RAIL profiteers are planning a government-supported fares rip-off through new franchises even before they are awarded, rail union RMT said yesterday. 

From September, cheaper off-peak fares are to be axed on a string of services in northern England where franchises are up for grabs — particularly Northern Rail and Trans-Pennine Express services.

RMT said plans to axe off-peak fares had been confirmed to staff and unions on services including Travel South Yorkshire, Transport for Greater Manchester, Metro West Yorkshire and Hexham-Newcastle.

The union accused the government and Northern Rail of “colluding to axe off-peak fares in the name of private profit.”

And it described the plan as “a taste of what’s to come under the new Northern and Trans-Pennine Express franchises which are currently out to public consultation.”

RMT is currently running a campaign across Northern England to warn passengers what is coming under the new Northern Rail and Trans-Pennine franchises — including axing of train guards, ticket office closures, driver-only trains and fare rises.

“The axing of off-peak fares is a savage kick in the teeth for people already struggling with the burden of low pay and austerity and the fact that it has been cooked up by the Department for Transport in collusion with the privatisation pirates from Northern Rail is a warning of what’s to come,” said RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash.