Rail commuters could face new parking charges

Commuters could pay more for their journey to work under plans to introduce parking charges at railway stations, it has emerged.

Charges could be introduced at Outwood, Sandal and Agbrigg, Castleford, Normanton and South Elmsall stations - where parking is currently free - under changes to a franchise with Northern Rail to run rail services.

The government is negotiating an extension to the Northern Rail franchise and is looking to make savings on millions of pounds in subsidies paid to the company to run services.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said discussions were ongoing to negotiate a new franchise agreement from April this year to February 2016.

She said: “As part of those discussions we have been asked to provide proposals that would reduce the cost to the taxpayer of running the railway as well as providing better facilities and information for Northern customers.

“The details of the new franchise agreement are still being finalised and we cannot comment further until it is signed.”