RAIL FARES are set to drop as the government announces a large-scale discount, though many cities have been ignored.
More than one million journeys in the United Kingdom will be included, but many trips from Brighton railway station will see no reduction in cost.
Transport minister Grant Shapps said that there is “no better time to explore our great country”, as he attempts to boost domestic tourism with the Great British Rail Sale.
Despite this, of the UK’s five largest cities outside London, only Bristol is included in the scheme when travelling from Brighton.
The temporary scheme will run from Monday, April 25 until Friday, May 27 during off-peak times, which is usually from 9.30am on weekdays, and all weekend, though this can vary between rail providers.
The Argus compared ticket prices on services scheduled before the scheme, Friday, April 22 and during, Friday, April 29, between Brighton and Bristol, and found many reductions on early morning services, with prices dropping from £140.60 to £25.60. The cheapest fare was £23.
Comparing the same dates between Brighton and London Victoria, across the entire day there was just one reduction in fare from £30.10 to £2.70 on the 8:14am service. All other fares remained the same.
Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern will offer reductions under the scheme, while the Gatwick Express will not.
There were no discounts offered across any dates from Brighton to: Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow.
The Conservatives have faced criticism for the project, with Labour dismissing it as a “gimmick”, that will do little to help commuters with increasing rail fares.
Louise Haigh, Shadow Transport Secretary and MP for Sheffield Heeley, said via Twitter: “A decade of Tory hikes have hit working people hard.
“This will be small comfort to those paying thousands more on fares each year because of choices made by the Conservatives. The Tories can’t solve the cost-of-living crisis because they created it.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said of the Great British Rail Sale: “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 per cent 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.”
It comes as rail fares increased last month by 3.8 per cent, the sharpest rise since 2013.
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