As everyone knows, the cost of railway travel has increased significantly in recent times, in many cases far above the rate of inflation. But with a little care and know-how, travellers can get tickets at less cost, so read on...
Look on the Internet First
There are a number of train ticket websites, of which The Trainline is probably the best known. Research on these will show the traveler how to save money, perhaps by going via a particular route, or booking well in advance. This could save a huge amount in comparison with just turning up at the railways station.
Book as Early as Possible
Some rail companies offer special deals on particular trains or for tickets bought well in advance. For instance, according to The Trainline, booking a London to Edinburgh ticket early could cut the cost of that ticket by about £70. The author has found rail tickets from Derby to London for as little as £7 single, whereas the normal fare is close to ten times that amount.
Check the Time of Day
Traveling "off peak" can save money, so for those who don’t have to travel early in the morning, this is sensible. Off peak means different things to different rail companies, so check in advance for the required route. However, an "Off Peak Return" is not necessarily the cheapest option. Sometimes two single tickets may cost less, so this should be checked too.
Alternative Routes and Combinations
Some routes are more expensive than others, so if the traveler lives near more than one railway station, this is worth checking. Also, some stations charge far more than others for parking, so for those who will need to leave a car at the station, this should be factored in when working out the total price.
Sometimes, strange as it may sound, one can save money by breaking up the journey. For example, if traveling from London to Edinburgh, it is worth checking the cost of a ticket from London to York and then York to Edinburgh. Significant savings can be made in this way. Basically, there are likely to be cheap tickets available if the whole route is covered by one rail company. So if the traveler’s route uses two or more rail companies, then breaking up the purchase into segments could save a significant amount of money.
Where Should One Buy the Ticket
Having found the cheapest ticket, there are further savings to made made – or not – depending upon how one buys it. For example, The Trainline charges a booking fee is the traveler actually buys a ticket through their website. On the other hand, National Express offers a 10% discount for rail fares booked in advance on their website.
As with many other areas of one’s life, significant savings can be made with just a little advance planning. Those who have found this article useful might also want to look at the following articles on saving money:
- How to Save Money on Travel Insurance
- How to Save Money on Car Breakdown Cover
- How to Save Money on Car Insurance
Source:
McCallion, Pauline, et al. Shopping on a Budget, London: Flame Tree Publishing 2008.
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