A TENTH of rail passengers last year travelled for less money than they would have done a decade ago according to train operator GNER.

The company, which operates Darlington station, said a tenth of its passengers travelled on cheaper fares in real terms than ten years ago with British Rail.

The introduction of GNER's permanent low-cost off-peak fares has seen a rise in passengers.

Last year, more than 1.5 million people travelled on the company's off-peak fares. Tens of thousands of people also travelled using one-off promotional fares.

With British Rail the cheapest permanent fares were the Apex, which had to be booked a week ahead, or the SuperApex for Anglo-Scottish services, which had to be bought at least a fortnight in advance.

* NORTH rail passengers can expect more fragrant journeys as First TransPennine Express becomes the first operator to introduce scented headrest covers.

All train seats will have covers impregnated with a blend of citrus, orange and grapefruit fragrances.

The company introduced replaceable headrest covers last year.

Managing director Vernon Barker said: "It is a very subtle fragrance, which smells fresh and clean. It is not too strong. It is relatively long-lasting and we are confident that it will help create a favourable impression."

The covers are manufactured by Orvec International, of Hull, and about a million will be used each year.

The fragrances are blended with the fabric before it is made into covers.