Half a million rail staff and families get discount travel

About 500,000 current and former railway workers and their families are entitled to free or heavily discounted travel, new figures reveal.

Passenger groups have called for the concessions to be pared back as they face season ticket increases of up to 13 per cent - the highest since rail privatisation - next year.

Around 160,000 rail company staff and contractors benefit from the perk, which in some cases entitle them to free travel for life. It also extends to their spouses and children.

About half the beneficiaries are retired British Rail workers, who get the concession for life.

The most common concession is the right to a 75 per cent discount to the main "fully flexible" fare, but about 10,000 current and former staff and 20,000 dependants can claim free travel.