COLCHESTER United have unveiled the latest part of their innovative travel plans aimed at encouraging supporters out of their cars and onto public transport.

James Hore

COLCHESTER United have unveiled the latest part of their innovative travel plans aimed at encouraging supporters out of their cars and onto public transport.

The League One club has agreed a deal with train provider National Express which will give all fans a 25% discount on a rail season ticket to be used on matchdays.

The pass, which can be used to and from all 23 league games, as well as any home cup ties, will take supporters from stations across the region into Colchester.

And once at the town's North Station, Us fans will be able to get onto the free shuttle buses for the journey to the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The club has already unveiled details for those catching buses to the 10,000 seater arena and the new rail tickets will be available from August 9.

The deal means someone travelling from Chelmsford will pay £6.40 for return travel to a match and for fans from Ipswich it will be £5.40.

The discount only applies to the season ticket purchase and fans just going to occasional matches by train will still have to pay full fare.

Roger Westlake, secretary of the Colchester United Supporters' Association (CUSA), said the current prices of petrol meant the deal offered great value for money.

He said: “For people coming from Manningtree, you can see the Us for £3 a game in terms of travel

“This is really quite a novel approach for Colchester Utd fans, we have had 100 years of football at Layer Road and there has never been a travel plan.”

And Colchester Utd's chief executive, Marie Partner, said from day-one of the new stadium the plan had been to “educate” people to get out of their cars and onto public transport, partly to lessen the impact on residents living in the area.

“We are delighted that we have achieved another milestone in bringing together an easy and affordable form of transport to add to the shuttle bus service launched earlier this year,” she said. “By now offering supporters the opportunity to also benefit from another form of transportation, this innovative package will serve those people who live further a field and hopefully encourage even more supporters to come along and be a part of our new era.”

Supporters can get hold of their football fan service ticket from National Express from August 9 onwards by calling 0845 8509020.