The pricing of single journeys will be brought in for some trips so passengers find it easier to work out if they would be better off with two single tickets or a return ticket.

Some fares for long, connecting journeys will be axed in favour of cheaper existing tickets, in an effort to eliminate the need for split ticketing.

There are also plans to make it easier to use ticket vending machines.

Rail Delivery Group director of customer experience Jacqueline Starr said: “We know customers can find it hard to get the right ticket for their journey due to complex rules and regulations built up by governments over decades.

“There are more than 16 million different train fares, many of which nobody has ever bought.

“This also makes it more difficult to give passengers the right, simple options on ticket machines.

“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.”

Lianna Etkind, public transport campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed plans to simplify the “horribly complicated” fares system.