There has been much talk recently about the rising train fares across the UK. Some train fares have risen in price nearly three times faster than wages over the past five years, as recorded by the Action for Rail campaign.
Whilst rail fares have increased by around 25%, the average wage has risen by just 9% in the same amount of time.
Having said this, there are multiple ways to get the best deal from your train ticket provider that many customers fail to be aware of.
Here at NationalRail.com we want you to have the cheapest train tickets, offering the best possible prices and fast delivery on train tickets across the UK. As a result, we’ve prepared a short list of tips you can try out to save some extra pennies – and hopefully pounds – on your adventures.
Plan ahead:
We understand that it can sometimes be difficult to plan so far in advance, but if you know exactly where you want to go and when in the near future, you’ll get a much better deal on your train tickets to get you there. It’s common that you will be able to purchase tickets for travel as far as 12 weeks ahead, and these Advance tickets tend to be the cheapest available.
However, we also have to note that Advance tickets lack flexibility and are non-refundable, so if you’re not entirely sure that’s when you need to travel, there’s the risk you may end up needing to purchase an alternative ticket if your plans change.
Railcards:
Have you checked if you’re eligible for a railcard or not? If you are, you could be getting from A to B for much less than you currently are.
If you make a few journeys a year, the railcard will more than pay for itself. Once you’ve got one, remember to select the railcard option when searching for tickets, and make sure you have it with you when you travel.
Off-Peak:
If you can travel during off-peak times, your expenditure on rail tickets will be significantly reduced. Unlike the Advance tickets, off-peak tickets are more flexible. If necessary, you can also upgrade them to an Anytime ticket simply by paying the difference between the too, and more often than not, they’re refundable.
Split your ticket:
Many people steer clear of this trick, dismissing it as complicated but it can make your journey a lot better value for money if it’s done correctly.
Split-ticketing involves buying multiple tickets to cover separate parts of your journey. The only rule is that the train has to stop at all of the stations involved.
Want to know what’s even better? You can let us do the work and save you money with our special split-ticketing site here.
With these simple tricks, the ease of travelling by train doesn’t have to be ruined by high costs. As always, keep checking our website now for train tickets to destinations all across the UK.
