Train app Seatfrog is launching a “secret fare” offering customers up to 50% off journeys across the Pennines

Train ticketing app Seatfrog has today launched a new ticket option offering passengers up to 50 per cent off travel across the Pennines.

Seatfrog’s secret fare option offers passengers a new low-cost, flexible ticket option on selected TransPennine Express (TPE) journeys.

Unlike other pre-booked tickets, customers select a slot in either the morning, afternoon or evening, but travel time is allocated 24 hours before departure.

Secret fare: TransPennine Express and Seatfrog have launched a cost-effective, flexible train ticket

Tickets can be booked approximately five months in advance up to two days before departure.

“If you’re traveling on a specific day but don’t care when you travel, Secret Fare will help you find the cheapest fare available,” says Darren Higgins, commercial director at TPE.

“Secret Fare is innovative, budget-friendly and will hopefully encourage more people to take the train and travel in a more sustainable way.”

Seatfrog claims the offer will halve ticket prices, with tickets between Manchester and Newcastle starting from £10.

Passengers can also travel from Liverpool to York from £7 and Newcastle to Leeds from £6.

The “secret fare” is now available on Avanti routes and Seatfrog said it is in discussions with all rail operators to roll out the budget-friendly ticket nationwide, network by network.

Iain Griffin, co-founder of Seatfrog, said: “Our vision is to redefine rail travel and create an experience for customers that is both affordable and flexible.” We are delighted to introduce Secret Fares to TransPennine Express customers .

“This not only allows customers to save up to 50 percent of their train journeys, but also makes a significant contribution to the environment by hopefully reducing the number of car journeys.” It is a win for the wallets of customers, the rail industry and the environment.”

When launched in 2018, Seatfrog’s main focus was its upgrade service, which allows users to upgrade any standard train ticket to first class via an auction feature or a buy-it-now price, similar to eBay. This is possible at any time before departure.

The price of an upgrade depends on demand but ranges from £10 to £50.

Recently, Seatfrog launched its “Train Change” feature, allowing customers to transfer to any train in two steps within 24 hours of departure.

Speaking to This Is Money earlier this year, Griffin said: “One of the big friction points is wanting to get an earlier train… or see some friends I haven’t seen in a while and have a few more beers. “, but I can’t get the later train… I’ll either have to buy a whole new ticket or stand in the queue at the station or call center.”

“One of the biggest problems with rail transport is that trains get in the way of everyday life, and that shouldn’t be the case.”

TPE is the latest operator to offer train switching, alongside CrossCountry, Northern and LNER.