New restrictions on off peak train travel

The Halifax and District Rail Action Group has called for a rethink on off-peak train fare restrictions that start on September 8.

Northern Rail is to ban the use of off-peak return tickets and tickets such as day rovers in West Yorkshire (and other Northern metropolitan counties) during the teatime peak period between 4pm and 6.30pm on Mondays to Fridays.

Northern Rail said the changes are being made after the Department for Trans- port asked Northern to look at several options to help reduce subsidy as part of its new franchise agreement.

However, Stephen Waring, chair of HADRAG said: “Reducing the number of non-commuter travellers on evening peak trains could make conditions more comfortable for commuter passengers paying the full peak fare, and this could be a good thing.

“But the blanket ban on off-peak tickets and day rovers over a two and a half hour period at teatime is a crude instrument which could be counter-productive,” he said.

“Overcrowding at teatime is a serious problem on trains.

“But, we say, if the new restrictions end up penalising people who want to travel mainly on less busy trains, that could put people off train travel and work against the objective of modal transfer - which is getting people to use trains instead of less sustainable means of transport such as the private car,” added Mr Waring.