Peak times: Virgin Trains scraps Friday afternoon peak fares

Virgin Trains has scrapped its Friday afternoon peak-hour restrictions from London Euston station in a bid to ease overcrowding.

The policy comes in the wake of growing commuter frustration over Friday evening travel, with passengers having to stand for hours amid the huge demand for the first Friday night off-peak trains at 7pm.

Having trialled the idea in July, Virgin Trains said that it had to decided to make the change a permanent one after seeing the extent to which congestion had eased to destinations such as Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The move is expected to reduce the fare costs of many return journeys for passengers wanting to travel on Friday afternoon before 7pm.

“Rather than everyone waiting for the first off-peak train on Friday evening, people can now travel whenever’s convenient for them,” according to the firm’s commercial director Sarah Copley.

Transport watchdog Transport Focus said it welcomed the move.