Olympic Rail Fares Announced

First examples of special train fares for 2012 Olympic spectators were announced today.

Tickets, which can be booked from the end of this month, include a Newcastle-London advance return from £37, a Cardiff-London advance return from £21 and a Cambridge-London day return of £17.

Announcing the fares, the Association of Train Operating Companies said they offer "great value for money".

Rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus said the fares, to be sold under the banner 2012 Games Train Tickets, seem to be "better value and relatively flexible" but said it was a pity that similarly priced fares are not available year-round.

The Games train tickets are only on offer to Olympic and Paralympic spectators and cover travel from every main line railway station to all the Olympic venues.

They can only be bought from www.nationalrailgamestravel.co.uk, with the site operating from late June.

As has been announced, a Travelcard for London Underground will be available free with each Olympic ticket for those attending events in and around London. Railcards can also be used with the Olympic rail tickets.

Examples of 2012 Games train fares are:

:: Newcastle to London, advance return from £37

:: Leeds-York to London, advance return from £32

:: Coventry to London, advance return £40.40

:: Preston to London, advance return £61.40

:: Manchester to London, advance return £46.40

:: Cardiff to London, advance return from £21

:: Basingstoke to London, advance return £15

:: Sheffield to Manchester, day return £19.40

:: Cambridge to London, day return £17