Calls have been made for Northerners to be given the same discounts those in the South East have had for almost 40 years. 

For £30 a year, rail passengers in London and the South East can get a third off off-peak rail travel, with the Network Railcard. 

The offer has been in place since 1986, but only exists in that area of the country. 

Now, advocacy group Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) is calling for an equivalent discount to be brought in for people living or working in the north of England. 

It is asking for the eight train operating companies which cover the north of England to give passengers in the North access to the same discounted fares as their southern counterparts. 

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Michael Solomon Williams of CBT said: “The Network Railcard has been a huge success reducing the cost of travel for passengers and bringing much needed revenue to the railways.

"We think it’s high time the rail fare North-South divide was closed with rail passengers in the north of England given access to the same discounts as their southern counterparts to help boost northern economies and tackle road congestion by making rail travel more affordable.” 

Chair of Transport for the North, Patrick McLoughlin, also supports the idea. 

The Rt Hon Lord McLoughlin CH said: "A Northern Network Railcard would contribute to rebalancing the UK economy, finally offering travellers in the north of England a benefit that the South East has enjoyed for almost 40 years.

"Cheaper off-peak rail tickets would also help to reduce carbon emissions from transport in our region, where almost 70 per cent of car emissions come from non-employment related travel."