Half-price train tickets available today as a million fares slashed in first rail sale

Train tickets are set to be slashed by as much as half as the UK Government tries to ease cost-of-living pressures with cheaper rail travel in April and May.

More than one million train tickets are being reduced this spring in what has been dubbed the ‘Great British Rail Sale’. The Department for Transport (DfT) is hoping the move will help households facing rising bills and soaring inflation to afford trips across the UK and boost domestic tourism.

The sale, said to be the first of its kind, is expected to bring some Manchester to Newcastle journeys down to a little over £10, while seats on some London to Edinburgh services will be slashed from £44 to £22.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, referring to the end of coronavirus restrictions in a video to advertise the sale, said: "We've had two years of living life virtually, it’s time to get real and visit our beautiful country."

Tickets will be available on selected advance fares from 10am, with passengers able to purchase them from the National Rail website here.

Savings on offer for off-peak tickets include:

• York to Leeds: was £5.60, now £2.80
• London to Edinburgh: was £44, now £22
• London to Cardiff: was £47, now £25
• Wolverhampton to Liverpool: was £10.50, now £5.25
• Manchester to Newcastle: was £20.60, now £10.30
• Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads: was £25.30, now £12.60
• Portsmouth Harbour to Penzance was £45.70, now £22.00

Discounted tickets are on sale from Tuesday April 19 and tickets must be for travel between April 25 until May 27, 2022. They must also be bought a minimum of one day before the date of travel and are available to buy online only.

Officials said offering half-price rail tickets was "one of the ways" the UK Government was helping to support families with the cost of living, having previously announced measures to defer energy costs and offer council tax discounts for some households.

In a statement Mr Shapps said: "For the first time ever, operators across the rail industry are coming together to help passengers facing rising costs of living by offering up to 50% off more than a million tickets on journeys across Britain.

"There's no better time to visit friends, family or just explore our great country, so book your tickets today."

Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: "We want everyone to be able to benefit from travelling by train because it's more than just a journey, it's a way to connect everyone to the people, places and things they love.

"As part of the Great British Rail Sale customers will enjoy over one million discounted tickets, so they can explore some of the fantastic locations that are accessible by rail."

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