Transport User Voice September 2024 – Top five money-saving travel tips

04 September 2024

Ways to save  

With inflation rising for the first time this year and Britain navigating a cost-of-living crisis, value for money has never been more key. Thankfully, there are many ways passengers can make savings. 

Our research shows that value for money is a top priority for rail passengers, whether they are commuting, or travelling for business or leisure. This is not all down to price – it is clear from previous research that perceptions about value are influenced by train punctuality and the ability to get a seat. But clearly price matters too. So how can passengers save money when planning their journeys? 

Here are our top five money saving tips:    

1. Be flexible about when you travel. Being flexible and willing to travel at less popular times could be a money saver for some rail travellers. Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are available for travelling at less busy times on weekdays, and all day at the weekend. Trading speed for price might also save money. Sometimes, where there is a choice of train companies on a particular route, the slower trains may be cheaper.
2. Book in advance if you can. If you are willing to tie yourself down to a specific train, then booking an Advance ticket will usually save you money. Train companies generally start selling tickets up to 12 weeks before the journey, with some even allowing you to purchase them on the day of travel – sometimes up to ten minutes before departure. So, it’s always worth checking. Passengers can also sign up for alerts from certain train companies telling you when these types of tickets have been released.
3. Use a Railcard. Railcards are a good way to save when buying tickets, although they do have an initial cost. There are different national and regional railcards to choose from with a range of discounts and fares available. You should always ensure that the Railcard you buy is valid for the journey you want to make and make sure you always have it with you when travelling. 
4. Split your journey.  Splitting it into multiple tickets could be cheaper and isn’t as hard as it sounds. If you do this, then the train you are travelling on must stop at all the stations detailed on the tickets, or they are not valid. Look online at websites/apps that will work all this out for you but remember that some charge a fee for doing so.
5. Consider the coach or hop on a bus. For longer journeys, coaches may be a cheaper alternative for certain journeys, particularly going to and from the airport – and especially in the light of current reports of drop-off charge hikes. Our research into airport travel found that 86 per cent of people were satisfied with value for money, some noting that the coach was ‘much cheaper than the train’.
6. Meanwhile, for shorter journeys, with the £2 bus fare cap extended until the end of December 2024, it’s worth exploring if your local bus service is an option. Our research into the £2 bus fare revealed that more than one in ten people now used the bus to travel more, four in ten thought the new fare might save them money, and 80 per cent thought it would help people with the cost of living.  

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