TRAIN tickets to London from Grimsby costing from just £10 have been launched – and greatly welcomed by travellers.
First Hull Trains and First TransPennine Express have joined forces to bring people living on the south bank of the River Humber better value deals to and from the capital.
And it is being hailed as more proof of a desire for a direct service; currently, travellers have to change at Lincoln, Newark or Doncaster.
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has been a prominent campaigner for a direct service.
He said: "If this were to happen – which is something we are still pressing for – it would be good if the tickets were this cheap.
"In the meantime, this new partnership for cheaper tickets will be great for people in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area.
"People will have more opportunities to explore what the capital has to offer.
"They could go for a few days away and enjoy themselves. Whether or not it will benefit the economy with more people spending elsewhere is something we would have to look at in the future, but overall, I think it will be great for everyone in the town to have something like this in place."
The scheme between the two operators means standard tickets are available from as little as £10 each way, travelling from Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Habrough, Barnetby and Scunthorpe stations. First class tickets will start at £36.
David Pritchard, from First Hull Trains, said: "We've been looking at ways we can reach out to passengers travelling to London on services which feed into the stations we serve for some time and these joint fares seem to be a great way of doing it.
"Many people use our services anyway but by working with our colleagues at First TransPennine Express, we have been able to take some of the hassle out of travelling and buying tickets.
"We are always looking to make all our journeys as trouble-free and as relaxing as possible and think this will represent a great offer for many people."
The partnership has been welcomed by independent rail user groups which exist to promote the improvement of rail services for people across the region.
David Walford is the development manager for the Humber Region Rail Development Company Ltd, which oversees the work of rail partnerships in the area.
He said: "First Hull Trains produced a similar excellent product for north bank stations, and here we see another example of a move towards greater integration of transport providers, this time extending to people across North and North East Lincolnshire.
"It's great to see First Hull Trains using its position to the benefit of more people than those at the stations which it immediately serves.
"Anything that makes through travel simple and better value for the passenger is to be warmly greeted and will positively impact on the economy of northern Lincolnshire."
You can book through www.hulltrains.co.uk or www.tpexpress.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter