Train travellers pre-booking tickets will now receive an ‘advance ticket' as part of a new scheme to simplify the ticketing system.

The new ticket replaces a range of previous tariffs including Leisure Advance, Value Advance, Business Advance and Apex.

In September this year, the second phase of the new system will come into force, allowing passengers to purchase two further categories: Anytime and Off-peak.

The idea is that by having only three categories of ticket it will make it easier for passengers to understand their options.

The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the simplification but added that the system could still be made less complicated.

"In some cases you've still got confusing restrictions which mean that it's actually quite difficult to get cheap tickets on the railway, particularly at times when people want to travel on InterCity lines," said director Stephen Joseph.