Money saving tips from Virgin Trains... New cheaper train fares from Manchester

24 March 2009

Virgin Trains is slashing the cost of rail travel from Manchester to Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Crewe, Stockport and Stoke on Trent by almost a quarter. The price reduction is part of a package to offer cheaper 'walk-up' rail travel on key shorter-distance journeys.

From 30 March, the cost of a fully flexible Anytime peak time return from Manchester to Stoke will fall from £13.00 to £9.80.The new lower priced tickets will be valid for travel only on Virgin Trains services only, but will offer a substantial saving over the current tickets which can be used on all operators services on the route. From Manchester to Macclesfield the peak time return will fall from £12.10 to £9.10, and from Manchester to Wilmslow the ticket price will drop from £6.60 to £5.00. The Off-Peak return fare from Manchester to Crewe will fall from £11.40 to £8.60.

Other Virgin Trains only fares from Manchester to Stoke include Off-Peak day return down from £11.10 to £8.40. There are similar savings on First Class fares with a First Class Anytime Day return ticket reduced from £32.90 to £24.70.

Seven day Virgin Trains Only season tickets are also available, offering similar savings.

Virgin Trains’ Commercial Director Graham Leech said: "We know that in the current economic climate everyone is looking to make savings. This is our contribution for travellers between Manchester and Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Crewe, Stockport or Stoke.

"The introduction of our new high frequency timetable at the end of last year has significantly increased the number of seats we offer across our network by 13 million a year. That means we can offer these cheaper fares to encourage travel with Virgin Trains."

Virgin Trains operates three trains an hour between Manchester and Stockport seven days a week. Two of these trains also call at Stoke-on Trent. One every hour stops at Macclesfield and at Wilmslow and Crewe.

The new Virgin Trains only tickets can be bought in advance, or on day of travel. They are valid for travel on Virgin Trains services only and will not be accepted on services between Manchester and Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Crewe, Stockport or Stoke on Trent that are operated by other train companies.

The small print: We are required to tell you that other train operators also provide services between Manchester and Macclesfield, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport or Stoke on Trent, but why would you want to travel with them when you can save up to £3.20 off an Anytime return. That’s a saving of 24.5 percent. Just think what you could spend that money on!

Note to editors.

The full range of Virgin Trains only walk-up fares from Manchester and Stoke on Trent is:

Standard Off-Peak Day Return £4.00
Standard Anytime Day Single £8.30
Standard Anytime Day Return £9.80

First Anytime Day Single £16.50
First Anytime Day Return £24.70

Seven Day Standard Season £43.60
Seven Day First Season £74.50

The full range of Virgin Trains only walk-up fares from Manchester to Macclesfield is:

Standard Off-Peak Day Return £5.60
Standard Anytime Day Single £5.50
Standard Anytime Day Return £9.10

First Anytime Day Single £9.10
First Anytime Day Return £17.30

Seven Day Standard Season £37.50
Seven Day First Season £56.20

The full range of Virgin Trains only walk-up fares from Manchester to Wilmslow is:

Standard Off-Peak Day Return £3.90
Standard Anytime Day Single £3.40
Standard Anytime Day Return £5.00

First Anytime Day Single £5.10
First Anytime Return £9.00

Seven Day Standard Season £21.70
Seven Day First Season £32.50

The full range of Virgin Trains only walk-up fares from Manchester to Crewe is:

Standard Off-Peak Day Return £8.60
Standard Off-Peak Day Single £8.30
Standard Anytime Day Return £9.10
Standard Anytime Return £10.40

First Anytime Day Single £11.40
First Anytime Return £21.60

Seven Day Standard Season £37.20
Seven Day First Season £52.50

The full range of Virgin Trains only walk-up fares from Manchester to Stockport

Standard Off-Peak Day Return £2.00
Standard Anytime Day Single £1.80
Standard Anytime Day Return £3.60

First Anytime Return £5.40
Seven Day Standard Season £13.40
Seven Day First Season £17.00