PASSENGERS on Yorkshire's flagship rail route are paying around three times more than comparable fares in Belgium and France, figures from transport union RMT revealed.

The East Coast route, run by GNER, links the region with London and Scotland.

The union said a standard 187-mile one-way trip from London to York costs £70. In Belgium it would cost £22.68 and in France £22.25.

Those using services in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire also pay more per mile than on other stretches of the route.

The RMT's figures follow fears GNER will raise fares following its new 10-year franchise deal.