Students studying in Greater Manchester have been urged by a train company to take advantage of a cut-price rail fare season ticket before an offer ends on Friday.
Northern has issued a 'final call' to teenagers across the region to get their Under 16 Education Season Tickets before sales close.
The special ticket, which Northern has developed in partnership with more than 124 secondary schools and university technical colleges, offers students up to 75 per cent off the normal adult fare. On some routes, the savings can be worth as much as £575 per year.
The Government announced last year the penalty for evading rail fares in England will increase from £20 to £100, with the new level of fines coming into force next Monday, January 23.
It means anyone caught travelling on the rail network in England without a valid ticket for travel or so-called 'promise to pay' card will be liable for the increased financial punishment.
In a statement Northern, which runs 2,500 local and regional services every day to more than 500 stations across the north, said: "Student fare evasion is something Northern has been working hard to combat in partnership with secondary schools and UTCs across its network.
"Many fare evasion incidents take place when students are travelling relatively short distances between rural and suburban stations which are not barrier-controlled. Given the high number of students on-board and the limited journey time, conductors cannot always carry out a full ticket inspection, which emboldens students to 'risk it'.
"But with the new penalty fare coming into place on Monday, Northern is appealing to students - and their parents - to take advantage of the Under 16 Education Season Ticket and the savings it offers."
Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: "Under 16 Education Season Tickets offer savings that can be worth hundreds of pounds per year. Having one also means a student always has the means to get to and from school - and won't succumb to peer pressure, travel without a ticket and risk being issued with a £100 penalty fare.
"It's no way to spend your pocket money – don't risk it."
For a full list of participating schools and details of how to buy an Under 16 Education Season Ticket, visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/educational-season
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- M62 and M60 traffic updates as Manchester gets snow with weather alerts issued
- Restaurant responds after couple's claim they were surrounded by waiters who 'wanted to fight them'
- The beautiful woodland in Greater Manchester perfect for a winter walk
- Student, 20, accused of attacking nurse, paramedic and police officer walks free from court 'because her drink was spiked'
- Trio fatally stabbed man with mental health issues who was out to 'clear his head', murder trial told
