It used to be only music festivals that offered weekend tickets, but now it’s railway companies too.

Southeastern Trains has responded to passenger demand by introducing a weekend ticket that allows people to travel up to London – or the other way – and stay more than a day for little more than the price of a cheap day return.

Previously people travelling up on a Friday and coming home on a Sunday would have to buy an open off-peak return, valid for a month. The Weekender ticket changes that.

Vince Lucas, of SET, said: "Recently a young customer I was talking to suggested it would be easier to buy one ticket rather than two single tickets whenever she wanted to visit friends in London for the weekend. She would travel on a Friday after work and go out with friends on the Saturday night, coming home on the Sunday.

"She said how about a weekend return ticket. I am glad to say that the Weekender ticket is a direct result of that conversation."

However, Weekenders can only by bought from ticket offices, so passengers from unmanned stations such as Westenhanger will need to buy their ticket in advance. It is also only valid on trains on the classic lines and not high speed services.

Price comparisons using the SET and National Rail websites show that from Tunbridge Wells to London a Weekender is £15.80, an open off-peak return is £22.40 and two singles are £29.80. A Maidstone East Weekender is £17.60, off-peak return is £22.40 and two singles are £33.80; and a Folkestone West Weekender is £27.70, open off-peak return is £30.10 and two singles £52.80.

In the other direction, a Weekender from London to Margate is £28.50 and £22.70 to Whitstable.

They are valid from Friday until Sunday, off –peak.