A train travel expert has shared their top tips for heading down the tracks in a cheap and stylish way.
Over the weekend it was announced that train travel to Heathrow Airport from London would get considerably more expensive as Transport for London attempts to recoup some of its pandemic losses.
On top of that, ticket prices are expected to rise significantly next year as inflation soars above 10%.
Iain Griffin, founder and CEO of rail ticketing app Seatfrog , has offered some advice for those looking to get a cheaper deal amid a grim economic backdrop.
“Whether you’re planning a UK staycation or using the train to get to the airport for holidays further afield, there are so many ways you can make the train travel experience that little bit easier, cheaper and more enjoyable," he said.
The first and perhaps biggest piece of advice he has is an obvious one - book early.
“It sounds obvious, but the earlier you can book, the better," Iain said.
"The prime time to get the best and cheapest tickets is 21 days before you travel – or earlier.
"Most rail networks release their timetables 12 weeks in advance, so as soon as you know the dates of your holiday, get booking."
He also recommends checking whether there is a railcard that may help you get a discount, with millions of Brits able to get a third off the standard price.
“Don’t assume that railcards are just for students or OAPs," Iain continues.
"Most people have no idea that there’s nine different types that can save you up to a third of the cost. Check them out on the national rail website, they are well worth it."
Iain also advises people to buy a special kind of bundle ticket which can significantly reduce the cost of travel if you are return to the same place repeatedly.
"One of my favourite hacks is to buy a carnet. Hardly anyone knows about them," he said.
"They are essentially an old school stamp book of pre-paid tickets for a specific journey. So if you like heading off to a specific location for weekend getaways or minibreaks, this is a much cheaper alternative than buying your tickets at the station on the day.”
These can be a better investment than inflexible advanced tickets, which can lead to significant losses if your plans change.
He added: " 1.2 billion inflexible tickets are sold each year which cannot be refunded or swapped – so if you want to stay an extra day somewhere or squeeze in one more excursion before heading home, you can use the Seatfrog app to change these inflexible tickets.
"The new ticket swap service is live on East Coast journeys and will be rolling out nationwide soon."
Iain also suggested checking on ticket apps to see if there are any deals going last minute.
“If you want to make your train journey extra special and get a taste of the first-class lifestyle, use the Seatfrog app to upgrade any standard ticket to a first class one," he said.
"There’s two ways you can do this – either by paying a one-off flat fee or by joining our daily auctions where you can bid on seats that are otherwise empty.
"We’ve saved savvy Brits £27m on getting into first class.
“It’s also worth remembering that buying inflexible, ‘advance’ tickets can be costly if your plans end up changing."
