New national flexible rail tickets, matching modern working habits and saving passengers hundreds of pounds, will be available to commuters across England from this week.

The paperless tickets will allow travel on any eight days in a 28-day period, with passengers able to tap smartcards or scan mobiles at the station with no need to select the days of travel in advance. The change has the potential to save commuters hundreds of pounds, providing greater choice and flexibility.

Commuters can visit an updated online ‘season ticket calculator’, which will point people to the best tickets for them based on their journey, working pattern and individual needs, ensuring they get the deal that suits them.

Kirstie Allsop, TV presenter and consumer champion, said:

“As everyone tries to negotiate the balance between the office and working from home, and work out how and where they want to live, this initiative is really helpful.”

Robert Nisbet, Director of Nations and Regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said:

“We’ve worked with government to introduce the new Flexi Season ticket… to give commuters the freedom and flexibility to divide their time between home and the office.”

This new national offer also reflects the long-term decline in the use of traditional season tickets, with a change in working practices having been accelerated by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said:

"CBI members have told us that hybrid working is likely to be the long-term norm for many firms, with employees splitting their week between home and onsite working. It is, therefore, essential that public transport networks reflect these new habits. The introduction of flexible season tickets will help to ensure rail travel remains an affordable and realistic option for commuters while future-proofing a network which has a key role to play in the UK’s decarbonisation ambitions.”

Mike Cherry, Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:

“FSB has called for more flexibility in season tickets and we welcome this launch today. As small business owners and their staff consider the final stage of the unlock process and start to plan how they operate, we’d encourage them to use this new site to consider their options.”

The announcement has been widely welcomed by business leaders and major employers. Hugh Milward, General Manager, Corporate, External and Legal Affairs at Microsoft, said:

“The world of work was changing before the pandemic – now those changes have been accelerated. Flexible rail fares are a critical part of ensuring the UK builds forward better. Together, flexible fares, good leadership and digital tools will unlock the potential of UK workers and improve quality of life. At Microsoft, we’ll continue to enable businesses across the country to improve productivity, innovate and support the way their people want to work.”

Ann Francke, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said:

“The CMI welcomes [the] announcement by the Department of Transport – it’s exactly the sort of forward-looking policy, which will empower employees and employers to grasp the opportunities technology and hybrid working offer.”