Cheap Trains/Railcards UK

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.