Virgin scraps Friday peak tickets to ease overcrowding

Virgin Trains has scrapped its Friday afternoon peak restrictions from Euston to ease overcrowding and enable weekend getaways to start earlier.

The difference in many peak and off-peak fares previously led to huge demand for the first Friday night off-peak trains at about 7pm.

This led to many passengers having to stand for up to hours on trains to destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Virgin Trains said congestion has eased since it began a trial to end Friday afternoon peak restrictions in July. It has now decided to make the change permanent.

The trial resulted in a decrease in average loading — which shows the proportion of passengers to seats — on a number of previously overcrowded services, such as: 7pm London Euston to Manchester (from 113 per cent to 51 per cent), 7.03pm London Euston to Birmingham (from 113 per cent to 39 per cent) and 7.10pm from London Euston to Holyhead (from 123 per cent to 85 per cent). Virgin Trains reported an additional 3,500 journeys were made each Friday during the trial amid an increase in passenger satisfaction.

The firm’s commercial director Sarah Copley said: “Rather than everyone waiting for the first off-peak train on Friday evening, people can now travel whenever’s convenient for them.

“This change means we’ve been able to reduce congestion, whilst helping people save money and make an earlier start to their weekends.”

The policy will significantly reduce the cost of many return journeys for passengers wanting to travel on Friday afternoon before 7pm.

This includes travelling to destinations such as Liverpool (£115.55 reduction), Manchester (£125.55 reduction) and Glasgow (£111.25 reduction).