Cheap Trains/Railcards UK

Types of Railcard

16–17 Saver Railcard
Designed for 16–17-year-olds, this card offers 50% off Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season tickets. It delivers an average savings of £367.* Perfect for students commuting to school or college.

Eligible tickets: Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance, Season
Validity: One year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

16–25 Railcard
The 16–25 Railcard (sometimes called the Student or Young Persons Railcard) is your ticket to a 1/3 discount on most UK rail fares if you’re aged 16–25—or a mature student aged over 26 in full-time education. On average it saves you £192 a year.* There’s no limit on how many times you can use it, making it perfect for:

• Students commuting to and from university or college

• Recent graduates starting their careers

• Young professionals cutting commuting costs

Eligible tickets: Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance
Note: A minimum fare of £12 applies for journeys between 04:30–09:59 Mon–Fri (excl. public holidays).

26–30 Railcard
If you’re aged 26–30, the 26–30 Railcard slashes a third off most fares, delivering average annual savings of £258.* It has unlimited uses, making it ideal for:

• Young professionals commuting daily

• Graduates embarking on new roles

• Weekend explorers on a budget

Travel restrictions: Minimum £12 fare applies Mon–Fri 04:30–09:59 (excl. public holidays); no restrictions at weekends. You can buy up to the day before your 31st birthday.

Two Together Railcard
Perfect for pairs aged 16+, the Two Together Railcard offers a 1/3 discount on most fares. Average savings are £97 a year.* Whether you travel as a couple, flatmates, colleagues or friends, you can use it as often as you like.

Eligible tickets: Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance
Times: Discounts apply from 09:30 Mon–Fri and all day weekends/public holidays.

Network Railcard
For travel in London & South East, the Network Railcard gives you 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off child fares (up to 4 children), saving £138 on average.* You can add up to three additional adults to your group.

Eligible tickets: Anytime, Off-Peak
Times: All day weekends and bank holidays; from 10:00 Mon–Fri.

Family & Friends Railcard
Ideal for mixed groups (max four adults + four children), this Railcard offers adults 1/3 off and children 60% off, with average savings of £116 a year.* Adults get 1/3 off, children 60% off—unlimited use for family days out or group adventures.

Eligible tickets: Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance
Times: All day weekends and public holidays; weekday restrictions for journeys within London & SE before 09:35.

Senior Railcard
For travellers aged 60+, the Senior Railcard reduces fares by a third, saving £96 on average.* Unlimited uses make it perfect for retirees exploring the UK or visiting family.

Eligible tickets: Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance
Times: Discounts apply at all times except London/SE journeys before 09:35 Mon–Fri; all day weekends and bank holidays.

*Average savings figures are based on industry studies and may vary with individual travel patterns.

Cheaper train tickets

Save money on rail travel by combining several tried-and-tested strategies:

1. Get a railcard
Railcards shave around a third off most fares. There are several to choose from—16–25, Two Together, Network, Family & Friends, and more—so pick the one that suits your age, travel habits and party size.

2. Use cashback debit cards
Pay for your tickets with a debit card that gives you cashback on every purchase. Some cards offer 1–2% back automatically, and you can even juggle multiple cards to stack rewards. Check our cashback-cards rundown here for the best current rates.

3. Split your tickets
Breaking a long journey into two or more legs can be significantly cheaper than a single “through” ticket. Sites like TrainSplit (charges a 15% fee) will show you the cheapest split points; then buy directly from the train operator’s website to avoid third-party booking fees.

4. Book well in advance
Most advance tickets are released about 12 weeks before departure when the timetable is finalised. Fares tend to rise as seats sell out, so set a reminder and book as soon as your dates are live. Some operators (notably LNER on northern routes to London) release tickets up to 24 weeks ahead—worth checking if you travel that line.

5. Sign up for ticket alerts
If you know your route in advance, use Trainline’s free ticket-alert system to receive an email the moment the cheapest advance fares go on sale. Then buy via a no-fee site (such as Avanti West Coast or LNER’s own portal) to lock in the best price.

6. Shop around across sites
Weirdly, not every booking site shows the same tickets. After your alert pops, compare prices on a few major platforms—Avanti West Coast and LNER both sell tickets for all operators and don’t charge booking fees, making them great first stops.

7. Only pay peak for the part that’s peak
If your journey straddles peak-time windows (before 10 am or 4 pm–7 pm), split your ticket by time as well as distance so you only pay peak fares where they apply. This can cut several pounds off your total.

8. Know your refund rights
Most operators offer Delay Repay compensation if your train is 30 minutes late (some even from 15 minutes). Under Delay Repay, you get 50% of your fare back regardless of fault. A few companies use older schemes—always check your operator’s policy so you can claim if things go wrong.

9. Use Uber train-booking credits
Book your train tickets through the Uber app and earn back 5% of your fare in Uber credits (10% if you’re an Uber One member). These credits can then be used towards future Uber rides or train bookings—turning every journey into extra savings.

10. Tap into NX Rewards and bank perks
Go through The Trainline or TrainPal with your NX Rewards account for 10% cashback on bookings. Some digital banks (like Monzo) run occasional promotions—past offers have included 8% back on LNER tickets. Keep an eye on your bank’s app for rail-specific deals.