Northern customers to benefit from more off-peak fare reductions

From the end of May the cheaper rate fares will be available on some routes up to 15 minutes before departure, meaning great savings are available even for last minute travel.

And because the new advance purchase tickets are subject to the same terms and conditions as other advance purchase tickets, customers can also use railcards and child discounts to make them even cheaper.

The tickets are only available online or via the Northern mobile app meaning there are now even more reasons to buy before you board!

The extension to the advance purchase scheme comes as Northern continues to review its fares across the entire network.

Liam Sumpter, Regional Director at Northern, said: "Our customers are vitally important and we want to be able to offer the best value travel options we can.

"By offering advance purchase fares on the day of travel, we are giving customers on some of our busiest routes a further opportunity to save money by using our app or buying tickets online.

“The new advance fares are significantly cheaper than walk-up equivalents and also give greater flexibility as customers can save time and skip queues by having an electronic version of the tickets sent direct to their mobile phone.”

Alongside the introduction of the new advance purchase fares, Northern has also reviewed fares across its entire network. This review is part of an ongoing process to ensure fares are more consistent and customers across network pay similar prices for similar journeys.

Liam added: "In some areas we have made small increases (no more than 50p) to bring our fares in line with others in our respective regions.

"We have also increased the number of routes on which standard class advance purchase tickets are available and, on some routes, have extended the times at which off-peak tickets can be used.

“Money raised as a result of any increased fares will go towards delivering better journeys and improving customer service through our ongoing modernisation programme.

“By 2020 everyone travelling on the Northern network will benefit from brand new or completely refurbished trains thanks to our multi-million-pound fleet investment. All the Pacer trains will be gone by the end of 2019. We will also further modernise our stations and facilities, all forming part of a significant modernisation designed to deliver a rail service fit for the 21st Century.”