Anyone using UK trains told to snap up over half-price tickets – 196-mile journeys for £10 | Politics | News
Millions of discounted train tickets will go on sale next week and many tickets will be cut by more than half. The Great British Railways Sale runs from 6-12 January and will cut the cost of commuting as well as half-term and weekend breaks. More than a million tickets were sold last year, saving passengers around £8 per journey.
The fare from Newcastle to Middlesbrough will drop by 62% from £5.20 to £2. The price of a journey from Exeter to London Waterloo will drop by more than three quarters from £41.70 to just £10. Discounted fares can be used to travel on thousands of routes between January 13 and March 25.
People hoping to visit London museums in Portsmouth can look forward to a saving of 59% as fares drop from £24.60 to £10. The cost of traveling from Nottingham will be halved to £23.
Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitBritain, said: “The new year provides the perfect opportunity to hop on the bandwagon and explore Britain’s great tourism treasures in a sustainable way, boosting the economy by supporting our fantastic visitor experiences and attractions.
“Whether it’s a cultural break in one of our vibrant regional cities, an exciting stay at a world-famous attraction or a friendly welcome from our picturesque coastal and rural destinations, Britain has something for everyone to enjoy and create memories for visitors to last a lifetime.”
Those traveling from St Pancras to Canterbury will benefit from a 50% discount from £16.20 to £8.10. The cost of traveling from Sheffield to London will also halve from £51 to £25.50.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Rail continues to play a vital role in the lives of millions of people, supporting local economies and providing a more sustainable way to travel… By making rail travel more accessible, we hope more people will enjoy the convenience and comfort of traveling by rail.”
Passengers traveling from Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells can look forward to the £8.10 fare dropping to £4. People planning a getaway and traveling from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport can benefit from a 59% discount from £2.90 to £1.20.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The rail sale is back – and that means more discounts for passengers as we help ease the cost of living by freezing rail fares for the first time in three decades. We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so whether you’re planning a half-term break or visiting friends or family, this sale offers huge discounts.
“This is part of our plans to build a public railway that works for the public.”
