The leading rail retailer Trainline has an advertising campaign pledging: “You won’t find cheaper tickets anywhere else!” That claim is demonstrably untrue, and the organisation is relying on smaller print saying “Or we’ll refund the difference” to justify its assertion.
But with another fares rise impending, how can the traveller minimise the cost of rail tickets?
These are the key questions and answers.
Who sets ticket prices?
The government prescribes “regulated” rail fares in England. These cover season tickets, journeys in and out of major cities, and longer-distance off-peak fares.
On 2 March such fares will rise by 4.6 per cent, significantly above the current rate of inflation of 3 per cent. The off-peak one-way fare from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston will rise by £2.50 to £79.80. The 24-mile trip on the Great Western Railway from Didcot Parkway to Swindon increases by £1.40 to £32.60 at peak times. This is thought to be the most expensive stretch of track in the UK apart from the Heathrow Express from London to Britain’s busiest airport – which costs £25 for a journey that is under 15 miles.
Other fares are set by individual train operators, with many advance tickets “demand-responsive” in the same way as airlines. At peak times, they are more expensive, but when demand is light they are cheaper.
Can companies charge more than the ticket price?
Yes. Rail retailers – as opposed to train operators – can add a fee on top of the 5 per cent commission they earn from online sales (which falls to 4.5 per cent from 1 April 2025).
Trainline adds a fee to about one-third of transactions, charging up to £2.79 or 4 per cent on some tickets. You can avoid this but still get the excellent functionality of Trainline by using the ScotRail or Northern Trains website or app.
How can I pay less than the full fare?
The easiest way, if you can comply with the restrictions, is by using a railcard. You get one-third off many tickets (or half-price with the 16-17 card) though discounts do not apply to all journeys, with time and minimum fare restrictions on some cards.
Anyone below 31 or above 59 can benefit from an age-specific card (16-17, 16-25, 26-30, Senior). Between these ages, the best bet is a Family & Friends railcard – which requires you to be travelling with a child –…
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