Return NR ticketing to be scrapped and national smartcards?

[melikepie]

It has been reported that return tickets will be scrapped and instead current single tickets will be made cheaper to equal those of the previous return tickets. There may also be a national smartcard system introduced, similar to Oyster cards but on the whole NR system.

www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/05/return-train-tickets-expected-to-be-scrapped-in-uk-rail-shake-up

uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/transport-secretary-scrap-return-rail-094026667.html

[revupminster]

As a privilege card holder I am often given two singles instead of a day return as GWR has different fares in the rush hour. I often pay a dearer fare going up to London in the morning and a cheaper fare for the return in the evening.

If they do close the ticket offices I wonder how I will get a privilege fare in future or reserve a seat especially on line.