Find Cheap Rail Fares
Take The Financial Strain Out Of The Train
The UK has a very extensive rail network and it’s often overlooked in our love for our motor cars. But you may find that letting the train take the strain from your journey is often not only quicker but can even be cheaper than using the car.
Here are our favourite tips for saving money on rail fares:
Plan ahead
You can get your best fare deals by booking weeks in advance. Even booking the night before you need to travel can save you a considerable amount over buying the ticket when you arrive at the station.
Get a railcard
If you spend over £80 a year on rail fares it would be worth checking out the options for buying a railcard. They cost £18-£26 depending on the particular card and can save you 1/3 on fare prices. Read about the various types at Railcard.co.uk and order one online or at your local station.
Use the web wisely
By far the largest savings can come from investigating prices online. It may take a little work but the savings can be huge:
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Megatrain.com and Virgintrains.co.uk have amazing offers on some routes, as low as £1 for a single! - TheTrainline.com and Raileasy.co.uk let you easily compare prices for travelling at different days and times to find the lowest prices for your chosen route.
- Nationalrail.co.uk lists special offers by train company so you can easily hunt for bargain fares for the rail operators where you live or where you’re planning a visit to.
Don’t always buy a return
If you’re using the websites listed above, it’s worth checking to see if it would be cheaper to buy 2 single tickets rather than a return ticket. It seems contradictory, but you will sometimes find special prices are available 1 way that makes it much cheaper to buy singles.
