A new government plan could see part-time rail commuters save some money.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is to trial a scheme allowing commuters to buy part-time season tickets.

This will give people who do not work full-time a chance to save on their weekly fares.

A standard seven-day season ticket to London terminals from Gravesend costs £77.10 with the same ticket including travel on zones one to six on the London Underground costing £92.70.

The initiative, announced last week, could also include discounted tickets for those travelling in the quieter parts of the rush hour known as “shoulder peaks”.

The DfT will run a competition among train operators next year to decide who will run the pilot on a busy commuter route into London.

Rail minister Norman Baker MP said: “This will allow us to focus our resources on improving train services and ending the era of above-inflation fare rises.”