Region "has most expensive trains in country"

5.54.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 24th Jul 2007

Yorkshire-based rail company Hull Trains has been named as the most expensive non-speciality operator in Britain.

New research shows its passengers travel 49.44 miles on average per £10 spent on a saver return ticket.

That compares with 118.78 miles on MerseyRail, the best value-for-money train operating company in the UK, according to statistics from the Liberal Democrats.

The only two services more expensive than Hull Trains are Heathrow Express at 27 miles per £10 and Gatwick Express at 37 miles for £10 - but both services are used solely to carry people from London to the airports.

But a Hull Trains spokes-man accused the Liberal Democrats of getting the figures wrong and being "hugely misleading", saying the number of miles covered was in fact 52.

"The most popular HT Pioneer Advance 2 ticket which can be purchased for travel on any train provides 85.52 miles for £10. It is unfortunate that the Liberal Democrats have chosen to release the information in this way as it only serves to confuse matters," the spokesman said.

"The saver return ticket is an outdated British Rail ticket type which has effectively been superseded by new single-leg pricing, offering far better value for customers."

But Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Susan Kramer said the Government should not allow companies such as Hull Trains to charge double what others do to cover the same distance.

She added: "There is clearly a huge price disparity between the cheapest and most expensive fares.

"There should be an urgent inquiry into the cost of unregulated fares."

No train operator serving Yorkshire allows passengers to travel more than 70 miles per £10, according to the Lib Dems.

Northern Rail provides the most value for money in Yorkshire, at 68.15 miles per £10, with GNER - a franchise soon to be replaced - close behind on 67.57.

The figures come days before the Government is expected to announce its plans for the next 30 years of rail travel, which are likely to include a new signalling system and new train fleets

Yorkshire Post 24.07.07