Let’s face it, nobody wants to pay more than they need to for their rail tickets. But did you know there are many quick and easy ways you could save money on your journey? From booking ahead to buying online, avoiding rush hour or getting a Season Ticket – knowing what to do to get the cheapest available fare means you’ll always be getting the best deal.

Check out our top tips and you’ll be on your way to some great savings every time you travel.

Flexible travellers pay less

In general, if you can be flexible about when you travel, you are much more likely to pay less for your journey. This may mean avoiding busier times, travelling outside of commuter rush hours or using a different route in order to get a cheaper fare. Use National Rail’s Online Journey Planner to check the alternatives or ask ticket office staff to explain the options.

Going far? Get in early

If you’re going on a longer distance journey, Advance tickets offer substantial savings compared with getting it on the day. In most cases, tickets go on sale 12 weeks in advance, so book as early as possible to snap up a bargain. Use the Cheapest Fare Finder to find the cheapest ticket for your journey.

While Advance tickets are subject to availability, on many routes these cheaper tickets may still be available right up until the day before travel – so it’s always worth checking.

You can also make sure you’re one of the first to know when the cheapest tickets are available by signing up to a ticket alert system available on the following websites - CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, National Express East Coast and TheTrainline.com.

Beat the rush

Travel is generally cheaper at times when trains are less busy, for example Mondays to Fridays after 10am, before 5pm and after 7pm. If you’re able to make your journey at these times, you could be in for some big savings on the peak Anytime fares. For longer journeys, it’s important to note Friday and Sunday afternoons are busiest, so try to avoid these times if possible.

Two singles may be better than a return

It is sometimes the case that buying two single tickets for your journey actually works out cheaper than getting a return ticket. On longer distance journeys Advance Single tickets offer huge discounts on the turn up and go Anytime and Off-Peak tickets.

You can also mix and match Advance, Anytime and Off-Peak Single tickets to get the best deal based on your travel requirements. For example, you may be able to take advantage of an Advance Single ticket to your destination and then get an Off-Peak Single for the return journey to give you a bit more flexibility on the times you can travel.

Similarly, if your journey involves travelling one way at peak time (generally before 10am and between 5pm and 7pm Monday-Friday) and the other at off-peak time, you may save money if you buy two single tickets and only pay the peak ticket price for the relevant part of your journey.

You can use the National Rail Online Journey Planner to check out the best options for your journey.

Explore all the options

Before you travel, find out whether there is more than one route or operator to get you to your destination - you may find you can get a cheaper ticket if you’re able to be flexible on your route, journey time or the train company you wish to travel with.

Use the National Rail Online Journey Planner to check the alternatives or ask ticket office staff to explain the options.

Get the best deal with the Cheapest Fare Finder

Finding the best value fares is now even easier. The Cheapest Fare Finder lets you look for tickets based on price and shows you which services your selected ticket is available. You can search for tickets on four different dates and specify the time of day you’d prefer to make your journey.

If you’re flexible on when you travel, you could enjoy huge reductions in the cost of your ticket simply by travelling a little earlier or later.

Cheaper tickets at the click of a mouse!

With some train company websites offering online discounts or promotional tickets, you may find cheaper fares when you buy online directly from the train company. To make you search easier, the Best Value Fares website details all the latest offers from all the train companies.

You can also sign up to our Best Value Fares email newsletter and get regular updates on offers, along with great ideas for days out and holiday breaks.

Don’t forgot a majority of train companies offer tickets for any journey in Great Britain, so you can book cheap tickets on their website even if you won’t be travelling with them.

It’s important to note that a few rail booking websites may charge additional fees, such as booking fees or credit card charges. These additional fees will always be shown upfront before you finalise your transaction.

Reduce your fares with a Railcard

Regular train users may be in line for some massive savings with a Railcard. In fact, a whopping 2 out of 3 people can save with a Railcard! Railcards cost between £18 and £26 per year and offer an incredible 1/3 off most tickets.

If you’re aged between 16 and 25 or over 60, travel with children or travel off-peak in the South East, you could soon start saving with a Railcard. You are also eligible if you have a qualifying disability or are a member of the Regular Armed Forces.

For more information see the Railcards section.

Going in a group? Double your savings with GroupSave

It’s simple – three or four travel, two pay! Family outings or a day out with mates can work out much cheaper with GroupSave, as your group of three or four need only pay for two adult tickets. Click here for more details on GroupSave.

Larger groups (10 or more) travelling at off-peak times may benefit from Group Travel discounts, which are provided by many train companies. You will need to book in advance and contact the relevant train company for details. Click here for train company contact details.

Serious savings with a Season Ticket

If you make the same journey at least three or four times a week, you could pay less for your travel with a Season Ticket. Available in lengths of seven days or any period from one month to one year, they are perfect for regular travellers. With an Annual Season Ticket giving you 52 weeks travel for the price of 40, the savings are clear. Find out more about Season Tickets and use the handy Season Ticket Calculator to see what savings you can make.

If your Annual Season Ticket is for a journey in the Network Railcard area , you will automatically be issued with a Gold Card that gives you, and up to three people travelling with you, 1/3 off most tickets. Click here to find out more about Gold Cards.

Train and bus without the fuss

It’s so easy to add unlimited bus travel around town to your train ticket – and it only costs around £2 a day! Available in nearly 250 towns across Britain, you can now buy your PLUSBUS ticket with your train ticket online or at the station in one simple transaction. Check out the PLUSBUS website for more details.

Attractions & entertainment for less

As well as the savings you can make on your rail fare, you can also get incredible discounts on top attractions and entertainment when you travel by train. For instance if you’re travelling to London you can get 2FOR1 entry to West End shows, in Wales you can get 2FOR1 entry to castles and in Edinburgh you can get discounted entry to the Dungeons. Saving has never been so much fun! Click here to search for great discounts on attractions.

And finally, make sure you keep checking in with the Best Value Fares website to be first in line for all the latest rail offers! Sign up for our newsletter now .