22 November 2007 13:49
How do I get a cheap train ticket?
Answer
By Anonymous
The bewildering complexity of train-tickets in this country is enough to make you chew your rucksack in horror. Here’s how to bag a bargain.
Book in advance
Bargain tickets are sold on a first-come, first served basis – keen bargain hunters book up to 12 weeks in advance, but even booking up to 6pm the day before can save pounds.
Use a railcard
See if you qualify for Young Persons, Family or Senior railcards – they cost £20 and save 1/3 on off-peak travel, so you soon recoup the investment. Or try the Network Railcard — it’s £20, available to all, and saves 1/3 for you and up to three others, but travel is limited to the south-east. See www.railcard.co.uk or ask at your local station.
Buy singles
For a return journey, you think you’d buy a return ticket. Turns out it’s often cheaper to buy two singles.
Split the tickets
Try splitting your ticket into shorter sections to save money. A saver return from Peterborough (home of CW) to Llandrindod is £70. Buy a saver return to Birmingham, and one from B’ham to Llan'dod and it totals £48.70. And it’s all legal, as long as the train stops at the split-station — you don’t even have to get off.
Avoid the peaks
Travel during rush-hour is eye-wateringly expensive so try and avoid it. If you can't, buy two tickets, so you’re only paying peak prices for the peak-time section, and then switch to a cheap day ticket.
Range and Rove
Spending a few days in one region? Check out the ranger and rover tickets for unlimited travel in specified areas. Then get the train to the edge of the region and use the rover ticket from there.
Travel as a group
Groups as small as three or four can qualify for a discount — always check. But do remember you have to travel together — so no leaving your mate on the hill saying ‘See you at home’ — their ticket won’t be valid.
Megatrain it
Megabus spearheaded bargain bus fares, and now train fares. Routes are limited but with Manchester to Edinburgh singles from £1 plus 50p booking, who are we to argue?
See www.megabus.com or call 0900 160 0900 (60p a min)
See www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 48 49 50 or see www.thetrainline.com or www.transportdirect.com
See www.moneysavingexpert.com for more bargain tips.