UK Train Fares – Creeping up… and how you can get “better” prices

As regular as they year ticks over, UK rail fares have crept up again – this time by an average of 2.2% (and up to 2.5%) on Season Tickets, as well as Anytime Return Tickets, Off Peak Returns  and Singe Tickets.

Virgin Trains Pendolino arriving into Birmingham New Street with a London Midland Class 153 DMU – Image, Economy Class and Beyond

Other fares are set by train operators include First Class ticket, Eurostar tickets and Advanced Purchase tickets.

Whilst the Rail industry argues this is the lowest rise in recent years, this hides the fact prices have shot up. At least this years prices are based on the inflation price in September 2014 – and not the inflation + 1%.

This is all well and good, but a price rise is a price rise sadly – which means commuters, leisure travellers and everyone who decides to consider a train over methods of travel.

So how can you get “better” prices?

Well, there’s a very good bit of news – and that Rail Operating Companies have “agreed” with the UK Government to a code of practice to offer the cheapest train fares. However, this is due to come into effect from April 2015.

Therefore, you’re going to need to shop around. Some tips:

• Use Train Operator Websites to book tickets – The price you see is the price you pay (plus postage). These include Virgin Trains, East Coast, First Great Western, London Midland to name a few
• Visitors to the UK should consider Virgin Trains, who offer International Delivery… and take International Credit Cards happily. If you don’t want your tickets delivered, you can pick them up at the train station. Avoid local resellers to tickets – these will have surcharges for booking a simple train ticket
• Be flexible with your timings. Travelling at peak time (~05:00 to ~10:00, ~15:00 to 19:00) may force the use of Anytime tickets only
• Avoid 3rd Party sites – as these slap on credit card fees. Sadly, even the venerable Red Spotted Hanky (which offers 1% back on bookings) charge £1. Sites like The Train Line and RailEasy will charge a nominal fee. The only one that doesn’t is Takethetrain.co.uk

Tickets are split into three types in the UK

• Anytime – Unrestricted Ticket allowing to travel at any time. Normally the most expensive.
• Off Peak  – Tickets that are have some flexibility, but normally restricted by peak times. Note that some companies have an odd opinion of what “peak times”, with it judged to be times arriving or departing London. Not overly expensive, but not normally overly cheap.
• Advanced – Buy in advanced tickets, that are valid on a particular train only. Normally found on long distance/Intercity services. Cheapest of the lot, but you loose any flexibility. Ticketing deadlines do exist  – They go on sale 12 weeks before the train departs, and are subject to availability normally before 18:00 the day before travel (although  I’ve booked an advanced ticket around 23:00 UK time in the past for next day travel).
  
• For visitors outside the UK doing a lot of Rail Travel, consider a BritRail pass if you plan to do a lot of rail travel. If not, consider Advanced tickets or Off Peak tickets

Is it possible get cheap rail tickets? From a personal experience – it is, but you have to be flexible.

A Sample: London Euston to Birmingham New Street (operated by Virgin Trains). This ticket was booked the night before for travel the next day, coming it at £11 advanced single:

Compare that to the cheapest fare (currently £31.80 single with Virgin Trains).

There are savings to be made, but as I’ve said: Be flexible.

Train travel has improved in the UK over the past few years, with new trains coming on stream, performance improving s0 more trains are on time – however, it does have its hiccups (look at the farce that was Kings Cross over Christmas), so always allow extra time for your journeys.

A great resource for those of you planning UK rail travel (apart from the National Rail Enquiries resources), is The Man In Seat 61 – who gives some great advice on UK Rail Travel (as well as rail travel around the world). Money Saving Expert also has excellent guides on saving money on tickets too.

Train travel is sometimes confusing at best – annoying at worst – but its a great way to get around the United Kingdom without the hell of airport security waiting for planes and annoying transfers into city centres…

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