6 secrets to help you save on train fares in the UK

Due to the high cost of living, train pass prices have risen accordingly. However, while this may be a significant hit to the wallet, it will not stop travellers from all over the world from wanting to travel and explore new destinations.

In the UK, travellers know how to get the best deals on tickets and save their money. MoneyWeek offers 6 ways to help you find the best deals.

Buy in advance

You can buy single tickets on a first-come, first-served basis 12 weeks before your trip when the price is much lower. They are usually issued in limited quantities, and sometimes they can be found just 10 minutes before departure.

Benefits of a railcard

Most Network Railcard cards cost around £30 per year. These cards can help you save ⅓ of the ticket price and provide additional travel benefits for children or your travel companion. However, only the 16-17 saver railcard offers a 50% discount on most fares.

Gold card

If you have an annual pass in the south of England or a London Underground travel card, you can get a Gold Card, which is the best version of the Network Railcard. This card covers not only the territory of the Railcard network but also the East of England and the West Midlands. Users can get a discount of ⅓ of the ticket price and an additional 60% for up to four children aged 5 to 15 during off-peak times.

Flexi subscription

This pass is suitable for those who work remotely and do not need to commute frequently. Thus, the Flexi pass allows you to travel for 8 days within 28 available days. You can take advantage of this opportunity at any time and save up to 20% of the cost of a regular ticket.

Cashback

You can buy tickets at a better price if you pay for them with cards that accrue cashback for such purchases. For example, the Santander card offers 3% cashback on National Rail and London Underground travel for total expenses up to £100 per month.

Split ticket purchase

If you don't buy a single ticket but split it into several parts, you can save on its cost. This works because of the strange ways tickets are priced. For example, you can take one to an intermediate station and another from that station to your destination. You can do this on these resources: myTrainPal, Split My Fare TrainTickets.com, Split Your Ticket, TrainSplit and TrainSplitting.

Earlier TravelWise reported which European railways offer to buy tickets from 1 euro.