“Rail campaigners have warned new fares will make Christmas costly for passengers travelling into Manchester city centre for nights out. Northern Trains passengers travelling into Manchester on weekday evenings for theatre visits, nights out, sports events or late night shopping are facing having to pay a massive increase in train fares.
In September, Northern Trains, under instruction from the Department for Transport, were forced to apply peak fares for trains in Greater Manchester departing between 4pm and 6.30pm which were previously priced at ‘off peak’ prices. The affected journeys are those wholly within the Travel South Yorkshire, Transport for Greater Manchester and Metro West Yorkshire areas and some longer routes starting from these areas. The move means, for example, that a return ticket from Wigan, leaving Wigan between 4pm and 6.30pm, will now cost £9.10 instead of just £4.20.
It is understood the change is intended to help slash the taxpayer subsidy, and bring in a system similar to that in London. But in the capital, say campaigners, the fares do not apply for passengers travelling INTO the city – only commuters travelling out. This has caught leisure travellers visiting Manchester city centre for nights out who now have to pay an extra 20 per cent to 50 per cent for their train journey.”
Manchester Evening News 9th November 2015 Read more here.