HIDDEN TRICKS
How to get the cheapest tickets on UK rail journeys by splitting your tickets and finding hidden fares
There is going to be a public consultation on June 4 aimed at finding ways to simplify how rail fares are set
SPLITTING your train ticket can save you up to 90 per cent on some single journeys, according to a transport rail watchdog.
And now, top rail bosses have admitted that you're better off buying multiple train tickets for some trips, rather than purchasing one.
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The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies and Network Rail, admitted that if part of a journey is in peak hours, the entire trip is charged at the premium rate.
Now, there's going to be a public consultation starting on June 4 which is aimed at finding ways of simplifying fare regulations.
Ministers will then be sent a report outlining suggestions for flexible fares that integrate with other modes of transport, like busses, to find travellers the best prices.
The ticketing system is riddled by red tape and hasn't been changed since the mid-1990s, and has not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel.
How to split your ticket to unlock hidden savings
If you're taking a lengthy train journey then you could save hundreds of pounds by splitting your tickets.
For example, a one-way advance ticket from London to Leeds later today will cost you £109. It's a direct train so there's no need to change.
But if you split the journey between London Kings Cross to Doncaster (£37.50), Doncaster to Wakefield Westgate (£8.60) and Wakefield Westgate to Leeds (£3.90) it will cost you £58.85.
You often won't need to change trains and National Rail let's you split your ticket as long as the train calls at the station you buy the tickets for.
How are train fares calculated?
TRAIN fares are calculated using the RPI rate of inflation measure which is announced in August each year.
- RPI stands for Retail Price Index which is the rate of inflation for July. It is used to determine how much train companies can raise the price of regulated rail fares.
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is typically lower than the RPI
- Research by Campaign for Better Transport previously found that replacing RPI rail fare rises with the much more widely used CPI would have helped tackle soaring ticket prices in recent years.
- Around half of regulated train tickets are regulated fares, these include season tickets
Here are some other ways you can save money on your rail fare:
Buy a season ticket and saving hundreds
Regular travellers can save by purchasing either a seven day, monthly or yearly season ticket, which will allow them to make the journey an unlimited number of times as long as it's valid.
If you're making the same journey on three or more days a week, then a seven day season ticket is likely to save you money, compared to buying a new one every day.
You can check to see if a season ticket will save you money on your trip with .
Book at least 12 weeks in advance
Network Rail releases its timetable 12 weeks in advance, so ticket firms usually make their fares available at this time.
Some operators release them even earlier but the key is to book early.
Just like plane tickets, the earlier you book the lower the price you'll pay for your seat.
This is really important for peak travel times, like the Easter and Christmas holidays.
MORE ON CHEAP TRAIN FARES
You can sign up to the Trainline's ticket alert service and it will tell you when cheap advance tickets go on sale for a particular journey.
Also, the National Rail's future travel chart shows the furthest advance date that you can buy tickets.
Can you save money with a railcard?
If you're a regular traveller then a railcard should shave a third off the price of your ticket.
They cost between £20 and £30 per year. For example, the 16-25 railcard gives a third off ticket rates or full-time students of any age.
The best websites to help you split your tickets
SPLITTING rail tickets isn't easy, that's why some clever people have created tools to help you do it.
Splitticketing.co.uk
These website is managed and operated by self-confessed rail travel enthusiasts. It works with Raileasy find the best tickets to save time and as much money as possible.
The website is free to use but if you do find a cheap ticket it will add 10 per cent of the saving on to the cost of your ticket. Non-split tickets can be booked without a charge.
Mytrainticket.co.uk
This site has partnered with the Trainline.com so it will search through the cheaper fares that are also listed with them.
It's free to use and for most journeys there's an option to print your ticket off at home to save time queuing at the station.
Meanwhile, the Government's new flagship 26-30 railcard has been rolled out this year.
But there was only a limited number of them and the website crashed within minutes of them being released, leaving many people without one.
It's similar to the 16-25 railcard, and will cost £30 and will give commuters a third off travel for the year.
If you're travelling in a group of up to four adults, then you might be interested in the Family and Friends Railcard.
There is also a Network Railcard, which costs £30 a year, which gives anyone aged 16 or over a third off tickets, plus discounts on days out and theatre tickets.
Find tickets using a cheap booking website
Don't pay over the odds for tickets, remember to compare prices before you buy.
Firstly, check the National Rail website as it's a great way to get an overview of routes and travel times.
Then check and to see if there are cheaper fares. They will usually charge you to make a booking - between 25p and £1.50 - so factor that in too.
It's also worth checking too. It has hundreds of single tickets from £15, plus a 50p booking fee.
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