Skip to main content

LocalGO Wintringham - top three tips for saving money on train tickets

Are you buying the best ticket for you?

The Wintringham residents travel survey results show that the most popular commuter destination is London. While 22% of respondents split their time between working from home and using the train to commute.

In response to this hybrid method of working, the rail industry now offers flexible season tickets that allow users to travel on any eight days in a 28-day period.

Typically if you only travel one day a week, a daily ticket is likely to be the cheapest option. Especially if you can book in advance and avoid peak times.

If you travel two days a week, a flexible season ticket should be cheaper than a daily ticket.

If you travel three days a week a flexible ticket can be cheaper on the majority of routes.

If you travel four days a week or more then an annual season ticket should be the cheapest option.

A railcard can save you as much 33%

There are now nine railcards to choose from.

  • 16-25 1/3 off
  • Senior (60 and over) 1/3 off
  • Two together
  • Disabled persons
  • 26-30 1/3 off
  • Family and friends (children 5-16 60% discount)
  • Network (South East aged 16 or over)
  • 16-17 saver 50% off
  • Veterans 1/3 off

The most popular railcards cost £30 a year (or, in many cases, £70 for three years) and typically give a 33% discount on the ticket price.

LocalGO members can get 15% off the annual Two Together, 16-25, Family & Friends, Senior and Disabled railcards.

Split ticketing

Heading to Durham from St Neots on a train that stops at Peterborough, it could well be cheaper to buy two tickets – one to Peterborough and another on to Durham.

The standard fare for a single trip is £127.70. Using Split My fare the price is £66.74 for an advance booking.

Several websites provide split tickets. TrainPal appears to be the cheapest as it doesn’t impose fees but reviews suggest it won’t always find the cheapest options. Split My Fare and TrainTickets.com are slicker but will charge 15% or 10% of the saving made respectively. However, they only work via the website rather than an app. Trainsplit is another one worth looking at. It also charges 15% but it does offer an app.

To use split tickets you don’t need to get off the train but the train has to stop at the station at which you theoretically change trains. For those regularly making the same journey, it is worth exploring all the options.

For more detailed information and other money-saving options, please use the links below to find out more information.

Cheap train tickets – find hidden fares & split tickets - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/nov/14/how-to-save-on-uk-rail-fares-railcards-train-tickets?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other