Hull to King's Cross for just 3p per mile

John Prescott's constituents are benefiting from one of Britain's cheapest rail fares: more than 400 miles for just £12.50 per person.

John Prescott's constituents are benefiting from one of Britain's cheapest rail fares: more than 400 miles for just £12.50 per person.

The first new train operating company since rail privatisation is Hull Trains, and its only route links north Humberside with the capital. The best-value ticket is called a "London Night Out" which offers couples who travel out from Humberside on the afternoon train to London King's Cross, and who return on the morning service, a £25 fare between them. This works out at just 3p per mile.

A spokesman for Hull Trains, which is part of the same group as the much larger Anglia Railways, said there were no plans at present to launch a "Hull Night Out" to attract people from London to Humberside. Until now, the route has been the preserve of GNER, but a spokesman for that company welcomed the new arrival: "We're pleased to see more trains on the route. It's good news," he said.

He suggested that GNER's £24 return ticket between London and Inverness was a candidate for Britain's cheapest fare, working out at just over 2p per mile. But it is restricted to the over 50s travelling midweek.

Britain's most expensive rail journey is on the Heathrow Express, where passengers pay a fare of £12 for a one-way trip of under 15 miles - over 80p per mile.

Hull Trains (tel: 01482 606388; net: www.hulltrains.co.uk). GNER ( tel: 08457 225 225; net: www.gner.co.uk).