Fare's fair for schoolchildren (From Northwich Guardian)

Fare's fair for schoolchildren

in News By James Wilson

HEAVILY discounted train tickets designed for school pupils in the Northwich area are set to be introduced again this year after they were found to be a success in cutting the number of fare dodgers on the line.

Following the success of the scheme last year, Northern Rail have reintroduced the Mid Cheshire line scholar train season tickets.

They provide savings of up to 70 per cent for over 16s and 50 per cent for under 16s and according to rail bosses they have proved to be very popular and have stopped pupils from fare dodging and landing themselves in front of the court.

The tickets have proved to be popular for students travelling between Lostock Gralam and Northwich to the schools and Mid-Cheshire College at Greenbank.

Last year more than 160 were sold each term for the section between Navigation Road, Altrincham and Hale to Knutsford alone.

John Oates, chairman of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, said “We’re delighted these great value tickets are reintroduced. We know many parents find this large saving very helpful, as well as giving them the knowledge that their children will be travelling with a valid ticket.

“It’s been very good and the prosecutions have stopped now and everyone is much happier. With a new term beginning this week, this is about reminding parents as the information is not always passed back to them when the children are told at school.

“It also really helps the footfall figures on the line and it means the bodies, such as the department of transport, give the line serious consideration when we ask them to improve the service on the line.”

Tickets can be bought from the Northwich ticket office – as well as the other stations along the line. More details and application forms are on scholartickets.org.uk.

What do you think about the scholar season tickets? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk.