Chat

How do you get cheap train tickets?

Deals

Hey everyone, I'm wondering whether you know any novel tricks to get cheap train tickets?

Apart from the usual:

Split Ticketing
Booking Early
Rail cards (does an NUS card let you get a 16-25 railcard? I know they’re available for all ages of student but don’t know if just an NUS card would work)
Check for special offers from the operator directly (e.g. try booking on virgintrains.co.uk rather than nationalrail.co.uk/thetrainline.com)
Generally avoid third party operators like thetrainline as they usually have a surcharge compared to going direct. Unless they have a special offer on
Cashback
Don’t pay for your ticket and hide in the toilet...

Tom

Founder

over a year ago

What do you think of this?+20 points

Ceebersover a year ago

My best tip is to invest in a rail card. I have the 'Two Together card' and I have 1/3 off every journey when my partner and I travel together. We generally recoup the cost of the card (£30). within a couple of trips. From my analysis I can see that I have saved over £100+ each year.

Reply1

Johnnyover a year ago

Hi,

You can get 10% off 1 year railcards, using code AUGUST10MS online at www.railcard.co.uk

including 16-25, Family & Friends, Two Together & Senior Railcards

Railcards get you a discount on most rail fares, at least a third off. They normally cost £30, but until Thursday 31 August , enter the code AUGUST10MS and you'll get £3 off and pay just £27 for any of the big four national railcards.

Reply1

Ceebersover a year ago

Thanks for posting. Sure my TwoTogether card is due to be renewed....

Reply1

maxover a year ago

Well you could take advantage of promotional offers out there like off or sale on a particular website or using cashback websites but the issue is they are there only available for a limited time and you usually have to search hard to find them.

For example this one i found today (https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/deals/expedia-quidco-15-cashback-train-ticket).

jinxyjinkover a year ago

I have always found Travel Supermarket to find the best deals for me especially if you are booking in advance(the earlier the better) I am going to London today (comp win :-) ) coming back Thursday and it has cost me £82 return first class for 2 of us. 2nd class would have only been £12 cheaper. Checked on east midlands train at the same time as it is their train we are travelling on and they were offering the cheapest 2nd class for the 2 of us at £112 so it really does pay to shop around.If i was buying today at the station it would be £140 2nd class for the 2 of us.