Northern Rails cuts some off-peak fares

by Lisa Reeves

Friday 5^th September 2014

Fri 5^th Sep 2014

From Monday, 8th September, off-peak tickets can no longer be used at peak times during weekday evenings on local rail services in Greater Manchester.

Evening peak restrictions will apply from 16.01 to 18.29 on the Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Handforth route to Manchester or Salford stations, via Stockport or Styal.

If you currently use off-peak tickets during the evening peak you will either have to travel earlier or later, or buy an anytime ticket.

A spokesperson for Northern Rail said "The changes are being made after the Department for Transport asked Northern to look at several options to help reduce subsidy as part of its new franchise agreement.

"The change to off-peak tickets is the only option that has been taken forward and will be used to reduce the cost of the railway to taxpayers by reducing subsidy to Northern."

Tags:: Northern Rail

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Charlie Cook

Friday 5^th September 2014 at 4:47 pm

Does anyone know if this means we can no longer use duo tickets to go into Manchester between those hours?

David Higton

Friday 5^th September 2014 at 6:34 pm

They haven't mentioned that the evening off peak fare is going altogether. Shame we aren't encouraged to use public transport.

Jonathan Follows

Monday 8^th September 2014 at 7:54 am

Note that, from Wilmslow, the "Virgin trains only" fares are not affected by these restrictions. In other words, although you're limited to an hourly service only, you can return on the 16:55 and 17:55 services from Manchester. £4.70 cheap day return valid from 09:30 but no return restrictions.

To Charlie, no, the tickets can't be used between those hours, the restriction on the Duo tickets now reads:

OUTWARD TRAVEL

Valid on trains timed to
depart between 0930 - 1600 inc
and from 1830 onwards.

RETURN TRAVEL

Any train the same day except
those timed to depart between
1601 - 1829 inc

Valid any Saturdays, Sundays
and Bank Holidays.

NOT valid Saturdays or Sundays
during December.

Paul Sidorczuk

Tuesday 9^th September 2014 at 4:31 pm

Northern Rail state "this is the only option being taken forward" but it was Northern Rail and not the Department of Transport who made that decision. I note that the station car parking charges proposal was not mentioned as another option that was also put forward which would have, if being the chosen option, made these current off-peak travel embargo at peak evening time charges not to have been made.

Juanita Bullough

Tuesday 9^th September 2014 at 6:48 pm

As far as I am aware, there was no consultation with passengers - those of us who pay tax and railway fares. I regularly get leaflets with my post encouraging me to go into Manchester and advertising Duo tickets, but this move is actively discouraging people to go there. If you are going to an evening event and are in full-time work, it is pretty hard to get there in time if you want to use a Duo or travel in the 'new' off-peak time slot. I would encourage everyone who uses the train service into Manchester to write to the Chief Executive of Northern Rail and local MPs in protest over this move, as we have had no choice in the matter!