Avanti West Coast has extended its low cost Superfare ticket to more locations following a successful initial trial.
Ten more destinations in the North West of England have been added to Avanti West Coast’s innovative range of fares following the initial trial that has seen over 6,000 customers snap up bargains on the Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Preston and Glasgow routes.
The Superfare ticket, which enables customers to book a journey for a specific date with the choice of morning, afternoon, or evening slots at a cheaper fare – with the exact time of travel being selected by the intercity operator – can now be purchased for journeys between London and Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Stockport, Runcorn, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay and Lancaster.
With around 24 hours’ notice, Avanti West Coast will match customers to an empty seat on a quieter train and advise them of their reservation details and train’s departure time.
The new Superfare tickets will go on sale from 25 July 2023 for travel from 1 August 2023, with prices set at fixed amounts with one-way fares costing between £12 and £30 depending on the destination.
The number of tickets available on a route each day will vary and bookings can be made at least seven days and up to 21 days before travel.
Sarah Copley, Commercial Director at Avanti West Coast said: “Our customers have really taken to the new Superfare ticket. It’s innovative, low cost and most importantly encouraging more people to take the train, so we’re delighted to extend the Superfare ticket benefits to ten new destinations.”
Of those surveyed, two thirds said they would have not travelled or would have travelled with a different mode of transport. With 93% saying they found it easy to book a Superfare ticket, and 88% said they would be likely to book another Superfare ticket in the future.
In a separate initiative Avanti West Coast is partnering with rail upgrade business Seatfrog to offer customers on its Liverpool route the chance to bid for Standard Premium upgrades for as little as £18, as opposed to the normal price of £25.
Standard Premium has also proved popular with customers since its launch in 2021, with over 1.5 million tickets sold. Customers benefit from roomier seats, greater space and a guaranteed table.
Customers with a valid Standard ticket can bid for the upgrade via the Seatfrog app, and if successful receive notification to their device prior to departure.
Photo credit: Avanti West Coast
