Find the cheapest train fares
Top tips to save money on train ticket prices
Although CrossCountry always has a great range of ticket discounts and special offers, we’ve put together our Top Five Tips on getting cheap rail tickets:
As a general rule the earlier you book the cheaper the ticket. Yet timing the purchase accurately can make a real difference.
Book early & book online
- The earlier you book, the cheaper your fare. Often these tickets go really quickly though, so to ensure you get yourself a bargain make sure you buy 12 weeks in advance of your departure date as this when most new tickets are released.
- To make sure you don’t miss out - our new ticket alert service can email you as soon as cheap advance tickets for a specific journey are available to purchase. Sign up for a ticket alert now
Avoid rush hours
- It makes sense. Rush hours means higher demand making it less likely that you will find a cheap ticket. Travel during off-peak hours (after 0930 and before 1530) and you could reduce your fare significantly.
Be flexible with your dates
- If you can be flexible about when you travel, it is best to avoid weekends. Travel mid-week and you're more likely to get the cheapest tickets.
Two singles could be cheaper
- When you buy your ticket, it is always worth checking if 2 singles are cheaper than a return. They often are! Using our improved ticket booking system you can easily toggle between 2 singles and return fares in the search results.
Railcards
- It may be worth getting a 16-25, Family & Friends or Senior Railcard which could cut a third off the current price of your tickets.
- Find out more about Railcards here.
Take advantage of any special ffers
- Finally, check out any ticket discounts and special offers, which can save you even more money in comparison to other ticket retailers. To make sure you don't miss out on any special offers, sign up and we will send you details on relevant offers and promotions as soon as they become available.