PASSENGERS with unused rail travel vouchers will be given a six-month extension, the Department for Transport has announced.

The decision comes as the Government recognises the fact that most passengers have been unable to use their vouchers due to the second and third national lockdowns.

Thousands of passengers with rail travel vouchers will now be given extra time to redeem them, in order to ensure that they are not left out of pocket from the COVID related restrictions.

Vouchers which have expired or are due to expire between October 20 2020 and June 30 2021 will now get an additional six months after their original expiry date to redeem them.

The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: "This extension ensures that passengers with travel vouchers are not penalised for following government advice.

"By offering people more time to redeem their vouchers, we are ensuring that passengers will not be left out of pocket as they come back to the railways."

Although the Government have extended the vouchers, they are still advising people to minimise their travel where possible, but if travel is necessary, then passengers are advised to travel at quieter times and on quieter routes.

Travellers have also been advised to regularly sanitise their hands, wear a face covering and keep their distance from others where possible.

Jacqueline Starr, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rail Delivery Group said: "This welcome extension means more people will be able to get out and about by train as restrictions ease.

"With rail companies boosting cleaning, adding services to support social distancing and the vast majority of people wearing face coverings, returning passengers can travel with confidence."

More than 1,000 weekday services have been added to the railway since mid-February from approximately 16,900 per day to almost 18,000 from this week.

The Government plans to significantly increase the services further as of May.