15 ways to save money when travelling by train [new 20% off code coming soon]

Train prices can make your eyes water but these tips will save you a few quid (at the very least).

Railcards

You can often get discounts codes on top, to save roughly 10% on the cards. These cards then give you 1/3 off train travel
Here are your options:

• 16-25 Railcard 20% OFF with code <NEW CODE COMING SOON> – best for 16-25 year olds and students (any age)
• Family and Friends Railcard 20% OFF <NEW CODE COMING SOON> – best for families and small groups which include children
• Network Railcard – best discount offer for people living in London and South East England
• Senior Railcard 20% OFF <NEW CODE COMING SOON> – best for people 60 years old and above
• Two Together Railcard 20% OFF <NEW CODE COMING SOON> – best for two people who travel together
• Disabled Persons Railcard 20% OFF <NEW CODE COMING SOON> – best for people with disabilities
• HM Forces Railcard – best for members and spouses of the Armed Forces

Remember anyone can become a student

Ticket Splitting

A crazy idea at first but a genius one after you’ve realised how simple and amazing it is. An example, lets say you’re travelling from Manchester to London it can be cheaper to buy a ticket from Manchester to Crewe, together with a ticket from Crewe to London.

Why? We hear you ask:

• Your journey from Manchester to Crewe could be at a peak time (e.g. 8.55am departure). But once the train arrives at Crewe (9.35am) it’s now off-peak. If ANY part of your travel is during peak time the WHOLE journey will be classed as a peak ticket. So the second ticket from Crewe to London at 9.45am departure is now off-peak so you pay this lower rate for the rest of your travel.
• Because less people will be travelling from Crewe to London the ticket prices could be lower.

Book well in advance (12+ weeks before travelling)

Unlike some flights you WILL NOT get cheaper train tickets on the day or just before.

Remember EVEN if it’s the day before you travel you will probably save money by buying online the night before (last tickets are normally at 6pm)

Train ever arrive late? Time for a refund!

You’re entitled to a partial refund if your train was delayed due to a fault from the train operator (minimum they HAVE TO offer is 20% refund per hour of delay).
To claim keep your train tickets, find a form in the station or search the train operators website (you have 28 days to claim).

You’re NOT entitled to a refund if the delay was due to something out of the train operators control, e.g. the weather, strikes, maintenance on the tracks etc.

Sign up to alerts

Some websites (National Rail & TheTrainline) will alert you once it’s possible to buy tickets

Group travel is often cheaper (roughly saving 20%)

If you and some mates are all going in the same direction then ask about a group ticket. Generally not cheaper than using student cards but a good alternative if you don’t have one.

Watch out for peak times as prices can skyrocket!

Another great reason to use split ticketing, lets imagine you’re taking a long trip across the country, if it just so happens to include some peak travel time your whole journey will be classed as a peak trip.

So just in case you didn’t know Off-Peak fares are cheaper tickets for travelling on trains that are less busy (generally between 10am and 4pm, then after 7pm until 6am, each train operator & route will have their own times however generally these are the times:

Off-Peak:

• (Mon-Fri) Not valid for arrival into London before 11:30am
• (Mon-Fri) Not valid for leaving London before 9:30am and between 3pm and 6:45pm
• Valid on all trains at weekends and on public holidays

Super Off-Peak:

• (Mon-Fri) Not valid for arrival into London before 1pm and between 3pm and 8:30pm
• (Mon-Fri) Not valid for leaving London before 11am and between 1:30pm and 8:15pm
• (Weekend) Not valid for arrival into London before 12pm and between 5:45pm and 8pm
• (Weekend) Not valid for leaving London before 10:30am and between 4:30pm and 6:30pm

Buying two singles often is cheaper than a return

Cheapest advanced tickets are often singles, so by buying two singles you can save a ton

Sit in first class on the cheap

Often trains with a first class carriage will have a dining area, these first class dining cars allow anyone to sit in them if you’re ordering food.
You will pay more for your food but you will have the ‘luxury’ of sitting in effectively first class. You may however be kicked out after you finish your meal but if the train isn’t super busy you will most likely be fine to stay.

OK, so it’s not going to be the Hogwarts Express but dining in style on the cheap isn’t bad

Avoid travelling

More valid for business commuters but if possible do you really have to travel? Can you not setup a conference call or video chat? Skype would work well for instance.

Book on the cheapest websites

Quick rule of thumb… any company that advertises on the TV charges you high rates to book but here are the places + our rating:

Don’t use trains at all – use car sharing schemes etc

Websites are now setup and ready to split car trips, you pay the driver a fixed rate and they get part of their fuel paid by you. Everyone’s a winner.

Travel often? Season ticket time

If you and some mates are all going in the same direction then ask about a group ticket. Generally not cheaper than using student cards but a good alternative if you don’t have one.

Got any Tesco Clubcard vouchers?

You can spend them to buy train vouchers from sites like RedSpottedHanky etc and you can even spend them on railcards

Look out for £1 deals

Sites like MegaTrain (same owners of MegaBus) often do special promotions to drum up business.