How to save money on train tickets

The cost of train tickets in the UK seems to only ever be on the rise, and it’s something consumers are understandably worried about. The rise in fares can easily take its toll on people’s wallets, particularly for those that travel by train on a regular basis, but there are things that can be done to avoid the price hikes and minimise the financial impact. Here are just a few things you might want to try:

• Book in advance. This is perhaps the most important tip of all – buying in advance can save you a fortune when compared to walk-in prices, and the further in advance you book the more you could save. You can purchase tickets up to three months before you travel and you can still buy advance tickets the day before, so unless it’s truly last minute there’s no excuse.

• Be specific. If you know exactly what times you’re looking to travel then make sure to book tickets accordingly, as this will be much cheaper than buying an open return or anytime ticket.

• Travel off-peak. Not always suitable, particularly if you’re commuting, but if possible you’ll want to travel off-peak as these tickets will always be cheaper than those for peak times.

• Consider split ticketing. You don’t always have to buy a ticket from your starting point to destination – if you know what stations you’ll be stopping at along the way, why not consider split ticketing? Again, sounds like a strange bit of advice, but if you split your journey up you might find you can save.

• Watch out for extra fees. Chances are you’ll want to book online, but be on the lookout for the additional fees some sites charge. Booking and/or credit card fees are often included so do a bit of research to see if you can find an alternative site, and often going direct to the train company you’re travelling with will be your best bet.

• Get a railcard. Railcards can be worth their weight in gold and can offer incredible discounts on rail travel, and they can be particularly beneficial for students or large families.

• Go to cash back sites. There are a lot of sites that offer cash back on train tickets purchased in the UK, ranging from around 1.5% to as much as 6%, so it’s worth doing a bit of research to see what you can uncover.

• Change trains. Often you’ll find the cheapest trains are those that have the most changes, and whilst you might begrudge all that hassle it might be worth it if you want to save a bit of cash.

 So there you have it – a few ways you might be able to save money on train tickets in the UK, and if you try a few out you could have more cash in your p