How to save money on train travel

Rail fares are on the rise but London commuters could make some savings if they travel in the capital on a Friday.

Train passengers could have seen ticket prices rise by up to 9% this March, had they been based on July's retail price index figure, but the government intervened to cap increases at 4.9%.

Ticket prices may rise at a lower rate than they could have done but prices are "still expected to rise faster than inflation", said The Guardian.

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New fares haven't been decided yet, and won’t take effect until 3 March. But the average commuter has been paying nearly £3,500 for an annual season ticket since the 5.9% rise last March, said the Daily Mirror. That average cost is £1,272 more than it was in 2010.

Almost half of all rail fares in the UK, including season tickets and anytime day, off-peak, or super off-peak options, are regulated by the government, according to the Campaign for Better Transport.

Price increases are usually linked to July's retail price index (RPI) measure of inflation. This is the second time the government has capped increases below the RPI rate, but it said a 4.9% rise was needed "to support the long-term financial stability of the railway and deliver reforms".

Those commuting in the capital, however, could see some cuts, at least, on a Friday. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked Transport for London to trial offering off-peak prices all day on a Friday for three months to "drive ridership and boost London's wider economic recovery".

The plan is for the trial to start in March and hopes to get more people into the capital and into their offices on a Friday.

Khan has offered TFL an extra £2 million per week to reduce fares but, said BBC News: "TFL said less money than that was available, and no agreement had been reached."

If you're a regular commuter, there are other ways to reduce the financial strain of train travel.

Buy a railcard

Certain groups of travellers such as families, students, over 60s and disabled people can get a railcard from National Rail, which could cut a third off your ticket price.

The upfront cost of a railcard depends on the type you opt for, but ranges between £20 and £30 for one year, and £54 and £70 for three years. 

But if you're thinking about it, "get in now if you can", said Metro. This is because season ticket railcards and advanced bookings made before 3 March "should be protected" from price hikes. 

Book early 

The earlier you book your travel, the better "your chances of securing cheap train tickets", said NerdWallet.

Most train operators release advance tickets 12 weeks before the journey, the financial website added, "so it's worth planning ahead".

You can even set up alerts for when advance tickets go on sale through websites such as Trainline.

But these discounted tickets have to be used at a set time and aren't sold as returns, so you may have to book two single journeys if you want to return.

Also, "checking to see whether it is cheaper to buy two single tickets rather than a return", said the BBC, is another method that "might save you money".

Pay annually 

Commuters have plenty of ways to pay for train tickets, from daily, weekly, and monthly to annual.

An annual season ticket could save you a "decent chunk of cash" rather than buying 12 monthly ones "or – even worse – weekly travelcards", said MoneySavingExpert.

The upfront cost can be steep but, as the financial website explained, many employers offer interest-free, or low-interest, season-ticket loans that you repay each month through your salary.

National Rail's season ticket calculator can help work out how much it will cost and if it's worth the investment, depending on how many days you travel each week or month.

Split-ticketing

Those paying for tickets between stations on a longer route can cut costs by "splitting your journey into multiple tickets between the stations the service stops at on the way", said the BBC. This is known as split-ticketing, meaning you can "take the same number of trains you normally would" but for potentially less money.

National Rail lets you split your ticket as long as the train calls at the station for which you buy the tickets.

While the process can be time-consuming, it could end up being worthwhile. 

The Trainline app shows a "split save" option, or websites such as Split My Fare and TrainSplit can help plan a split-ticketing journey.

Watch out for fees 

Some websites may appear to offer cheap train tickets, said The Times Money Mentor, but it may work out to be "less of a good deal" once you factor in extra charges. Booking fees, collection fees, and postage fees all add up.

Booking directly with the train company could cut the costs, the website said. For example, Avanti West Coast doesn't charge booking fees and will refund the difference if you find a cheaper ticket elsewhere within 24 hours of booking.

Consider when you travel

Train journeys tend to be more expensive when you travel during peak times of 7am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm on weekdays, said NerdWallet, so travelling off-peak when possible can get you a cheaper ticket.

"Travelling on Fridays and weekends tends to be more expensive too," the website said, so if you have flexibility "aim for trips on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, when train tickets are usually the cheapest".

Use cashback sites 

You may not be able to do much about rail-fare hikes but you could at least earn some money back, said The Times Money Mentor, by purchasing the tickets through cashback websites such as TopCashback and Quidco.

"Paying for them on a cashback credit card could earn you rewards," the website said, "but make sure you clear the balance each month as interest owed will outweigh the benefit of any cashback."

Consider cycling 

If you commute a relatively short distance, it may be worth cycling instead.

Many firms offer a cycle-to-work scheme to help you buy a bike, said MoneyWeek. "The company pays for your bike upfront, taking the cost off your pre-tax salary over 12 months, lowering the amount you will have to pay tax on" and ultimately reducing what you spend on train tickets.

Marc Shoffman is an award-winning freelance journalist, specialising in business, property and personal finance. He has a master’s degree in financial journalism from City University and has previously written for FTAdviser, ThisIsMoney, The Mail on Sunday and MoneyWeek.