Farron calls for 'fare play' for families

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has written to Vernon Barker, the Managing Director of First Trans-Pennine Express trains to call for a reprieve for parents who have to pay for multiple tickets for rail travel for their children travelling to school. Mr Farron is asking First Trans-Pennine if they would consider a concession for a second and third child in a family so that families don't have to pay exorbitant rail fares.

In the current financial climate families are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet and some will struggle to meet the high charges for rail travel.

Tim Farron said:

"Rail travel for two schoolchildren can add up to a significant amount of money which some families may be unable to meet. I appreciate that rail companies are running a commercial operation, but some families are really struggling and many will choose to drive to school instead if more help isn't given.

"We should be encouraging people to get out of their cars more and onto the trains, some sort of concession in cases like this is surely in order."