How to Find Cheap Train Tickets & Save £100s

It is not easy to find cheap train tickets, especially because fares rose by up to 4.9% in March 2024.

Thankfully, there are ways to travel on the cheapest trains possible and potentially save hundreds of pounds.

Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has shared the best way to find cheap train tickets in the UK and these tips can help you cut costs.

One tip is to book weeks in advance where possible.

This can really help you find tickets at a lower cost.

According to experts, look 12 weeks in advance as this is when prices will be most affordable.

If you do not have 12 weeks before you need to travel, make sure you book as soon as possible as this is when prices will be the cheapest.

But be aware that some train firms release advance tickets even earlier than 12 weeks prior.

For example, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) often releases advance tickets up to 24 weeks ahead for routes from stations north of York into London.

If you are a part-time commuter, having a flexible season ticket can help you save £100s per year.

These tickets allow you to travel as a day return on any eight days in a 28-day period using a paperless ticket via a smartcard or phone.

But, according to Money Saving Expert, if you’re not using this type of ticket as a part-time commuter, you could actually end up worse off.

On the Trainline app, you can find out when ticket prices are expected to rise.

This feature can predict how much fares will increase by or when they are likely to sell out.

One tip which can save you a large chunk of money is to use split tickets.

You can save money on train travel by purchasing tickets in parts, even if you’re staying on the same train. The key is to choose a route that stops at the specified stations for your split tickets.

If you’re a regular train traveller, consider investing in a railcard. Most railcards cost about £30 a year and can reduce your fare by a third, making them a great value.

Additionally, if your train is delayed or cancelled, you may be eligible for compensation. With the Delay Repay scheme, a delay of 15 minutes or more qualifies you for a partial refund.