How to get cheap train tickets online

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By Luke Jovetic
Know Your Money Editor

Rail fares can prove to be expensive, especially for those who have not done their homework on what deals are available.

Most people know that buying in advance is usually cheaper and - most of the time - the further before the date of departure you book the better the saving you can achieve.

However, travellers cannot always book their tickets as soon as the timetables are arranged, so are there any other ways to save money?

How to save money

As mentioned, people planning to make a journey that is still several months away can make a great saving by booking 12 weeks in advance, so if this applies then buying a ticket at this stage could save you a good deal of cash.

Even when working to a shorter schedule, there are a number of websites travellers might like to take a look at when booking their train that can lower the cost.

Perhaps the best place to start as a general rule is National Rail Enquiries, as it offers all fares for all routes.

And the Trainline states that people can save an average of 43 per cent by using their site instead of buying at the station, which might make it well worth a look.

Raileasy.co.uk is another site that prides itself on offering cheaper rail fares and offers the following tips:

Book Early - Cheap fares become available up to 12 weeks in advance but sometimes the fares are released later so check regularly

Avoid Travelling in Rush Hour - Off peak is cheaper!

Use Raileasy - Raileasy's smart booking engine will always default to the cheapest

Select 'Overtaken' Trains - On the timetable page if you don't mind travelling for longer for cheaper

One thing to bear in mind is that booking fees apply with these sites so it can prove best to make the purchase direct from the train operator's website.

For Virgin Trains travel, the Virgin farefinder can prove useful. Super-cheap mid-week London to Birmingham singles are available from £8.

And a journey between London and Manchester can cost as little as £11. These are available on rail booking sites but they can be easier to spot using the company's own site.

What about last minute travel?

Sometimes train journeys have to be organised in a hurry. In this situation many people may think their only option is to face the fare at the train station. However, there is still a chance to lower what you pay.

The night before a journey huge savings can be made by simply booking your ticket online and collecting it at the machine in the station, or phoning to enquire.

It is sometimes possible to buy advance tickets in this way just one hour before the train journey, so savings-savvy travellers will check.

People planning on buying a return ticket could be wise to check if it is cheaper to buy two singles instead. Although this seems strange it can prove better value depending on where and when you are travelling.

In addition to this, on occasion a return ticket can cost less than a single and therefore be worth buying even for those only travelling one way.

Railcards

Railcards cut a third off rail fares - for those under 26 or over 60 - and can be bought for £26 per year or £65 for three years.

Those who spend more than £72 a year, even in just one trip, will find it cheaper if they use a railcard.

The 16-25 Railcard is also available for full-time students of any age and renewing the card just before a 26th birthday is one way to grab another year.

Split your journey

Bizarrely, prices can be lowered if a journey is split into sections, even if it means the passenger remains on the same train throughout.

This is a perfectly legal method of travelling and can sometimes lower the cost of longer train journeys.

Splityourticket.co.uk is worth a look and it explains how this process works: "If you wanted to travel from Station A to Station C, you would expect to buy a ticket direct from A to C. With Split Your Ticket, depending on your route you may find it cheaper to buy a ticket from A to B and B to C. You still complete the same journey from A to C but stay on the same train without getting off - saving money!"

Important Notice
This guide is intended for general information only and is not intended as, and does not constitute, any form of advice, recommendation or endorsement by us of any particular product(s) or services and you should rely on your own further research and professional advice in relation to your specific requirements and circumstances before purchasing any products or services. Use of this guide is subject to the Terms of Use of the KnowYourMoney site.