New national rail flexible season tickets went on sale for the first time on June 21. The paperless tickets were due to come into force on June 28 (after this issue of RAIL went to press), allowing travel on any eight days within a 28-day period. The new product had been announced on May 20 as the first step of the newly published Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail (RAIL 932). According to the Department for Transport, they will "match modern working habits and save commuters hundreds of pounds" if travelling to work for only two or three days a week. DfT analysis shows that two-day-a-week commuters could save £260 a year from Woking to London, compared with buying daily tickets. Similar figures apply to other journeys, including York to Leeds (£210), Liverpool to Manchester (£230), and Stafford to Birmingham (£170). Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said: "Our railways work best when they are reliable, rapid and affordable. As we kick-start the biggest reforms to our railway in a generation, flexible season tickets are the first step. They give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel, simpler ticketing, and a fairer fare."
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