The number of tickets you could buy in Cambridgeshire for the price of the proposed £49 rail pass

We have found out the number of 'pay as you go' return tickets you could get for the 'rail pass' price of £49 from Cambridge Station to the county's other popular stations
-Credit: (Image: Reach Plc)


While the Labour government has promised to bring railway franchises back into public ownership, some people are proposing further measures to make train travel less costly. One of these ideas is a subscription-style model, in which customers would pay around £49 a month for unlimited travel.

It is included in a new report by non-profit transport thinktank Greengauge, as part of a study commissioned by Greenpeace. The recommendation is a flat fee, with some exceptions such as the faster intercity services and travel in London.

The report also suggests the service could be used for travel in specific regions - for instance, people might buy a 'Yorkshire zone' subscription. Greengauge said all aspects of its 'Fare Britannia' proposals would be up for discussion, but added: "It is assumed to be priced at £49/month, payable on a subscription basis.

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"As in Germany, it is assumed not to be usable on ‘InterCity’ services. Initially, we have also assumed that for travel to and from the capital, in order that Transport for London’s revenue base is protected, an addon Zone 6/all-zone supplement would be payable on a Pay-As-You-Go (tap in/tap out) basis)."

CambridgeshireLive has compared this cost with the current price of a season ticket. However, with these tickets setting people back more than £1,000 - and up to £5,108 - it is clear that many are unable to afford this.

Below, therefore, we have set out the number of 'pay as you go' return tickets you could get for the 'rail pass' price of £49 from Cambridge Station, one of the county's busiest, to Cambridgeshire's other most popular stations. The prices are based on tickets for weekday travel bought from the Trainline website, without the addition of a railcard.

Cambridge to Peterborough

An off-peak day return between Cambridge and Peterborough on a weekday will cost you £23.80 with a 99p booking fee, making the total price £24.79.

An anytime day return between Cambridge and Peterborough will cost £25.70 with a booking fee of £1.09, taking the total price to £26.79.

So, taking booking fees into account, £49 will get you just one return ticket between these stations. Two off-peak day returns will cost £49.58, while two anytime returns will come to £53.58.

Cambridge to Ely

An off-peak day return between Cambridge and Ely will cost you £5.70 with a 59p booking fee, taking the full price to £6.29.

An anytime day return between the stations will cost a minimum of £6.70 with a 59p booking fee, taking the full price to £7.29.

So, taking booking fees into account, £49 will buy you seven off-peak return tickets and six anytime day returns.

Cambridge to Huntingdon

Off-peak day returns do not appear to be available between Cambridge and Huntingdon. An anytime return will cost you £29.40 with a £1.19 booking fee, taking the full price to £30.59.

So, £49 will buy you just one anytime return ticket between these stations, with two tickets including booking fees coming to £61.18.

Cambridge to Cambridge North

An off-peak day return between Cambridge and Cambridge North will cost you £3.30 with a 59p booking fee, taking the total price to £3.89.

An anytime day return between Cambridge and Cambridge North will cost £3.80 with a 59p booking fee, making the total price £4.39.

So, you could get 12 off-peak return tickets, including booking fees, between these stations for £49, and 11 day returns.

Cambridge to St Neots

The price of an off-peak day return between these stations is £27.50, with a £1.19 booking fee taking the total to £28.69.

An anytime day return between Cambridge and St Neots will cost you £29.40, which increases to £30.59 once the £1.19 booking fee is added.

So, you could get just one of each ticket types for the cost of £49. Two off-peak returns come to £55, while two anytime tickets come to £61.18.

Cambridge to Whittlesford Parkway

An off-peak day return between these stations is £7.60, increasing to £8.19 when the 59p booking fee is added.

An anytime day return is priced at £7.80, which becomes £8.39 with the booking fee included.

So, you could get five off-peak day returns for £49, and the same number of anytime return tickets.

Cambridge to Waterbeach

The price of an off-peak day return between Cambridge and Waterbeach is £3.50 with a 59p booking fee, taking the total cost to £4.09.

An anytime day return will cost you £4.20 with a 59p booking fee, making the total £4.79.

So, £49 could buy you 11 off-peak day returns between these stations, and ten anytime returns.

Cambridge to March

The price of an off-peak day return between Cambridge and March is £17.50 with a 79p booking fee, taking the total to £18.29.

An anytime day return will cost you £20.40, rising to £21.29 when the 89p booking fee is added.

So, for £49, you could buy two off-peak day returns and the same number of anytime return tickets.

Cambridge to Meldreth

An off-peak day return between Cambridge and Meldreth will cost you £5.70, which becomes £6.29 when the 59p booking fee is included.

An anytime day return is priced at £6.20, which rises to £6.79 once the 59p booking fee is added.

So, you could buy seven off-peak day return tickets between these stations for £49, and the same number of anytime day returns.

Cambridge to Littleport

An off-peak day return between these stations will cost you £9.40 with a 59p booking fee, taking the full price to £9.99.

The price of an anytime day return between Cambridge and Littleport is £11.20, which becomes £11.79 when the 59p booking fee is added.

So, £49 could get you four off-peak tickets and the same number of anytime day returns.