In case you hadn't noticed, train fares went up on January 2 and everyone seems pretty upset about it, writes Patrick Barkham. Nothing beats a good rail journey but when you have to fork out £240 to jump on a train at London Euston and travel to Glasgow - a rise of 8.1% - it seems more than just a few pounds too far. The odd fare has fallen but on average already expensive UK train fares have risen by 4.3% - that's 1% above inflation - and on many popular routes they have risen much more. The UK rail network is the most expensive in Europe.
The rail fare structure is bewilderingly complex and I spoke to a number of rail experts yesterday who outlined some excellent ways to play the system and find much, much cheaper fares.
My favourite for its delicious absurdity is to buy a season ticket for the three-minute trip from Ryde St Johns Road to Ryde Esplanade on the Isle of Wight. Transport consultant Barry Doe explained to me that dozens of people from all parts of the country had paid £116 for this ticket, which then entitles them to a Gold Card and a third off almost all off-peak rail fares all across the UK. If you are a reasonably regular traveller you soon save more than the cost of the season ticket.
Our rail network is so complex there are probably hundreds of other cunning ruses. There must be more ways we can beat the price rises. Do you have any good tips for saving money - legally - on train travel?
