Up to 23 per cent slashed from super-low standard advance fares
Train operator East Coast is launching a new range of super-low miniature price tickets – cutting its previous cheapest fares by up to 23 per cent.
The price cuts on standard advance one-way travel for popular journeys go on sale from today (Friday 26 February 2010) – with the lowest prices available at East Coast’s website, www.eastcoast.co.uk.
Examples of the new standard one-way fares from London, booked via the East Coast website, include:
• London to Leeds or York – current lowest price £13, new lowest price £10 – saving 23 per cent;
• York to Edinburgh – current lowest price £13, new lowest price £10 – saving 23 per cent;
• London to Newcastle – current lowest price £15, new lowest price £12 – saving 20 per cent;
• London to Edinburgh or Glasgow – current lowest price £16.50, new lowest price £13 – saving 21 per cent;
• Newcastle to Edinburgh – current lowest price £8.50, new lowest price £7.50 – saving 12 per cent.
The new super low fares are also much cheaper than a generation ago in 1979, when Pink Floyd topped the singles chart with Another Brick In The Wall and the first Sony Walkman made its debut.
Here’s how the new super-low East Coast advance fares for journeys to and from London compare with the cheapest available single tickets for the same trip in 1979, more than 30 years ago:
• London to Leeds or York – 1979 cheapest price £12, new lowest price £10 = 17 per cent cheaper;
• London to Newcastle – 1979 cheapest price £17.70, new lowest price £12 = 32 per cent cheaper;
• London to Edinburgh – 1979 cheapest price £21.20, new lowest price £13 = 39 per cent cheaper.
East Coast managing director Karen Boswell said: “We’re proud of our miniature prices, which offer great value for money and encourage people who’ve not travelled with us before to give the train a try.
“These new fares offer even more amazing value, including all the benefits of travel by East Coast trains. Our customers enjoy a city centre to city centre journey, free wireless internet access and our café-bar serving tasty food and drink along the way.
“We’re expecting high demand for these new super low fares, so our advice is to book early to secure the best bargains”.
The new fares feature in East Coast’s eye-catching new series of ‘Miniature Prices’ advertisements, which will appear on television from today, Friday 26 February. Popular TV star Bernard Cribbins, who starred in the last series of ‘Doctor Who’, and as the stationmaster in the definitive film of E. Nesbit’s classic ‘The Railway Children’, provides the voice behind East Coast’s first TV advertising.
The advertisements feature miniature character models travelling to favourite East Coast destinations, highlighting bargain low fares to exciting visitor destinations. ENDS.
Notes to Editors:
Prices quoted above are the new lowest standard advance single fares for travel on East Coast services only. They include a ten per cent discount available only when booking through the train operator’s website, www.eastcoast.co.uk.
East Coast Advance purchase tickets must be bought up to 1800 on the day before travel. Customers are advised to book as far in advance as possible to secure the best deals – tickets usually go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel.
Full details of the terms and conditions applying to East Coast’s range of Advance fares can be found online at: www.eastcoast.co.uk/Travel-Information/General-ticket-information/Ticket-Sales-Terms-and-Conditions