How to cut train fares as commuters hit with 2.7% hike today
COMMUTERS face bigger travel bills again this year as train fares rise by an average of 2.7 per cent today. The hike will add another £100 to some passengers’ annual fares even though less than two thirds of trains were on time this year. The rate rise affects regulated fares, such as annual season tickets, […]
COMMUTERS face bigger travel bills again this year as train fares rise by an average of 2.7 per cent today.
The hike will add another £100 to some passengers’ annual fares even though less than two thirds of trains were on time this year.
The rate rise affects regulated fares, such as annual season tickets, some off-peak return tickets on long-distance journeys and flexible anytime tickets around major cities.
Among the big risers is a Reading to London annual ticket which is up £132 to £4,736.
Gloucester to Birmingham passengers must fork out an extra £118 to £4,356 for a yearly pass.
It comes as the latest survey shows most passengers are dissatisfied with the cost.
Bruce Williamson, of pressure group Railfuture, warned fares were “outstripping people’s incomes”.
He added: “Welcome to another decade of misery for rail passengers.”
Transport groups are urging passengers to offset the automatic rises by claiming compensation for all eligible delays.
Meanwhile Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will today unveil a pilot project to enable part-time workers to get cheaper rail tickets.
Until then, there are a few simple tricks that you can do to help cut the cost of commuting. Here’s how:
Buy a season ticket
Regular commuters should look at buying an annual season ticket to save money.
How to pay for an upfront annual season ticket
NATIONAL Rail says if you're making the same journey for three or more days a week within a week, then a seven-day season ticket is likely to save you money.
While you’ll have to fork out a large amount upfront, there are several ways you can spread the cost. For example:
- Your workplace could grant you an interest-free loan that’s paid directly from your monthly salary.
- Or you may choose to make use of 0 per cent credit cards with a period that gives you long enough to clear the debt before interest is charged. The Sainsbury’s Bank Dual Offer Credit Card currently offers a 0 per cent on purchases up to 22 months, for example – although it’s 20.9 per cent APR after.
- You could also join a commuter scheme such as CommuterClub, which allows you to pay in instalments instead of in one go. But it will charge you interest for paying this way, so check you’re saving overall before committing.
If you’re making the same journey for three or more days a week, then a seven-day season ticket is likely to save you money, according to National Rail.
You can use National Rail’s free online calculator to help you work out the cost.
Passengers who buy their annual season ticket in the south of England may also qualify for a gold card.
The gold card offers a range of discounts including a third off off-peak travel.
While you’ll have to spend a large amount upfront, there are ways you can spread the cost.
For example you could join a commuter scheme such as CommuterClub, which pays for the fare upfront, and then you pay them back in instalments over the year.
But keep in mind that these companies will charge you interest – so you’ll end up paying more than if you buy the annual season ticket upfront yourself. CommuterClub, for example, charges 10.6 per cent.
Book at least 12 weeks in advance
Ticket firms usually start selling fares around 12 weeks in advance. This is when Network Rail releases its timetable.
The earlier you book, the less you’ll pay for your seat so get organised if you know you’re going to be travelling over the next few months.
You can use National Rail’s future travel chart, which shows how far in advance you can buy tickets depending on the journey.
You should also sign up to the Trainline’s ticket alert system, which notifies you when advance tickets go on sale for your specific journey.
National Rail’s website also has a cheapest fare finder that gives you the lowest possible fare across all train operators.
There’s also websites such as RedSpottedHanky, Trainline and Megatrain but these all charge a booking fee.
Get a third off with a railcard
Regular passengers may be able to cut the cost of standard anytime, off-peak, advance and first class advance tickets by up to a third with a railcard.
You can buy these through National Rail but you’ll need to pay a fee, but if you regularly travel by train, you’ll make up this cost in no time.
Cards for those aged 16-25 costs £30 a year, or £70 for a three-year card.
How to claim my money back for a cancelled train
DELAY Repay is a rail initiative that ensures passengers whose rail trips are severely disrupted can claim money back — but it can differ between operators.
Here’s where you need to go depending on what company you travel with:
- Arriva – Claims can be made online or by writing to the company with a downloaded form. You’ll need to provide your ticket for the delayed journey or other proof such as an email booking confirmation.
- C2C – Claims can be made on the website or by writing to the company with a downloaded form. If you travel using your c2c Smartcard and you get delayed by more than 2 minutes you are entitled to Automatic Delay Repay.
- Cross Country – Claims can be made online, by writing to the company with a downloadable form or over the phone on 03447 369 123.
- East Midlands Trains – Claims can be made online and there is a helpline on 03457 125678 for assistance.
- Chiltern Railways – Claims can be made on the website, by writing to the company with a downloadable form or collecting a form from a staffed Chiltern Railways station.
- Grand Central – Claims can be made online, by writing to the company with a downloadable form or calling 0345 603 4852.
- Great Western Railway – Claims can be made on the website by filling out a form.
- London Northwestern Railway – Claims can be made on the website or by post with a downloadable form.
- Merseyrail – Claims can be made by post with a downloadable form. Send without a stamp to FREEPOST, Merseyrail Customer Relations, FREEPOST NWW3380, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1BR.
- Northern – Claims can be made on the website or by post with a downloadable form.
- South Eastern, Southern and Gatwick Express – Claims can be made on the website after registering or by post with a downloadable form.
- Virgin Trains – Claims can be made on the website or if you booked in advance online or via the app the refund may have already been processed automatically.
If you regularly travel with a child aged five to 15 it could be worth looking into the Family & Friends Railcard, which gives you a third off most adult fares and 60 per cent off kids’ tickets.
It costs the same price as a 16-25 card and can be used by up to four adults and four children.
There’s also the Two Together card, also £30 for the year, and offers a third off any standard and first class anytime, off-peak and advance fares if two named adults are travelling together.
Last year, National Rail launched an annual discount card for those aged 26 to 30.
It also offers a third off most fares in the UK. But there’s no discount on season tickets and a £12 minimum fare applies to all journeys between 4.30am t0 10am, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Split your train tickets
Instead of buying one ticket for your journey, you can book separate tickets for parts of the same journey to save some money off your fare.
For example, when we checked, a one-way advance ticket from Leeds to Oxford cost £85.20.
But by splitting the journey at Doncaster the total cost comes to £60.90 instead.
You won’t need to actually change trains as National Rail lets you split the ticket as long as the train calls at the stations you buy the tickets for.
There are even online tools which do all the work for you – for example websites such as Trainsplit and Ticketclever.
Hunt for cheap tickets
Don’t pay over the odds for tickets and remember to compare prices before you buy.
Most read in money
First, check the National Rail website, which is a great way to get an overview of routes and travel times.
Then check RedSpottedHanky and Trainline to see if cheap fares are available.
They will usually charge you to make a booking — between 25p and £1.50 — so factor that in to your savings.