TRAIN travel in the UK is some of the most expensive in Europe – but there is a little known way you could save hundreds of pounds.
Some lucky Brits are able to buy cheaper tickets, thanks to railcards for students, seniors or even those aged 26-30.
But fall outside of those brackets and you’ll find yourself paying full whack to hop on a train, be it to get to the office or to see your friends and family.
Yet Trip.com has recently launched its own railcard, which anyone can buy to use on UK trains.
Called Traincard, it costs £25 and can only be bought on the app.
Yet it saves you 10 per cent on any trains, be it peak or off peak (even lucky railcard holders can buy it – you can stack it if with other railcards).
There is a caveat, which only allows you to use it on 30 trips in a 90 day period.
Yet after testing it out, I realised I would be saving £750 on my commute alone.
So lets break it down.
My daily commute costs around £70, and I travel from Kent to London three times a week.
A saving of £7 a day, which, with 12 journeys a month, means I can save around £84 a month.
The same can be saved for the second month I used it – so another £84 a month saving.
This then halved for the third month, as I maxed out the 30 day limit in 90 days, so a saving of £42 a month.
So overall, I saved £210 in three months on my commute.
Turn that into a year (buying a new railcard every 90 days) that’s a huge £840 saving.
Even taking off the £25-a-time railcard, that’s £740 a year.
Trip.com’s Traincard broken down
Trip.com’s Traincard costs £25, and can be used on 30 trips in a 90 day period.
The saving is 10% on any booking, up to £25.
Month 1:
- Ticket cost per day – £70.
- Saving per day – £7
- Saving per week (based on three commutes) – £21
- Savings per month – £84 on 12 journeys
Month 2:
- Ticket cost per day – £70.
- Saving per day – £7
- Saving per week (based on three commutes) – £21
- Savings per month – £84 on 12 journeys
Month 3:
- Ticket cost per day – £70.
- Saving per day – £7
- Saving per week (based on three commutes) – £21
- Savings per month – £42 on 6 journeys (capped at 30 days overall)
Total savings in three months – £210
Total savings after railcard deduction – £185
Total saving in a year after four railcards bought (one every 90 days)- £840
Total saving in a year after railcard deduction – £740.
You can easily save more too – I often travel to see my friends in Manchester, where one return trip costs £208.
With the Traincard, that is more than £20 saved.
Or say you are travelling as a family one weekend – the saving is per booking, not per person, so you could be saving even more.
You need the Trip.com app as you can’t use it on the website and there is a limit as you can only save up £25 per booking.
But in theory – if you maxed out the savings and the 30-day in a 90-day period bookings?
You could save up to £3,000 a year. Not bad money at all!
Other Railcards to stack with the Trip.com Traincard
16-17 Saver
- £35 per year
- For anyone aged 16 and 17 in England and Wales
- 50% off tickets
16-25 Railcard
- £35 per year, or £80 for 3 years
- For anyone aged 16-25 or students aged 26 and over in full time study
- 33% off tickets
26-30 Railcard
- £35 per year
- For anyone aged 26-30
- 33% off tickets
Senior Railcard
- £35 per year or £80 for 3 years
- Anyone aged 60 or over
- 33% off tickets
Two Together Railcard
- £35 per year
- Any two adults aged 16 or over travelling together
- 33% off tickets
Family & Friends Railcard
- £35 per year or £80 for 3 years
- At least one adult and one child travelling together
- 33% off for up to four adults, or 60% off for kids between 5 and 15
Disabled Persons Railcard
- £20 per 1 year, or £54 for 3 years
- Anyone with a disability
- 33% off tickets for both holder and companion
Veterans Railcard
- £35 per 1 year, or £80 for 3 years
- Anyone military veterans
- 33% off for both holder and companion
Network Railcard
- £35 per year
- Anyone aged 16 or over
- 33% off tickets cross London and South East