Sneaky tricks for cheap rail travel
Filed under: Travel, Budgeting & Planning
As everyone knows, Britain's rail system is the envy of the world with some of the cheapest fares on the planet. No train has been late since 1912 and the standards of comfort have been known to reduce the Sultan of Brunei to tears of jealousy.But while we have to live with the standards of our train services, we don't have to live with high costs.
There are ways to play the system - sneaky tricks to getting your fare down and your satisfaction up - even though the rail companies don't want you to know them.
Here are some of the best:
• Buy two singles rather than a return. This is an entry-level trick and now even the person selling you the ticket may point out that two singles are cheaper than a return to your chosen destination. But they might not bother, and the website might not understand. So check.
• Break your journey. Buying separate tickets for the two stretches of a single journey can often be substantially cheaper than a through ticket - especially if the journey involves more than one rail company. Train firms often have promotional fares over set popular routes (eg London-Birmingham), and if you get one of these and add another ticket on to your final destination (eg Birmingham-Kidderminster) it might save you substantial cash.
• Travel short. The promotional fares can make it worthwhile buying a ticket for the major stop beyond your intended destination. Commuter routes often have competition between rail firms, so they have low fares if you get one of the cheap tickets, but stations in between these major routes can be virtual monopolies so prices are higher. Officially, you are not allowed to get off before the stop you have a ticket for, but it is unlikely anyone at the station will object.
• Check out those promotions. Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk/promotions and you can search by region.
• Cut out peak time. Arriving at a major city centre at 8.30am will cost you dearly. It can even be cheaper to go the night before and stay in a hotel.
•Get a free(ish) upgrade. Some train companies allow standard-class travellers to buy dinner in first class. After you have eaten, they are unlikely to throw you out (especially if you buy a few coffees)
• Buy online from the firm. Find the best fare on the National Rail website, then go to the individual company's website, where it may be even cheaper.
• Look at a map. You might find another station nearby that is cheaper to get to, and only a few extra minutes from your final destination.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2010 @ 11:27AM
Vi said...
Yet another spammer who says he is a doctor amongst other professions if you check on his name you will see it all too!!!! Please take no notice and besides what the heck does this have to do with the train story!!!!
Reply
2-09-2010 @ 11:30AM
Vi said...
"As everyone knows, Britain's rail system is the envy of the world with some of the cheapest fares on the planet. No train has been late since 1912 and the standards of comfort have been known to reduce the Sultan of Brunei to tears of jealousy"
What a load of ballderdash of course trains have been late since 1912 - Not only being late but I have known them not to turn up at all!!!!
Reply
2-09-2010 @ 2:16PM
Johnny Knockles said...
Dear Vi;
Have you ever heard of sarcasm?
Sorry, stupid question. My bad.
Reply
2-09-2010 @ 6:50PM
John Parkin said...
"Officially, you are not allowed to get off before the stop you have a ticket for, but it is unlikely anyone at the station will object "- this is not entirely correct. Many tickets, incljuding turn up and go singles and returns are valid for break of journey or completion of journey short of that shown on the ticket. This is in accordance with the conditions of carriage.
An example exisiting for very many years, a standard Anytime return from Carshalton Beeches to Woking is appriox £11 and to Brookwood (one stop further) is approx £7.
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4-27-2010 @ 8:45AM
Big D said...
""Officially, you are not allowed to get off before the stop you have a ticket for, but it is unlikely anyone at the station will object "- this is not entirely correct. Many tickets, incljuding turn up and go singles and returns are valid for break of journey or completion of journey short of that shown on the ticket. This is in accordance with the conditions of carriage."
i believe the article was referring to advance purchase tickets which are only valid for the journey stated on the tickets and reservations. If you get off at a station not stated on your tickets you ARE LIABLE for the full undiscounted price for the journey that you have made. Wether someone was there or not or bothered or not is irrelevant, you would still be liable under the NRCoC.
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4-27-2010 @ 8:58AM
Big D said...
As an example:
If you had an advance purchase ticket from Edinburgh to London Kings x and decided you wanted to get off at Stevenage instead your ticket would not be valid. When you got to the ticket barriers you could well find that they decline your ticket (contrary to whats stated in this article) and leave you liable to a £132 standard open single ticket on top of what you have already paid.
Their are indeed lots of ways you can bring down your fare but always remember it is YOUR responsibility to have a valid ticket for your journey if you do not it can cost you dearly.
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