Train travel can feel expensive at times, but there’s a number of ways to help bring the cost down – no matter if you’re a regular commuter or occasional leisure traveller! Not all methods will be suitable for all people and journeys however, so across each of the pages below we’ve tried to highlight what sorts of people and journeys each option is suitable for – helping you get the best value for money!
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Railcards
Not just for the young or the old – there’s a railcard for everyone! Railcards can discount train fares by 1/3, which can be a significant saving! Find out what railcard is right for you!
Advance and Off-Peak Fares
Anytime (peak) fares have fantastic flexibility – but if you can shift your travel times (even slightly) or can commit to travelling on a specific train (even a specific peak time train!) significant savings can be made.
Group & Family Travel
Travelling in a group of 3 or more can result in savings similar to that of a railcard (1/3 off) – without using a railcard! And if travelling with children aged 5-15, they can travel along with a fare paying adult for just £1!
Split Ticketing
Britain’s complicated fare structure means that it can sometimes be cheaper to buy two separate tickets rather than one ticket that covers the entire journey – especially for longer journeys or those that cross multiple train operators. Significant savings can be made here, but care needs to be taken as it can reduce flexibility.
Season Tickets
For regular travel between two stations, Season Tickets can give a significant discount on peak-time travel in return for an upfront payment. Annual season tickets even come with something akin to a railcard – making additional leisure travel cheaper too. Flexible season tickets are a new offering too that, in some cases, may result in cheaper travel for those travelling 2 or 3 days a week.
Alternative Routes and Modes
In some cases, there can be more than one route to your destination. In return for a slower journey, you could save a bit of money. In addition, for commuter travel to London coach travel is also possible – although it comes with a slower journey time and limited travel time options, savings can be made and a seat is guaranteed.
Days Out
Although not a saving on the travel itself, many tickets (including cheaper ones above!) can entitle you to savings on days out in London and the South East – such as 2-for-1 entry offers on various attractions.
Refunds & Delay Repay
Sometimes, things don’t go to plan – resulting in delays and cancellations. All train companies operate a scheme for refunds, in part or full, when your journey is delayed or cancelled. Many of these kick in from just 15 minutes of delay and apply to your entire journey – not just one train. If making a long-distance journey for example, this can mean you can claim for a significant refund even if your last short-distance train has a minor delay!