Five ways to save money when buying train tickets

The rise in rail fares has come as unpleasant news to the people of Britain. This will contribute to the rising cost of living that has been observed in recent years. Moreover, the price increase comes at a time when passengers are facing service disruptions due to strikes by railroad workers over the past 18 months.

Traditionally, fares are increased based on the July retail price index, which in 2023 was 9%, plus an additional 1%. This year's tariff increase was set below this figure and is lower than last year, the BBC writes.

The regulated fares cover about 45% of fares, including season tickets for most suburban trips, some off-peak return tickets for long-distance trips, and anytime tickets in major cities. For example, if a 4.9% increase is applied, an annual season ticket from Brighton to London will go up by £275 to £5891, and from York to Leeds by £135 to £2899.

While some people may have tried to buy their season tickets ahead of the price hike, here are five tips for getting the cheapest deals at any time of year.

Buy in advance

Train tickets are usually released 12 weeks before the departure date, although some go on sale 24 weeks in advance. These types of tickets are often the cheapest way to travel by rail if you want to travel at a specific time. Sometimes they can be purchased up to an hour before the start of the trip.

The personal finance website Money Saving Expert reports that London North Eastern Railway (LNER) often releases tickets six months in advance for routes from stations north of York to London. Some apps can send notifications to your phone as soon as tickets for a particular trip go on sale.

Split your fare

Split ticketing means that you can use the same number of trains as usual. At the same time, you can save money by splitting your journey into multiple tickets between the stations where the train stops.

Some websites, such as Split My Fare and Split Train Tickets, do this for you without requiring any effort. Split My Fare claims that on average, customers save 26%, although this is not always possible for some trips. In addition, check if it's cheaper to buy two one-way tickets instead of two to save money.

Use a railcard

Train cards can offer discounts on reservations, although they cost money to purchase, so they are beneficial for those who travel frequently.

There are several types of railcards: national, regional, student and pension. For example, the 16-25 Railcard costs £30, is valid for one year, and entitles you to a third discount for each ticket purchased.

Travel in groups

You can get a discount of up to a third of the ticket price if you travel in groups of three to nine adults during off-peak hours. The group must travel together and individual rail cards cannot be used when booking a group ticket.

Groups of more than 10 people may also receive discounts. However, you should contact the railway company directly. Group day passes for London off-peak are also available but the departure station on the ticket must be in fare zones one through nine.

Take advantage of flexible commuting

National flexible rail tickets can save commuters hundreds of pounds, according to research organization Transport Focus. Flexible season tickets allow you to travel on any eight days within a 28-day period without having to choose your travel days in advance.

Rail companies have also introduced a number of flexible tickets aimed at passengers and employees who have changed their routes after the pandemic. A flexible ticket offers at least a 20% discount on an equivalent monthly ticket, according to the National Railways.

For those who regularly make the same trip several times a week, monthly or seasonal tickets may be cheaper. Ask your employer if they offer an interest-free season ticket loan to help you spread the cost.

Earlier, Travel Wise wrote that a German railroad company sells train tickets for 2.24 euros.