Train operator Northern has issued a timely reminder that the special offer of half-price school run train tickets expires next Friday, 27 September.

The special offer allows students attending educational establishments in the north of England to purchase season tickets for the current academic year at a 50% discount off the normal price.

Northern introduced the tickets in August to encourage children under 16 and their parents or guardians to use the train instead of the car to travel to school.

Half-price tickets remain valid for all the 2024-2025 academic year and are available on all routes operated by Northern.

Typical savings include:

• Preston to Lancaster for Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School– £498.00 instead of £996.00
• Whiston to Lea Green for Sutton Academy in Merseyside – £135.00 instead of £270.00
• Great Ayton to Nunthorpe for Nunthorpe Academy in North Yorkshire – £126.00 instead of £252.00
• Woodhouse to Sheffield for All Saints Catholic High School in South Yorkshire – £180.00 instead of £360.00
• Morpeth to Newcastle for Newcastle High School for Girls– £338.00 instead of £676.00
• Brighouse to Leeds for UTC Leeds – £376.00 instead of £752.00

Further information about the special offer and how to buy the tickets is available here.

Earlier this year Northern launched a special offer that gave NHS workers a 25% discount on the season tickets.

“As well as providing a significant saving on the cost of the school commute, U16 Education Season Tickets can be used at weekends and bank holidays too – not just the 195 days a year that schools are open.

“We have a long-running campaign to encourage people to convert from road to rail – and if we can get young people in the habit while they’re at school, we hope they will stick with it when they move into further education or the workplace.”

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern