Virgin Trains Ticketing Director, Mark Plowright, presented a proposal at the Transport Committee’s ‘Our Future Transport’ event today (Wed 10th May).
The proposal calls for scrutiny regarding the future of rail retail in order to boost rail usage and provide passengers with the best possible rail experience.
Mark Plowright, Virgin Trains Ticketing Director, comments: “I was delighted to be given the opportunity to speak at the Transport Committee’s ‘Our Future Transport’ event today. Consumer confidence in the railway is at an all-time low and rail retail – the shop window to the rail industry – can play a crucial role in increasing ridership and boosting passenger numbers.”
“The Government wants a competitive retail market but the current system is not set up to sustain competition, and progress in simplifying fares and how we sell tickets is happening too slowly. We think the industry is missing a trick with consumers unable to make informed decisions about which is the best ticket for them and, importantly, knowing where to buy it.”
Mark continued: “We’d like to see the Government rip the plaster off a broken retail system and support policy proposals that create a genuinely level playing field so all retailers can genuinely work in the best interests of passengers.”
The Virgin Trains Ticketing app provides customers with the ability to earn three Virgin Points for each £1 spent on rail journeys all over the country. The innovative app also charges no booking fees for e-tickets.
Responses
Like the IRR has been pushing for, he called for a “level playing field” in the retailing market, i.e all retail outlets’ cost of sale should just be at prevailing commission rates, not more, and equal access to fares and products.