Northern Rail axes off-peak tickets on several routes

Customers who use off-peak tickets will have to travel before or after the evening peak time

Off-peak train fares on some services across West and South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester have been axed.

Northern Rail announced off-peak tickets would no longer be valid on weekdays between 16.01 and 18.29, on a number of routes from 8 September.

The changes will also apply to some services which travel to North Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), said it was a "kick in the teeth".

The train company said changes were being made because the Department for Transport (DfT) asked them to "generate additional revenue" as part of its franchise agreement.

Additional affected routes

• Alderley Edge - Manchester Stations / Salford Crescent / Salford Central via Stockport or Styal

• Burscough Bridge - Manchester Stations

• Buxton - Manchester Stations / Salford Crescent / Salford Central

• New Mils Central - Manchester Stations / Salford Crescent / Salford Central

• Warrington Central / Bank Quay - Manchester via Birchwood or Earlestown

• Skipton - Bradford / Leeds

• Knaresborough - Leeds

Richard Allan, from Northern Rail, said: "The majority of customers who travel at peak times, such as those with season tickets, will be unaffected by these changes but we want to make sure that those who are, know about what is happening."

Customers who currently use off-peak tickets will either have to travel earlier or later, or buy an anytime ticket.

Mick Cash, from the RMT, said the union would fight the move.

He said: "The axing of off-peak fares is a savage kick in the teeth for people already struggling with the burden of low pay and austerity."

The bulk of the affected journeys are those wholly within the Travel South Yorkshire, Transport for Greater Manchester and Metro West Yorkshire areas.

The change will also apply to services between Hexham and Newcastle between 16.01 and 17.59.