don't really use aaps please suggest something.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5519 posts
This website lists routes and ticket prices from the various train operators:
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
The Man in Seat 61 explains the various types of fares and provides tips for finding cheap tickets:
https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-britain.htm
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23268 posts
Almost all of the UK trains are privately operated and has some of the most expensive train tickets in Europe. The only cheap tickets are those sold at discount well in advance of your travel date. Go directly to the train operator/company and see what the prices are. The earlier the better.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5758 posts
People keep trotting out this fallacy of having the most expensive trains in Europe and needing to book far ahead. It is both lazy and inaccurate. There is also an obsession with apps. You do not even NEED any app, just an ability to use a website as a website.
When you actually look at full price fares for many of the Western European Countries you will find that they are very much on a par with the UK, per mile they can be more expensive. That is simple, demonstrable fact.
The very simple rule is to avoid last minute travel on commuter railroads before 9am or 9.30am), when you will pay full fare, which can be very expensive.
Apart from that on any journey over about 50 miles, and many shorter ones, you will find advance fares. Even on peak trains advance fares are there to be had just a few days or a week or two before.
Always buy from an actual train operator, not the lots of 3rd party companies who will charge you commission- many claim to be almost a charity- nonsense they are profiteers out of your wish to save money. Those websites who claim to "split" fares are rubbish at their proclaimed task, none do it as well as an actual human being. The difference can be huge.
There is far too much obsessing about saving every possible dime. Booking far ahead ties you to a specific train on a specific day. Things happen in life, plans change for many reasons. While that is often useful to do you need to clearly understand that if you don't make that train for any reason you lose your money and make a new booking, which defeats the whole purpose.
And you lose flexibility in your vacation plans.
On all medium and long distance routes there are now so called "advance fares" which are available as late as midnight on the day before travel, sometimes 15 or even 5 minutes before travel. They can be purchased at stations as well as on line. The grading of tranches of advance tickets is now much less pronounced than it used to be.
You also need to check very carefully which train any fare is available on where there are multiple routes or operators on the same route between 2 cities. For instance between London and York there are 2 companies- LNER who run every 30 minutes, and Grand Central a few times a day. GC may be sometimes (not always) cheaper but their lower frequency may or may not suit you.
Same for London to Edinburgh on the East coast- LNER vs Lumo. Frequent vs infrequent. Despite their loud claims Lumo are not always the cheapest either, and are cramped with lots of luggage.
Second for instance- Chester to Liverpool- there are 3 routes- Merseyrail is the cheapest, and Northern Rail the most expensive . In between is Transport for Wales. Their route specific fare (in between the other two) is only available from a human being at a booking office, not on line or at a station ticket machine. That is not a unique case. Oddly the TfW timetable isn't even on their own website or on any journey planner, but it is a good link to Liverpool Airport,
Posted by
2409 posts
On some routes, it is cheaper to split the ticket - even if you are staying on the same train at the split point - which must be a calling place. Split tickets for Advance tickets usually work well when you have to change train company en-route. The Advance fares get loaded usually around 10 weeks ahead and are for specific trains and non refundable. These sites will tell you if splitting is cheaper but charge a commission on the amount saved:> https://www.traintickets.com/?/ (This website clearly shows the train company).
https://trainsplit.com
You can also save about a third off the fares by buying a Railcard for £30:>
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/railcards/national-railcards/
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk is the main rail website. Train companies might from time to time have special offers. I would always check with the split ticket websites to see if they can work out something that is cheaper - even though you are travelling on the same trains.
In some instances, you might find it more convenient to buy a Rover ticket. The following website lists these for different areas:> https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/rangers_and_rovers.aspx