c2c creates more reasons to visit Lakeside

TRAIN company c2c has teamed up with Lakeside Shopping Centre and introduced a series of bargains to tempt shoppers from Essex and London.

Special "Travel sweetener" booklets featuring discount and money off vouchers from key stores at the complex are now available at stations to passengers using c2c services.

The money saving offers include a free meal at Old Orleans restaurant, free hamburger or cheeseburger at McDonald's, 15% off at Suits You, 10% off at Pilot and The Body Shop, up to £5 off at jewellers F Hinds and Adams childrenswear, £10 off at Dockers, 10% discount at the Warner Bros Studio Store and half price makeover and portrait session at The Original Beauty Portrait Company.

The aim of the promotion is to encourage more people to leave the car at home or their local station and travel by train to the shopping centre, easing congestion on the roads and pollution.

Sara Lane, c2c's Marketing Manager, said: "We've invested heavily in building a high-tech bridge link from our extensively remodelled and improved Chafford Hundred station to take shoppers directly off the trains and into the stores.

"Getting to Lakeside from Fenchurch Street or Southend takes just over half an hour - which is very handy for late night shopping or an evening out after work.

"Not only are we providing quick and seamless journey options to boost travel to Lakeside by train, but we've got plenty of bargain off-peak fares to give great value. These include products such as the Family Ranger, where adults can travel anywhere on c2c for just £5 and children go with them for just £1 each.

"As well as travelling to Lakeside by train being very cost-effective, the "Travel sweetener" campaign is going to make even more financial sense to families."

All the brochure bargains are available until the end of June this year, offering families plenty of opportunity to take advantage of the offers. Promoting off-peak travel is part of c2c's ongoing campaign to grow its business where it has spare capacity outside the busy commuter services to and from London.

Sara added: "We are trying to wean people off their love affair with their cars and promote travel by train for leisure as a really viable alternative.

"With an attractive combination of fares and shopping offers, we think we have got the right mix and we are looking forward to this promotion seeing increased business for us and our colleagues at Lakeside over the next few months."