Olympic and Paralympic volunteers travelling to Games venues from outside London will be able to take advantage of special rail tickets, following an agreement by Train Operating Companies and the Department for Transport (DfT).

The rail fares, previously only available to spectators holding Games event tickets, are being offered at competitive prices and will allow volunteers the flexibility to catch later trains home should the event they are working at over-run or be rescheduled unexpectedly.

The tickets can be used by LOCOG Games volunteers to travel to and from London and other co-host cities, including Coventry, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Weymouth.

There are two types of special tickets:

-  Games Advance ticket (for intercity journeys): These tickets are valid for travel on the date and train specified on the ticket. However, the ticket for the return journey is valid for travel on services up to three hours later than booked or the next available service.

- Games Day ticket (for regional and shorter distance journeys): These tickets are valid for travel any time on the date shown on the ticket without restriction. The ticket for the return journey from London will be valid for travel up to midday the following day.

Volunteers who have Railcards will also be able to get a third off the price of the ticket.

LOCOG volunteers travelling to Games events in and around London will receive a Travelcard as part of their volunteer package, allowing them free travel within Greater London on all Transport for London services.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: “Without these volunteers the Games simply could not happen. They are true ‘Games Makers’, so it is only right they have access to these good value, flexible fares. Our railways will also have a vital role to play in the Games with more than a hundred extra services running each day and trains starting earlier and continuing later into the night.”

David Mapp, Commercial Director at the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “Volunteers will have a vital role to play during the Games, ensuring that events run smoothly and providing help and information to spectators. The special rail tickets will give them good value, flexible fares that meet the needs of volunteers working at the Games.”