We are blessed in the UK to have a bustling rail infrastructure. But how many of us know exactly how to take advantage of it? There are so many travel hacks and secrets you can take advantage of, so to make sure you can, we’ve put together a list of our best hacks and secrets.
Choose E-tickets where possible
Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment, you’ll also save yourself the stress of having to sort through pages of paper, to find your tickets and your railcard when the conductor is standing over you. Moreover, it’s much harder to lose your phone than a train ticket and it makes the process of passing through the barriers at the train station much smoother.
When can you use an off-peak ticket?
In the UK, off-peak tends to begin at 9.30am, Monday to Friday, in cities and large towns and 9am everywhere across the rest of the rail network. In London, things are slightly more complicated. You can use an off-peak ticket from the first service to 6.30am, then again from 9.30-4pm, then again after 7pm. Weekends and bank holidays are considered off-peak fares all day, nationally.
Travelling in a group?
Book together! A lot of people don’t know that if you’re travelling in a group of 3-9, you can actually save up to a third (34%) of the actual fare, if you travel together. All you need to do is choose the “GroupSave” option, when selecting a railcard.
Break up your journey
If you purchase an “Anytime”, “Off-Peak” or “Super Off-Peak” ticket, you can actually take a break in the middle of your journey. If you were travelling from Edinburgh to London, you could take a break in York, spend the night in the city, then carry on to London the following day. This is definitely something to bear in mind next time you book train tickets with National Rail.
Take a packed lunch
More often than not, trains do not have catering services, and if they do they tend to be cold snacks that are low quality (and often overpriced). If you are only travelling a short distance, you could pick up some snacks at the train station, or bring something from home. If your journey is longer, consider making yourself a picnic at home, so you know you have enough food to last the journey.
Pack light
Where you can, try and pack light. Trains have limited room for large luggage, relying primarily on overhead storage and bags that can be stowed away underneath a seat. It is better to opt for a small wheeled suitcase or a backpack, as these can be easily stashed away and lifted back down when it’s time for you to disembark.
Now, all that’s left for you to do is decide on your destination and use the money you have saved on your train tickets, to book some amazing activities while you’re there!
