operators nor taxpayers—and certainly not the future of railway services in Britain.