Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

- Andy Webb

From delays to strikes, trains aren’t always the smoothest way to travel. They’re also not that cheap, especially since just a few months ago they went up on average by 4.9% in England. Fortunately, there are ways to bring down the cost of your ticket.

1 Change where you book tickets

First up, think about how you book your tickets. Some third party sites, such as Trainline, will charge you for most bookings. But if instead you go direct with a rail company you can avoid this.

Some booking sites and apps also have loyalty programmes, such as LNER which offers 2% back on journeys on its routes. Uber also sells train tickets and until the end of June it offers 10% back in credits.

And you might be able to get cashback via your bank card with some sellers— though these come and go. I’ve spotted offers via American Express, Lloyds, Halifax, Monzo, Virgin Money, Barclays and more. You’ll need to check your online account to see what’s running. Sometimes you’ll need to sign up for a rewards scheme and you’ll always need to activate the offer before spending.

2 Book in advance

With most rail operators, the earlier you book your ticket the cheaper it’s going to be. You’ll usually be able to pick up advance fares 12 weeks before you travel, and prices gradually rise the closer you get to your departure date.