HEREFORD train passengers are being promised cheaper fares - if they travel more than fifty miles.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has a launched it first 'pricing initiative' offering

savings on longer journeys in Wales and the borders.

New Advance tickets means all passengers can save up to 60% throughout the Wales and the Borders network on many new journeys over 50 miles.

Under the previous operator, cheaper fares were only available on a limited number of routes.

Advance tickets are single tickets for specific trains which can be bought from 12 weeks and up to 6pm, prior to the day of travel. Passengers then purchase another Advance single ticket for return journeys.

The earlier passengers buy a ticket, the cheaper it can be, with TfW saying the average saving is 48%.

Check availability at tfwrail.wales or via the TfW Rail app.

TfW say they have introduced ‘Delay Repay 15’ which offers compensation or refunds to customers if their train has been delayed by more than 15 minutes.

Other changes planned for 2019 or 2020 include Smart ticketing and better fares for 6-18-year olds.

Colin Lea, commercial and customer experience director for Transport for Wales Rail Services, said: “We know that many people believe that travelling longer distances by train is expensive. Advance tickets offer passengers genuine value for money and we hope more will be encouraged to use the train for trips to visit family and friends or for short breaks.

“We made a commitment to our customers last year that we would make travelling by train unrecognisably better in the future. Lots of work is being done behind the scenes to improve stations, trains and services but these take longer to deliver.

“We also committed to offering customers real value for money which we have been able to deliver more quickly with the launch of these new Advance tickets where customers are able to save up to 60%. We hope that Advance tickets will encourage more people to use the train for longer journeys across Wales and the borders.”

To purchase Advance tickets, visit tfwrail.wales, any train ticket office or download the TfW Rail app.