Northern is to introduce ‘Advance Purchase’ fares on five key routes in Cumbria for the first time, slashing the cost of travel in the region by an average of 60%.
Tickets at the significantly reduced price, which is designed to encourage people to make the switch from road to rail, will be available from Sunday 25 June on services from Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven.
Customers will be able to travel between Carlisle and Workington from just £4.40 return (£2.20 each way) instead of the previous standard day return of £12.50.
From Carlisle, they can also travel to Whitehaven from just £5.40 return (£2.70 each way) instead of £14.20 return; and to Barrow-in-Furness from just £9 return (£4.50 each way) instead of £23.50 return.
People boarding at Workington will be able to travel to and from Barrow-in-Furness from just £6.60 return (£3.30 single) instead of £16.70.
And for those travelling from Whitehaven, services to Barrow-in-Furness will now be available from just £6.40 return (£3.20 each way) replacing the previous return fare of £15.80.
Commenting on the new Advance Purchase fares, Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern, said: “We’re delighted to be able to introduce new low-cost tickets on these five routes in Cumbria.
“They represent a significant saving on the previous price of a ticket for these routes and I hope people will make the most of them to explore the region. For anyone currently making these journeys by road, I also hope the new lower cost might help convince them to switch to rail.
“Advance Purchase fares are available up to twelve weeks before travel and are subject to availability. The further in advance of travel you buy the ticket, the cheaper your ticket will cost.”
| Origin | Destination | Previous ‘Standard Day Return’ Price | New ‘Advance Purchase’ Price | % Saving |
| Carlisle | Workington | £12.50 | £2.20 single / £4.40 return | 64.80% |
| Carlisle | Whitehaven | £14.20 | £2.70 single / £5.40 return | 61.98% |
| Carlisle | Barrow-in-Furness | £23.50 | £4.50 single / £9 return | 61.70% |
| Workington | Barrow-in-Furness | £16.70 | £3.30 single / £6.60 return | 60.48% |
| Whitehaven | Barrow-in-Furness | £15.80 | £3.20 single / £6.40 return | 59.49% |
Advance Purchase tickets are usually released 12 weeks before the departure date – although some can go on sale as far as 24 weeks in advance. There are a limited number of Advance Purchase tickets on any one train. By purchasing an Advance Purchase ticket customers are able to choose the best time to travel at the lowest available fare.
For more information about Advance Purchase tickets, visit: https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/advance
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
