A new national railcard allowing two passengers to save a third on their ticket costs goes on sale today.
It is the first new national railcard to be launched for 30 years.
The ‘Two Together Railcard’ can be used on journeys after 09:30 on weekdays and all day at weekends by two named and photographed people, and it will cost £30 per year.
Railcards were previously only available to those under 26, over 60, disabled, serving in the armed forces or travelling with children.
Local rail passengers will be able to use the new railcard across the Merseyrail network. A Merseyrail representative told JMU Journalism that the railcard applies on all Merseyrail Electrics and includes the Northern Rail services. She explained: “It will only be with standard day tickets, not the already discounted tickets such as the day saver.”
Michael Roberts, director general of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The first new national Railcard to be launched in over three decades is designed to fill a gap in the existing range of Railcards and allow us to capture an even greater share of the domestic leisure travel market.
“Passengers across the country will also benefit from billions of pounds being spent on improving services with work continuing on major stations as well as thousands of smaller, less visible schemes.”
He added: “The Two Together Railcard is designed to give couples travelling together another reason to take the train and to continue the trend of attracting more and more passengers to rail.”