GNER is to offer discounted four-day weekend parking rates at its station car park in Peterborough.

The offer, which comes into effect from Friday, 31 August 2007), follows detailed customer research into weekend travel patterns.

A new discount four-day parking rate will be introduced allowing parking from Friday morning through to Monday night. The offer applies to anyone staying in the GNER-managed car park at Peterborough for more than 24 hours between 06.00 on Friday morning and 23.59 on Monday evening.

The total cost of parking for the four days at Peterborough will be £12, less than half the current total price of £30, based on the daily charge. The offer prices apply for Friday to Monday parking until 7 January 2008.

GNER commercial director Michelle Drage said: “Our car parks are very busy and well-used during the week, but there is spare capacity at weekends and so we’re taking the opportunity to offer our customers an attractive new deal. Our car parking prices already compare well with airports and city centre car parks in many locations. The new reductions make them much more competitive. The railway is an increasingly popular – and of course a greener – choice for leisure travellers, and we believe that this step will attract many more to switch to the train.”

The new offer is being welcomed by Peterborough City Council.

Council leader Coun. John Peach said: “This offer represents a substantial saving for users of the rail station, and I hope it encourages more people to make use of rail travel for weekend and leisure purposes”.

Customers wanting to take advantage of the discounted weekend rate at Peterborough should take a ticket from the car park entry barrier as usual, and then take it to the GNER travel centre, where they can pre-purchase up to four consecutive days’ parking at the special price. They will then be issued with a separate ticket which they can use to exit the car park at the end of their stay, anytime until just before midnight on Monday night.