Getting around in the UK right now has never been more difficult. But it can be very expensive too. We took a look at how to save money on train travel.
Save Money On Train Travel – Buy In Advance
Although some go on sale up to 24 weeks in advance, most advance rail tickets go on sale up to 12 weeks before your departure date.
If you don’t mind travelling at a specific time, these tickets are frequently the most affordable method to travel by train. Occasionally you can purchase them up to an hour before your departure.
According to Money Saving Expert, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) frequently offers advance tickets for travel from stations north of York to London up to six months in advance.
Several apps for buying tickets can notify you when tickets for a specific trip go on sale by sending you an alert to your phone.
Split Fares
Split ticketing allows you to travel the same distance on the same number of trains as usual while saving money by purchasing separate tickets for each station the service stops at along the way. Other websites, such as Divide My Fare and Split Rail Tickets, handle the math for you. Although it’s not always possible on some trips, according to My Fare, clients save 26% on average when they do this.
Also, you might save money by determining whether purchasing two single tickets rather than a return is more affordable.
Rail Cards
Rail cards can provide discounts at the time of booking, but because they are expensive to buy in the first place, they are only useful for frequent travellers. The cards come in a variety of varieties, including national, regional, student, and pensioner cards.
For instance, the £9.95 regional Cotswold Line Railcard offers a 34% discount on off-peak single and return tickets and is good for a whole year.
Group Travel
When travelling in groups of three to nine adults, you can save up to a third on the cost of the ticket.
While purchasing a group ticket, the entire group must be travelling together; individual rail cards are not permitted.
For discounts for groups larger than 10, get in touch with the railway company directly. There are also group off-peak day travelcards for London, however the ticket’s origin station must be inside zones one through nine.
Save Money On Train Travel – Flexible Travel
According to watchdog Transport Focus, national flexible rail tickets could help passengers save hundreds of pounds.
The flexible season tickets don’t need you to pre-select your trip dates and will let you go on any eight days within a 28-day span.
Also, train companies have created a variety of flexible tickets for professionals and commuters whose travel habits have changed as a result of the pandemic.
According to National Rail, the Flexi Season ticket will provide a minimum 20% discount on a comparable monthly season ticket.
Monthly or season tickets may be less expensive for people who frequently make the same trip more than once each week. Ask your company if they provide interest-free season ticket loans so you can stretch out the cost.
