TRAIN bosses have cut fares after the Evening Telegraph revealed they were charging up to £50 for first-class travel on carriages with no first-class seats.

Operator Virgin's policy affected connections from many local towns to the West Coast mainline in Preston.

Some fares were costing £50 more if started from Accrington, Blackburn or Clitheroe than if started in Preston - even though the normal fare between the towns is only £5!

Virgin, which operates West Coast mainline and Cross Country express services, today apologised for the over-pricing, describing it as an 'anomaly.'

A spokesman said: "The complex fare system in this country means that anomalies do crop up, but they are rare.

"We have reviewed fares in East Lancashire after this was brought to our attention and we have amended them accordingly.

"Anyone who spots any others should contact us."

Before the 'amendments,' a first-class return fare from Clitheroe to Carlisle cost £113, but the same journey from Preston cost £61.

It cost £112 to travel to Carlisle first class from Blackburn and £107 from Burnley.

But in each case there are no regular first-class carriages. A standard return connection from Blackburn costs £4.05, from Burnley £7.60 and from Clitheroe £5.10.

Similar discrepancies exist on trips from East Lancashire to other destinations, including London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Now, however, the fare from East Lancashire to Carisle is £66 - just £5 more than the Preston fare.

Jim Potts, chief trading standards officer with Lancashire County Council, began an inquiry after being alerted to the discrepancy by the Evening Telegraph in April.

He said: "It is good to see that pressure brought to bear by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has resulted in a better deal for consumers.

"The state of the travel industry is such that people have to constantly keep an eye out for better deals."

David Butterworth, a Clitheroe-based member of the Rail Passenger Committee North West, which represents passengers, said: "We spoke to Virgin who promised action and they have done as they said."

Opinion: PAGE 10

TRAIN bosses have cut fares after the Evening Telegraph revealed they were charging up to £50 for first-class travel on carriages with no first-class seats.

Operator Virgin's policy affected connections from many local towns to the West Coast mainline in Preston.

Some fares were costing £50 more if started from Accrington, Blackburn or Clitheroe than if started in Preston - even though the normal fare between the towns is only £5!

Virgin, which operates West Coast mainline and Cross Country express services, today apologised for the over-pricing, describing it as an 'anomaly.'

A spokesman said: "The complex fare system in this country means that anomalies do crop up, but they are rare.

"We have reviewed fares in East Lancashire after this was brought to our attention and we have amended them accordingly.

"Anyone who spots any others should contact us."

Before the 'amendments,' a first-class return fare from Clitheroe to Carlisle cost £113, but the same journey from Preston cost £61.

It cost £112 to travel to Carlisle first class from Blackburn and £107 from Burnley.

But in each case there are no regular first-class carriages. A standard return connection from Blackburn costs £4.05, from Burnley £7.60 and from Clitheroe £5.10.

Similar discrepancies exist on trips from East Lancashire to other destinations, including London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Now, however, the fare from East Lancashire to Carisle is £66 - just £5 more than the Preston fare.

Jim Potts, chief trading standards officer with Lancashire County Council, began an inquiry after being alerted to the discrepancy by the Evening Telegraph in April.

He said: "It is good to see that pressure brought to bear by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has resulted in a better deal for consumers.

"The state of the travel industry is such that people have to constantly keep an eye out for better deals."

David Butterworth, a Clitheroe-based member of the Rail Passenger Committee North West, which represents passengers, said: "We spoke to Virgin who promised action and they have done as they said."