The train operator Northern says the sale of Advance Purchase tickets are up almost 10% in the last year as an increasing number of customers plan their journeys in advance rather than ‘turn up and go’.

Advance Purchase tickets offer up to 65%-off the standard ticket price and are available to buy from 12 weeks in advance of travel to just 15 minutes before departure.

From Monday (4 November), that booking window will apply to both online and over the counter sales as part of a move by Northern to standardise sales across its retail channels.

There are ten million Advance Purchase tickets available on Northern services across the North of England every week.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said:

“Our customers know the best way to bag a bargain is to book in advance – and the almost 10% rise in the number of Advance Purchase tickets sold is something we welcome.

“We have a long running campaign to encourage people to switch their journeys from road to rail – and if we can help get people to where they want to be for better value, that helps our cause.

“The move to apply the same booking window to online and over the counter sales is part of our commitment to ensure consistent ticket prices across all of our retail channels.”

For more information about Advance Purchase tickets, visit: northernrailway.co.uk/tickets/advance.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.