A SHAKE-UP of rail fares is an “open admission” that private operators have been ripping off the public, rail union RMT said yesterday.

Train companies say they are going to rethink expensive fares for long, connecting journeys on a trial basis, to remove the need to split up tickets in order to save money.

Operators say ticket machines will be made easier to use and it will be clearer whether it is cheaper to buy a return or two singles.

Rail Delivery Group customer experience chief Jacqueline Starr said: “Working with government, we’re determined to overhaul the system to cut out red tape, jargon and complication to make it easier for customers to buy fares they can trust, including from ticket machines.”

The new systems will be trialled from May on services including CrossCountry, Virgin Trains on the east and west coast mainlines and East Midlands Trains.

But RMT general secretary Mick Cash branded the reforms “pure window dressing” from the rail firms.

“This is an open admission by Britain’s private train companies and the government that they have been ripping off the travelling public for over two decades,” he said.

“If we want a fair deal on fares then that means keeping ticket offices open, keeping staff on the stations and platforms and nationalising our railways into one publicly owned body with one pricing structure.”

The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the blue-print, but urged operators to protect station staffing levels and introduce “long overdue” part-time season tickets.