In response to Passenger Focus research on priorities for rail passengers, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said:

“Train companies are private sector operators providing services to millions of people every day, and understand perfectly well what their customers want and need.

“Train companies are under an obligation to sell passengers the most appropriate ticket for their journey and four out of five people travel on discounted fares, suggesting that most people have no problem getting the right ticket for them. The average price paid for a single journey is under five pounds.

“Levels of customer satisfaction are at a record high, reflecting the ever improving services that train companies provide to passengers. But operators will continue to work hard with the rest of the industry, including Passenger Focus, to improve services even further.”