With rising prices across the board, any opportunity to save money is worth looking at, especially when it comes to travel. This month, we look at a few ways in which you can hopefully save a few pounds when it comes to travelling by train.
Book in advance – If you know when you are travelling the earlier you book before your journey the bigger the discount you can achieve. Most train companies release advance tickets up to three months before the journey time, so booking in advance is a must.
Trainline – https://www.thetrainline.com, a rail booking service, allows you to set up alerts so you get advanced warning of when advance tickets go on sale, offers a full booking service for a small fee and is also extremely useful to plan a journey, particularly if it involves multiple stops.
It is worth noting that advance tickets are sold as single fares and are non refundable, which is the only drawback if your plans have to change. In most cases the value of the discount far outweighs the inconvenience.
Check for last minute tickets – If you can’t book in advance, don’t lose heart. Many operators offer advance train tickets up to and including the day of travel.
Do you need to travel at peak times? – If you do not, considerable savings can be had by going at a time when the service is less busy.
Do you qualify for a Railcard? – an annual railcard costs £30 each year and depending on your age qualifies you to 1/3 off rail fares. Visit https://www.railcard.co.uk. If you make more than a couple of journeys by train per annum, the cost of a railcard is more than offset by the savings made. The discount furnished by having a railcard is not affected by any other discount you receive by booking in advance. It all adds up to plenty of savings!
Season tickets – If you have a regular commute then a season ticket could be the cheapest way to travel. Season tickets are available, weekly, monthly or annually.
All the information in this article is correct as of the publish date 26 January 2023. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. The information provided in this article, including text, graphics and images does not, and is not intended to, substitute advice; instead, all information, content and materials available in this article are for general informational purposes only. Information in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.