Part-time season tickets in prospect for Brighton and Hove commuters

Thousands of commuters from Brighton, Hove and Portslade could be in line for the chance to buy part-time season tickets in a big shake-up of rail fares.

The prospect is reported in the current issue of the Brighton and Hove Independent newspaper.

The front page reports a letter written by Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, calling on the Department for Transport to test the scheme on Brighton to London mainline services.

She made the call after plans were signalled by Transport Minister Norman Baker. The Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes said: “Why should there be a season ticket that works for people who work five days a week but that leaves people out of pocket if they work three or four days a week? Where’s the justice in that?”

In a letter to Mr Baker, Dr Lucas welcomed the flexible-ticketing plan: “This kind of flexibility would reflect the realities of modern working life and would be of great benefit to part-time commuters in my constituency.

“It would help lessen the impact of fares that are already too high on household budgets that are already too stretched.

“In particular, it would be of benefit to the many parents for whom childcare commitments mean that part-time work is preferable but for whom the cost of travel may well prohibit a move towards such employment.”

She told the Brighton and Hove Independent: “Brighton to London is one of the busiest commuter routes in the country so it would make sense for the government to choose it as the pilot route.”